St Clement of Rome Catholic Church

What must interest us directly is to see why, in the Eucharistic gathering for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time,, the Lord Jesus brings up once again the harsh conditions for being his disciples of the 21st century. (Luke 14:25-33) We ought to keep in mind that our Lord is still on “his way to Jerusalem.” Thankfully, the real number of those who come after Jesus carrying their cross is large, even though their climb of mount Calvary goes mostly unnoticed to the eyes…

We must keep in mind that the original setting (Luke 14:1, 7-14) depicts an itinerant rabbi by the name of Jesus, who is invited to a formal dinner into the house of a prominent and influential Pharisee to honor him as equal and as equal to the other invited guests. What ensues, instead, is something so appalling that it goes a long way in explaining why Jesus had to be eliminated from the religious and political scene of that time.…

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. (Matthew 11:29) Contrast it with the opening statement of our gospel passage for this 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! (Luke 12:49) Or take “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your…

One morning, the disciples must have gotten up earlier than usual and observed Jesus from a distance while he had been in intimate conversation with the Father. That sight must have been more magnificent and more awe-striking than any sight they had ever seen. Unable to contain their wonderment, they eagerly asked him: “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1) Incredible as it sounds, due to our inability to pray, we have a lot to…