25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C – The teachings of the Prudent Manager

This Sunday, the Gospel presents us with the parable of the unfaithful manager, a story that invites us to reflect on the management of the assets that God has entrusted to us. We can imagine the scene as that of a businessman who discovers that his dishonest manager has been cheating. Faced with the imminent dismissal and the lack of preparation to face the challenges of hard work, the manager seeks out his boss’s creditors, collecting debts for lower amounts, thus making friends for his future. Jesus, in His wisdom, praises the prudence of this manager, stating that the children of this world are more shrewd than the children of light.

IN THE PURSUIT OF A MEANINGFUL LIFE – Three Essential Signposts for the Journey of Life

As a theology student, I began to acquire the habit of writing down sayings that I considered relevant for my life as a pilgrim with a thousand destinations plus One: human hopes on earth and Christian hope in heaven, respectively. Hereafter, I wish to share some salient sayings that have helped me on the journey of my life. These sayings – many of them you know, perhaps, are like signposts on the path of the life of pilgrims of hope. They point out the smooth road ahead, the bumpy road, the dangerous curves, the lightened part and the darkened kilometres. My dear co-pilgrims of hope: 

LONG LIVE CHRIST THE KING – The 51 Claretian Martyrs of Barbastro

Friday, 22 August: Pope Leo XIV called for a day of prayer and fasting today, for peace and justice in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and other regions. In Portugal, the news spread from person to person or circulated on social media because the mainstream media did not notice it. Conclusion: we must learn to organise ways of communication and freedom that outdo the pedagogical fury of those who want to impose their views on us.

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) – Union with God brings spiritual bond with others

Jesus introduce this gospel passage by saying, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” The “fire” of which He speaks is His purifying fire of mercy that He poured forth from the Cross as He offered His life for the salvation of the world. His mercy is given to free us from our sins and to cleanse our souls so that God Himself can come to dwell within us. This is why we exist. God wants to dwell within us, and He wants us to be in perfect union with Him.

15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C) – Go and Do the Same Yourself

There are four main characters in today’s Gospel parable: the victim of robbers, the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan. The priest (Hebrew Kohanim) is a direct male-line descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses, who was appointed as the first high priest. The Kohanim were the only ones who could perform sacrificial rituals in the Temple, offer incense and maintain the Menorah (the seven-branched golden lampstand inside the Tabernacle and later, in the Temple). Because of their special functions, they wore distinctive garments and avoided contact with dead bodies which would render them impure.  Levites were male descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel). The Levites were not Kohanim but were given tasks to assist in the Temple in various supporting roles. For example, they served as musicians, gatekeepers, and temple officials. Even if they were not Kohanim, the Levites were also considered “holy” and set apart for God’s service. 

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) – The Apostolic Mission

Jesus had many followers who were deeply devoted to Him, abandoning everything to serve Him and to cooperate in the fulfillment of His mission. Oftentimes we give most of our attention to the Twelve Apostles when we speak of Jesus’ first followers. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus sent seventy-two disciples to go forth to all the towns that He would soon visit. Think about that for a moment. Seventy-two is quite a few people. These would not have been casual followers of Jesus. Rather, they clearly were people who were all in and fully committed to Christ. To them, Jesus entrusted the mission of preaching and gave them authority over demons.