There are many phrases that are found in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and perhaps it is because we hear it so often, we pay scant attention to what they really mean and even imply.  Of course, it is sad when this happens, because it means that we are not paying full attention to the words that make up the Liturgy of the Mass.  What is it that I am referring to in particular?  It is a phrase found in the embolism, which is a short prayer said or sung after the Lord’s Prayer.  In the Roman Rite of the Mass, the embolism is followed by the doxology.   In the less literal ..read more

Without a doubt, the majority of the human population fears death.  And we are not just talking about that moment when our hearts stop beating and all our human biological connections are no longer working.  That would be death with a capital D.  The death that I am referring to concerns all the little deaths that all of us are called to die to while our biological systems are still well connected and working to keep the body physically alive.    It can be easily summed up by calling it the death to the self.  And this is experienced when we make that conscious e ..read more

  The season and time for the penitential services in the archdiocese has just ended, as we are currently in the period called Holy Week.  Twive a year, the Archdiocese organizes penitential services in all our parishes to allow the people of God's church to come and encounter God's mercy and forgiveness through the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  These celebrations are organized to encourage the congregation to experience God's underserving love and mercy through the forgiveness of their sins which may have kept them away from the Mass.  In the process of ..read more

As Christians, we believe that Jesus is God.  This fundamental belief makes it easy for us to accept and follow many things in the Christian tradition, and it includes the many hymns that we hear during Christmas time.  And because we believe that Jesus is God, we also silently have the belief that Jesus’ family tree and bloodline must have been perfect.  However, it was Raymond Brown, the renowned biblical scholar, who said that Jesus’ bloodline was really far from perfect, and we need to reject thoughts that Jesus must have been descended from a line of perfect, scandal-free a ..read more

There is a part of me that has his eyes on myself and sometimes makes certain judgments based on what he sees.  It has to be that vain part of me that is way too concerned about how the self is behaving and how others see me.  Lately, it has been quite clear to me that this other self of me sees Fr Luke as a person who is feeling the dreariness of being bored in life.  How can one emerge healthily if one views life as somewhat boring and unexciting?  I believe this is a perennial question that bothers and upsets many many people.   My spiritual readings are wide and v ..read more

As a priest who very frequently hears the confessions of penitents, I must admit that I very seldom hear my penitents confess that they have withheld the forgiveness of someone or a group of people who had caused them some pain and turmoil some time ago.  It’s not that these hurts do not occur in people, but it does take a special grace from God to allow people who have been hurt in the past, to look at the hurt that they have nursed in their hearts, and make that often painful decision to let that pain go by extending the needed forgiveness to their tormentors.  I have asked some pe ..read more

When I was a young lad, there was a movie that enthralled so many people in the theatres.  I wasn’t taken to watch it by my parents as they said that it was a movie for adults, and in their minds, it was something that I wouldn’t understand.  The movie starred a young Ryan O’Neil and Ali MacGraw, and the title of the movie was just made up of two simple words “Love Story”.  From the movie came a very popular song “Where do I begin?” written by musician Francis Lai, made popular by the crooning voice of Andy Williams.    When I was older, I made it a point to rent the v ..read more

There are many different forms or kinds of grace that are given to the Catholic in the Holy Catholic Church.  But before we get into the Sacraments of the Church, let us settle a common misconception or misunderstanding of many in the faith.  What is grace?    Those who are familiar with the Scriptures would remember that St. Paul is known as the “apostle of grace.”  For a start, grace needs to be understood as a gift or a favour from God, but most importantly, it is a undeserved favour given by God.  Through grace, God inclines toward us, giving us gifts that are ..read more

There are some things that I do as a priest every day that I truly believe helps me in my spiritual journey in life.  Each morning, I have the habit of getting up early slightly before 6am to get ready to celebrate the Eucharist in the study area of my mother’s apartment where I am spending the days of my prolonged Medical Leave given to me by my doctor at the hospital where I received medical treatment when I was injured in an accident whilst I was on my morning exercise routine of walking sometime last May.  The only other person present at the Mass is my mother, and I am grateful ..read more

                                 Following the life of a Church mystic when life has its challenges What a reading of St Teresa of Avila’s autobiography revealed I’ve always believed that a person who faces the challenges of living life positively despite having a few other physical challenges can and should learn from the mystical saints who have written autobiographies of their spiritual pursuits.  The Catholic Church has had many saints who supplied her with ma ..read more