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THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 14.13-21] this Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned: "More than a story about bread, the Gospel that we heard today is a revelation of who Jesus is and how He continues to care for His people...Jesus did not just see a crowd. He saw persons. He noticed their suffering. He paid attention to their needs. His heart was moved with compassion..."

"Compassion is one of the most beautiful qualities of God. It is not merely feeling sorry for someone. Compassion moves us to act. Jesus healed the sick. He comforted the weary. He welcomed those who were rejected. He restored hope to those who had almost given up..."

"Jesus did not merely feed the crowd enough to survive. He fed them until they were filled, and there were still twelve baskets left over. That is the generosity of God...Every time we gather for the Eucharist, we witness this same generosity. Jesus continues to feed His people—not simply with bread, but with Himself."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/5Wz3vJv_1_M?si=3-GfXOxGyVIp_sbg

THE TREASURE WORTH EVERYTHING | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 13.44-52] this Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned: "Though each parable uses a different image, they all lead us to one fundamental truth: the Kingdom of Heaven is the greatest treasure we can ever possess..."

"Entering the Kingdom of Heaven is both a gift and a responsibility...It is first an invitation from God...But responding to that invitation requires a conscious and ongoing effort. We cannot remain passive. We must continually seek the path that leads to heaven through prayer, the sacraments, obedience to God's commandments, and lives of charity and holiness. The search for the Kingdom is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey."

"God's invitation is universal. The Church opens her doors to all people without distinction. Every person is called to salvation. Every person is invited to become part of God's Kingdom."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wYl48Dj7JOQ?si=gVpS0VKB1TaG0Fkc

GRACE TAKES TIME | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 13.24-43] this Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. He mentioned, “The first thing that we need to mention is the very fact that our Lord never stops in teaching us about the realities of the Kingdom of God…”

“Secondly, God does not act with haste. He gives time. He gives opportunity. He allows room for repentance, conversion, and growth…He knows that every human heart is capable of change through His grace…This should remind us not to be quick in judging others…”

“Thirdly, Jesus assures us that our efforts are never wasted…The harvest will come. In His own gracious time, he will gather those who have remained faithful into the fullness of His kingdom.”

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/d8JVqN5mbTg?si=7leW8t9fpQL9ziAc

THE SOWER WHO NEVER GIVES UP | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 13.1-23] this Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned: "An ordinary farmer would carefully scatter his seed only where he expects a good harvest. He would avoid the path, the rocky ground, and the thorny places because seed is precious. But Jesus describes a Sower who seems almost reckless in His generosity. He scatters the seed everywhere. This Sower is Jesus Himself..."

"Jesus knows exactly where every seed will fall...Yet He never stops sowing. That is the amazing generosity of God..."

"The Lord knows our weaknesses better than we know ourselves. He knows the condition of every heart...Yet He never grows tired of reaching out to us... The Lord believes that His Word has the power to transform us."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/8-g_w_8j6Is?si=UgO8iwbrXIONfG3w

THE HEART THAT SEES THE KINGDOM | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 11.25-30] this Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned, "We might ask, ‘who are these "little ones" or "infants" that Jesus speaks of?’ Surely, He is not referring merely to children in age. Rather, He is speaking of those who possess the heart of a child—a heart that is open to God."

"What is it about these little ones that allows them to receive the secrets of the Kingdom? I think, they have “a childlike heart.” They trust. They are humble enough to admit they do not know everything. They are simple in the way they receive love. They are pure in their intentions. They depend on another instead of relying entirely on themselves."

Saint Augustine expressed this truth beautifully when he wrote: "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/fdRIHbH67sM?si=iU9VOFJBI2nKfWbU

CHRIST ABOVE ALL | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 10.37-42] this Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned: "The highest priority of every disciple is his or her relationship with the Lord. Every other relationship, no matter how beautiful or important, is secondary to our relationship with Jesus Christ. God must occupy the first place in our hearts..."

"Discipleship has a cost. To follow Him means being willing to sacrifice even our closest human attachments when they conflict with our fidelity to God...To carry the cross every day means to choose Christ repeatedly, even when the choice is difficult..."

"Those who recognize God's messengers and welcome them with generosity will receive a reward...Nothing escapes the mind and heart of God."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/-EUb_T9Iklw?si=4EeATp98_cU9haby

FAITH OVER FEAR | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 10.26-33] this Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned: "Three times Jesus told His disciples not to be afraid...The words of Jesus remind us to always stand on the side of truth...we should never be afraid to live honestly, speak truthfully, and bear witness to the Gospel...As followers of Jesus, we are called to live with integrity even when it is difficult or unpopular."

"God knows us completely. He knows our thoughts, our struggles, our strengths, and our weaknesses. He sees not only our actions but also the intentions of our hearts. Because God is our ultimate judge, we must be attentive to our relationship with Him. We should never allow sin, selfishness, resentment, or indifference to separate us from His love. Remember this: the greatest loss is not the loss of health, wealth, or even life itself; the greatest loss is the loss of our friendship with God." "Faith is the remedy for fear... The saints were not people without fear. They experienced fear just as we do. What made them holy was their decision to trust God more than their fears."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/zM3CbtXeTLE?si=BOiO246M49_Ns-UD

PARTNERS IN GOD’S HARVEST | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 9.36-10.8] this Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned: "The very fist image that the Gospel presents to us today is that God in the person of Jesus is compassionate...After asking the disciples to pray, Jesus summoned the Twelve by name. He called them personally, entrusted them with authority, and gave them specific instructions..."

"We are not merely volunteers in a human project; we are disciples participating in the mission of the Lord himself...Finally, Jesus instructed the disciples to proclaim: "The Kingdom of heaven has come near." The disciples are sent to communicate the nearness of God's Kingdom..."

"This week, let us pray for more laborers in the Lord's harvest. Let us renew our awareness that Jesus has personally called and sent each of us. And let us ask for the grace that our words, actions, and very presence may proclaim to the world that the Kingdom of heaven is indeed at hand."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/URpxj2R28XI?si=_HaR3GOEariLZEXD

THE BREAD THAT GIVES ETERNAL LIFE | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Solemnity, Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 6.51-59] this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi Sunday, Year A. He mentioner: “The food Jesus offers is not ordinary food. He offers His very self. He desires to nourish not only our bodies but also our souls.”

“In the Eucharist, Jesus gives us His Body and Blood, His Soul and Divinity. He gives Himself completely to us because He loves us completely.”

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/Am74bgb_tyw?si=wieRyFyf65jVeO0M

COMMUNION OF DIVINE LOVE | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Solemnity, The Most Holy Trinity, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 3.16-18] this Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. He mentioned: “The Trinity is revealed as love in action…the Holy Trinity is a relationship, God Himself is communion…”

“The Father created us in love. The Son redeemed us in love. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us in love.”

“Every Eucharist is an invitation into that divine life.”

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/86y8PZwN4R0?si=q33H6Hz9F2uGQsYv

BREATH OF NEW LIFE | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Solemnity of Pentecost, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 20.19-23] this Solemnity of Pentecost, Year A. He mentioned: "This breathing of Jesus is deeply significant. It should remind us immediately of the Book of Genesis. In the beginning, God formed humanity from the dust of the earth and breathed into them the breath of life. Creation began with the breath of God...In this Gospel, Jesus breathes again — not upon the first creation, but upon a new creation. The breath of Jesus is God himself giving life through the Holy Spirit. The disciples are recreated, renewed, and restored."

"And what is the first mission entrusted to them through the Holy Spirit? Reconciliation and forgiveness: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.” The Holy Spirit is given so that communion with God and communion with one another may be restored. Pentecost, therefore, is not only about power or extraordinary gifts.

• It is about renewal.
• It is about reconciliation.
• It is about God breathing new life into weary hearts and wounded relationships..."

"The posture of every disciple must be one of openness, humility, and receptivity. We cannot live the Christian life relying only on our own wisdom, strength, or plans. We must constantly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must ask for enlightenment. We must pray daily for wisdom and discernment."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/o-AYfD2P9KI?si=PwpIIGmOAPCXkOUw

THE MISSION CONTINUES | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Solemnity, The Ascension of the Lord

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 28.16-20] this Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Year A. He mentioned: "We really have a mission. We are to continue the work of Jesus. In many ways, our Lord Jesus trust us so much and that he knows we will be able to fulfill what he entrusted us to do..."

"Let’s not be overwhelmed with the tasks before us. Our Lord Jesus himself said: “And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age.” That’s Jesus’ promise – he is with us always, to accompany us, to strengthen us, to empower us."

"None of us should ever feel alone. Even if there are times we feel everyone around us had abandoned and/or betrayed us, be confident, God is with us. He made that promise. He continues to fulfill it. We just need to trust in his abiding presence."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/-10qCUDmJ6s?si=mCAVOBKagJI_dKhs

HEART OF CHRISTIAN LIFE | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 14.14-21] this Sixth Sunday of Easter. He mentioned: "Love is the fundamental message of Jesus, and it becomes the unmistakable trademark of those who believe in him...Jesus desires an ongoing relationship with his disciples. Even when we feel distant from God, even when life seems uncertain or painful, the truth remains: God is never absent..."

"When love is real, it naturally expresses itself in action. We do not follow Christ in order to earn his love; we follow him because we already live within it. This is the heart of the Christian life. When we love, we begin to see differently. We begin to act differently. And in that lived love, Christ reveals himself to us—not in extraordinary ways necessarily, but in the quiet assurance of his presence, in the deepening peace within us, in the relationships we nurture and heal."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/voCYGLRUDAs?si=aSAh4wehIycZqGsF

THE WAY HOME | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 14.1-12] this Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A. He mentioned: "'Do not let your hearts be troubled.' The words of Jesus in the Gospel are not just comforting phrases; It is a call to faith. Jesus asked them—and us—not to let fear have the final word. He invites us to continue trusting, even when the path ahead is unclear. Faith does not remove all uncertainty, but it anchors us in the One who is faithful..."

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” What a beautiful image! Not a temporary shelter, not a fragile refuge—but a home. A place prepared, intentional, and lasting...This reveals the generosity and thoughtfulness of God. Heaven is not an afterthought; it is part of God’s loving plan from the beginning. There is room—abundant room—for all who believe."

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus did not merely show the way; he is the way. He did not simply teach truth; he is the truth. He did not just give life; he is the life. Everything we seek—direction, meaning, fulfillment—is found in Jesus..."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/WpCjJYoy6zs?si=NITxviZDV0Pyz_ve

WHICH VOICE WILL YOU FOLLOW? | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year. A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 10.1-10] this Fourth Sunday of Easter. He mentioned: "Jesus did something striking—He did not just say He is the shepherd. He also said, 'I am the gate for the sheep'...As the shepherd, Jesus leads, protects, and calls. As the gate, He is the very access point to life itself..."

"For a sheep to know the shepherd’s voice, it must stay close. It must listen repeatedly. It must learn to distinguish that voice from all others. And the shepherd, too, knows his sheep—not as a group, not as a number—but individually. He calls them by name."

"The Gospel leaves us with a quiet but urgent question: Whose voice are we listening to? There are many voices competing for our attention...which voice do I actually follow? When decisions come, when uncertainty arises, when I am pulled in different directions—whose voice do I trust? And another question follows: which gate am I approaching? Which gate am I already passing through by the choices I make each day?"

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/DjZpXFebKj8?si=ZwMkCXo0LWSF67lP

WALKING, REMEMBERING, PROCLAIMING | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Luke 24.13-35] this Third Sunday of Easter, Year A. He mentioned: "In this resurrection story, we see the quiet, steady patience of our risen Lord, the power of remembering him, and the call to proclaim him...First, we see how patient Jesus is with his disciples - he walked with them. He listened. He asked questions. And then, gently, he taught them."

"This Gospel reminds us of The importance of remembering our encounters with the Lord...Our experiences of God—moments of grace, of peace, of insight, of consolation—are not insignificant. They are seeds. Our risen Lord uses these memories to draw us back to him, to deepen our relationship with him, and to help us recognize him again and again."

"This Gospel shows us what happens when we truly encounter the risen Lord: we cannot keep him to ourselves...This is our mission: When we recognize the Lord in our lives—in Scripture, in the Eucharist, in our personal experiences—we are called to become messengers."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/ndQu3hRGWMw?si=hSWANFf1LwGQSP8A

DIVINE MERCY REVEALED IN THE RISEN CHRIST | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 20.19-31] this Second Sunday of Easter, Year A. He mentioned the following points for reflection: "First, Jesus, our risen Lord, values the relationship he has with his disciples. Second, Jesus is no longer bound by space and time. Third, Jesus meets us [Thomas] exactly where we [he] are [is]."

Towards the end, he mentioned: "The journey of the disciples is our journey too. Like them, we have moments of fear and failure. Like Thomas, we have moments of doubt. But the risen Lord continues to come to us—patiently, lovingly, and powerfully. o He comes through the locked doors of our hearts. o He comes without giving up on us. o He comes, meeting us exactly where we are.

And he invites us to move from doubt to faith, from fear to peace, from distance to relationship."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/HiLbCWdeLns?si=98O51MQj_UDo8OW4

EASTER IS A PROCLAMATION | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Solemnity, The Resurrection of the Lord, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 20.1-18++] this Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord, Easter Sunday. He mentioned: "Easter is not something we keep hidden...It is a proclamation. It is joy meant to be shared—with our families, our friends, our communities, and even with those who are still standing at their own “tombs,” weighed down by grief and hopelessness."

"We are invited to be attentive—because Jesus is still speaking. He is still calling. He still has something to say to each one of us. So today, let us ask for the grace: To recognize him, even when our hearts are heavy; to hear him call us by name. and to have the courage to go and tell others: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/Ys9K4stwHkk?si=CbaYn_2Aw6lF4cpy

FAITHFUL TO HIS MISSION | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Palm Sunday, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 26.14-27.66] this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year A. He mentioned: “In this Passion narrative, we see clearly that Jesus remained faithful to His mission until the very end. Despite betrayal, denial, humiliation, and immense suffering, He did not turn away. He walked the path set before Him with unwavering fidelity. Even in the agony of Gethsemane, His prayer revealed His heart: “not my will, but Yours be done.”

Why did Jesus endure the pain and suffering on the Cross? Fr. Rector gave two reasons.

“As we begin this Holy Week, let us not remain the same. Let us allow this story of love to touch our hearts again. Let it challenge us, shape us, and transform us.”

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/UZuhUcfA3Jo?si=uGGTwaQ8Y2ZDUJ7K

WHEN DEATH HEARS HIS VOICE | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 11.1-45] this Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A. He mentioned: “This Gospel reminds us of a profound truth: even if Jesus’ response is perceived to be delayed, He knows what He is doing. He is never late. He is never confused. He is never powerless. He is always in full control. What appears to us as delay is often part of a greater revelation of God’s glory…”

“There is no place Jesus cannot enter. There is no situation He cannot touch. Not even the darkness of the tomb can resist Him. Not even death itself can stand in His presence. He steps into grief, into loss, into what seems final—and He transforms it. This is who Jesus is: the Lord of life.”

“This moment reveals something extraordinary: the voice of Jesus has power even over death. He speaks, and life returns. He calls, and the dead obey.”

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/14mCsCj_x40?si=hxvYDo_Su_hE61bc

CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 4th Sunday of Lent, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 9.1-41] this Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A. He mentioned: “The first thing this Gospel episode reveals to us is that God always looks at us and knows what we truly need. And more importantly, God makes the first move… God takes the initiative because He does not want us to remain in darkness. He wants to lift us up out of darkness and bring us into His light.”

“What God desires from us is a change of heart...Miracles do happen to those who believe…During this season of Lent, the Lord invites us to step out of whatever darkness may still surround us—fear, resentment, doubt, indifference—and allow His light to reach us and shine on us.”

“May the Lord open our eyes today, so that we may recognize His light in our lives, appreciate His goodness in the ordinary moments of each day, and respond with faith, gratitude, and worship.”

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/IUlRAJ9uyU4?si=zTVdxzL2LnyKhbiI

In the Gospel on this Third Sunday of Lent, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well and invites her to receive living water.

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [John 4.5-42] this Third Sunday of Lent, Year A. He mentioned: “The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is more than a story about water. It is a story about thirst – her thirst, our thirst, and God’s thirst for us.”

In this Gospel episode we see: (1) Jesus took the initiative. (2) Jesus cross barriers to reveal that the gift of salvation is for all. (3) Regarding the faith journey of the Samaritan woman: Her heart opened little by little. She questioned. She wondered. She listened. And in the end, she believed! (4) Thru her, we know, that only Jesus can satisfy the deepest hunger and thirst we experience. (5) An authentic encounter with Jesus always leads to mission.

Truly, only in Him is our rest, only in Jesus we find our hope and salvation: What are you hungry for in your life? What do you thirst for?

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/in16r3eHyHg?si=bXR91aTnTZAACAaS

Glimpse of Heaven | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Second Sunday of Lent, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 17.1-9] this Second Sunday of Lent, Year A. He mentioned: “On the Second Sunday of Lent, the Church always takes us to the Mountain of Transfiguration…Transfiguration prefigures our destiny. So, resurrection and life in heaven will be a whole new form beyond the human life that we know here. The Transfiguration should make us hungry for the things of heaven for it points to our destiny.”

The Transfiguration of Jesus is meant to comfort, to give encouragement, and to give the disciples a glimpse of Jesus’ life beyond the scandal of the cross. Indeed, it gives us a glimpse of heaven, and that future glory can be ours too!

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/YrEcRAhjzGg?si=Rdf8hyB6fzGPxjYR

TEMPTED, BUT NOT OVERCOME | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | First Sunday of Lent, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 4.1-11] this First Sunday of Lent, Year A. He mentioned: "The Church brings us into the desert with Jesus. In the Gospel, we heard Jesus fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil...Right at the beginning of Lent, we are reminded: the spiritual life is a battle."

"The devil never stops in his attempt to entice us. He may leave for a moment, but he will most definitely return. He wants to win us over. Temptation is not a one-time event. Even when we are not in the wilderness, temptation is everywhere. Evil is everywhere. It is part of our journey in life."

"Here’s the good news: in Jesus, we see humanity at its best — tempted but not overcome."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/2wop-rmzksw?si=DLfs9Ov8qwxsD0w0

CALLED HIGHER: FULFILLING THE LAW OF LOVE | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 5.17-37] this Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. He mentioned: "God in the person of Jesus is holding us to an even higher standard. And He does this not to burden us, but to transform us...It is not enough to avoid the external act. The Lord wants our hearts. He is gazing at our hearts all the time. He wants the roots of sin removed, not just the visible branches. He is calling us beyond minimal obedience. Jesus is calling us to holiness."

"Jesus does not want observers. He wants doers. More than that, He wants fulfillers of the law...To fulfill the law means to live its deepest meaning. And the deepest meaning of the law is love."

"We need to remove from our lives everything that hinders us from completely following the Lord. Whatever leads us to sin—habits, relationships, resentments, addictions, occasions of temptation—must be confronted. We cannot cling to what destroys us and expects to grow in holiness...God calls us higher. Because He wants heaven for us."

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday's Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/cAif9_b-7ro?si=1iLCf9M3qv7-HLMC

YOU ARE SALT. YOU ARE LIGHT. | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 5.13-16] this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. He mentioned: “In the Gospel, Jesus said, ‘You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world….’When Jesus calls his disciples salt, He is saying that his disciples’ presence in the world should make life richer, more meaningful, more human.”

“Jesus reminds his disciples that light is not meant to be hidden. Faith is not meant to be locked inside church walls or kept private out of fear. It is meant to be seen—in our choices, our priorities, our love.”

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/D2aU-fQeZN0?si=yZUXZPgL8es33uLZ

WHERE TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Matthew 5.1-12] this Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. He mentioned: “We are given the beginning of the greatest teaching from Jesus himself as to how we can gain life and have it abundantly. In other words, how to attain that life of happiness and peace envision by our Lord for his followers.”

We have the Beatitudes or nine attitudes or ways of living which our Lord Jesus taught his disciples to be and to have…We are followers of Jesus when our way of living reflects the way of life in the Beatitudes.. And Jesus himself tells his followers: “Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven…” This is another way of saying, persevere until the end.

Watch and listen! Prepare for this coming Sunday’s Liturgy!

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/JW-fCVExCJU?si=3wiuyzKLF_2wkqEQ