Daily Mass Meditations

There is a common view of the law which sees it as something imposed from without to restrict freedom.  People don’t always make good use of their freedom and when it could hurt or endanger others, it makes sense to have laws with consequences.  When we read the Psalms, we can be a bit mystified when we hear how glad the law makes the psalmist, “Lord, how I love your law… The law from your mouth means more to me than silver or gold… The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul…”  The common view of the law sees it as a necessary evil, and obedience to that law as a painful necessity. read more

Forgiveness is not just a way to reconciliation, it is the way of salvation.  If you want to put limits on the forgiveness you bestow on others, you may well find yourself in hell!  Jesus does not teach us that forgiveness must be given based on careful consideration of whether the person deserves it or not, but that forgiveness must be given constantly, repeatedly, and as if our own life depended on it.  It isn’t helpful for people who find it hard to forgive to begin to think that they are perhaps justified in being slow to forgive because of the hurts they’ve received. read more

Patriotism is indeed a virtue, but patriotism is not more elevated than the worship of God or the honor due to our parents. In today’s readings we can see the potential a conflicting sense of reverence for God, parents, and country has for blinding and hardening the heart to truth. Naaman almost missed out on his healing because he was sure the rivers of his own country would serve better for healing than the rivers of a foreign nation. The people of Nazareth became furious with Jesus when He told them they would not accept Him simply because He Himself comes from Nazareth. They were angry with God because He disturbed their national pride. read more