Image retrieved from https://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/the-transfiguration-makes-a-way-for-the-cross/ Oftentimes in life we don’t have the full and complete picture and are oftentimes blinded by our human condition. I imagine that Peter, James and his brother John had no idea who Jesus really was as portrayed in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9 verses 2-10 when being led up toContinue reading “The Transfiguration of our Lord”
Author Archives: StreetEvangelist
When I am weak, then I am strong
The second letter to the Corinthians chapter 12 verses 7-10 today has a reflective image from St. Paul in which he acknowledges that God’s grace is sufficient for us despite our weaknesses and “beatings” from Satan. In a sense, on this sabbath day and remembrance of our independence as a Nation, we should strive forContinue reading “When I am weak, then I am strong”
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Image retrieved from: 5 Beautiful Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Every Catholic Should Know | (churchpop.com) Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy God our Father in heaven have mercy on us GodContinue reading “Sacred Heart of Jesus”
Holy Trinity Sunday
Today, in the Church, we look at the nuisances of the mystery of the Holy Trinity and reflect on our own ontological nature as being made in His image as human beings. While it is impossible to fully understand the mystery of the Trinity and God-head that are one in three, yet three in oneContinue reading “Holy Trinity Sunday”
7th Sunday of Easter or Feast Day of Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ Reflection
The popular praise and worship Gospel Song, Lord I Lift Your Name on High by songwriter Rick Founds encompasses the totality of God’s plan for salvation history in a great song that one can teach their young children, especially as we explore the mystery of Jesus’s Ascension into Heaven. Our end goal is of courseContinue reading “7th Sunday of Easter or Feast Day of Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ Reflection”
The Spirit of Truth
What is the Spirit of truth that Jesus speaks about in John’s Gospel? When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears and will declare to you the things that are coming.” Jn. 16:13 The foreshadowingContinue reading “The Spirit of Truth”
Friends of the Holy Land
By Brendan Metcalfe The goal of Friends of the Holy Land is to secure a resilient and enduring Christian community in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and Jordan. The pandemic has hit hard in this area as around 70% of Christians rely on tourism for a living. For a second year there have been noContinue reading “Friends of the Holy Land”
No Vaccine for Martyrdom
By Tom Grossman, Jr., Special Contributor I thought it important to use my friend Tom’s testimony who agreed to be a guest contributor to this blog site. God bless, Eric – The Street Evangelist. No Vaccine for Martyrdom In the Gospel for this past Sunday, we see that Jesus comes to the disciples as theyContinue reading “No Vaccine for Martyrdom”
Responding to Receiving by Peter Cao, devoted husband & father
Responding to Receiving By Peter Cao, devoted husband and father I found writing the last reflection piece in the evening such a wonderful way to use time I would otherwise have spent preoccupied with my future financial state of affairs, or anxiously mulling over my day after I had already completed a thorough nightly examen.Continue reading “Responding to Receiving by Peter Cao, devoted husband & father”
Good Friday: The Defeat of Sin and Fulfillment to New Life
Oftentimes, as I ponder over the meaning of Good Friday when reflecting on the mystery of the cross as our instrument of salvation, I can’t help but think about the two that were crucified alongside with our Lord and Savior on that hilltop known as Golgotha or “Place of the Skull” in Hebrew. Luke’s Gospel,Continue reading “Good Friday: The Defeat of Sin and Fulfillment to New Life”
Holy Week: Acknowledging Our Weakness to Follow Him and Lift up our cross to new life
This week marks the greatest week in the history of the Christian church. From the Judeo celebration of Pesach marking the Exodus event, the Seder meal commemorates the paschal full moon starting on March 27 sundown and ending Sunday April 4 to the start of Holy Week this week. We see the plan of God’sContinue reading “Holy Week: Acknowledging Our Weakness to Follow Him and Lift up our cross to new life”
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah chapter 7 verses 10-12 has an interesting conversation between the King of Judah Ahaz and the Lord in which Ahaz decides to not follow through on his hearing of the Lord’s voice to ask for a sign for his people in which he remarks “I willContinue reading “The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Being Present for Others and Having the heart and mind of Christ in our world amidst violence, destruction and death
A great friend and fellow Knights of Columbus, “Sir Knight” Isaac, passed away recently from my home parish that I attend due to Covid-19 complications. I have a relative that is a Benedictine monk that resides at the Cistercian Abbey in Subiaco and thought to myself that a mass remembrance memorial seemed like the appropriateContinue reading “Being Present for Others and Having the heart and mind of Christ in our world amidst violence, destruction and death”
The Holy Hour: Keeping It Real and Living Authentic Christianity. 5th Sunday of Lent Reflection
Mt. 7:5
Cao Family St. Joseph Altar
St. Joseph, pray for us. May our domestic church at home be strengthened this day and this year. Amen!
St. Joseph, pray for us.
fyi – my almost 7 year old daughter Abigail (Hebrew – my father’s joy) was holding the Ipad for this video blog (hence the reason I am leaving as is). Happy Feast of St. Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary. Grant, we pray, almight God, that by Saint Joseph’s intercession, your Church (and domestic church)Continue reading “St. Joseph, pray for us.”
Learning the Art of Receiving
Fr. Jacques Philippe wrote that “it is vitally important to learn to receive, to receive one’s very own self along with everything from God. To the extent we learn to receive everything from God, we can give to others the best of ourselves.”1 Indeed, it is written into the nature of being Christians that weContinue reading “Learning the Art of Receiving”
St. Patrick, the Trinity and the “Luck of the Irish”
On March 17, the Christian church recognizes the feast of St. Patrick whom was a 4th century bishop and missionary (slave that was captured and brought to the Irish isle) and brought his experience of Christianity to the Celtic peoples (see more about the life of Patrick: Who Was St. Patrick? – HISTORY) at theContinue reading “St. Patrick, the Trinity and the “Luck of the Irish””
Lumen Christi
The most profound statement in all of the Gospels and in Christian tradition can be summed up with the reading from John’s gospel today that proclaims “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so everyone who believes in him might have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). The old testament reading from 2Continue reading “Lumen Christi”
Unite and Trust God
The Gospel reading from Luke chapter 11, verses 14-23 speaks of Jesus having cast out a demon from a mute man. Once the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke to the crowds and were amazed. Naysayers and skeptics who saw the miracle were puzzled and asked if it was by the power ofContinue reading “Unite and Trust God”
Righteous Anger & Temple Cleansing
In the Gospel of John of the second chapter, verses 13-25, we see a very human Jesus that is quite angry for the temple being used as a marketplace for the exorbitant sale of sacrificial offerings. In Leviticus 14:22 we see that a poorer person can purchase 2 turtledoves or pigeons which are more affordableContinue reading “Righteous Anger & Temple Cleansing”
The Cross Leads us to New Life
The cross is the great paradox of being a Christian disciple. It is through the cross, which is an instrument of suffering, pain and sacrifice that we will come to new life with a merciful and loving God. As Jesus proclaims in Matthew’s Gospel, anyone that wishes to follow Jesus “must deny himself, take upContinue reading “The Cross Leads us to New Life”
Prayer
Oftentimes, I find that if I don’t start my day in prayer, or include prayer in my day; the problems of the world and life in general can become quite messy. It is important to quiet ourselves when we pray and give all of our troubles and worries to God. Prayer will bring us joy,Continue reading “Prayer”
Evil, suffering, and God’s divine plan
In the 14th century, Italian author Dante Alighieri wrote his Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso political allegory revealing the vile acts of those nefarious individuals living during his time. His various nine circles of Hell represented an increased level of wickedness and strife ranging from the following: those in limbo who were unbaptized Christians and virtuousContinue reading “Evil, suffering, and God’s divine plan”
Encounter Our True Self
Today marks the second Sunday of Lent and the readings in the Catholic Church come from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9 verses 2-10. The transfiguration moment that startled Peter and the disciples had to be a powerful moment to behold. The combination of the old testament and fulfillment of the new testament as portrayedContinue reading “Encounter Our True Self”
StreetEvangelist 