When the Apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith, our Lord said that faith as small as a mustard seed would allow them to do incredible things. Forgiveness works wonders, too! Jesus came for everyone and foretold that people will go about their everyday lives, serving well or not, until He comes again. When Pharisees asked when the Kingdom of God would come, the Lord advised them to look around. Thankfulness shows that we see in Creation reflections of God’s greatness. Do we try to remove smudges of complacency that keep us from mirrorin

All Souls’ Day invites us to look beyond people’s faults. No one can completely merit a place at the heavenly banquet, but God invites all of us. He leaves it up to us to come to Him or not. Invited to a large dinner party at the home of a Pharisee, Jesus recommended future guest lists of people unable to reciprocate. Generosity, endurance of hard times, and perseverance in prayer here on Earth get rewarded in heaven. Jesus said that anyone planning to build a tower would calculate the cost. When we make sacrifices, do we give thanks that G

When asked how many people would receive salvation, the Lord said that everyone should strive to enter heaven’s gate. Jesus healed a crippled woman, but a synagogue official bristled because the Lord could have waited until after the day of rest. At a Pharisee’s home on another Sabbath, the Lord asked if He could lawfully cure a man that day. No one answered, but Jesus healed him anyway. Sirach, an Old Testament sage, plainly said that God is not deaf. Do we stay close enough to the Lord to hear what He has to say to us or wait until we fee

In a parable, a widow pestered a judge until he gave her a just verdict. Likewise, God helps people who pray, although Jesus acknowledged that the Father’s timeline can challenge faith. Our Lord declined to arbitrate when a man’s brother refused to share an inheritance. Instead, Jesus told a story about a landowner who planned to build bigger barns, store a bountiful harvest, and then enjoy a life of leisure, never considering how he might use his blessings for a higher purpose. Jesus could return at any time. Meanwhile, faith helps us to d

God granted young King Solomon’s request for wisdom beyond his years and sent the prophet Jonah to warn the Ninevites to repent. In Jesus’ generation, people wanted more signs but failed to see where the Lord’s disregard of exaggerated rituals pointed. Ten lepers begged for Jesus’ mercy. All received healing after going on their way, but only one returned to thank the Lord. Sending disciples to minister in His name, Jesus said to travel without provisions. When we pray about what we want God to provide, do we offer a sign of our faith-f

Understandably, Jonah did not see why he should have to tell the people of Nineveh that God planned to destroy the city because of its wickedness. Jonah got angry with God about what he endured, only to have God decide to show mercy toward the Ninevites. When a scholar of Mosaic Law wanted confirmation that he did enough to merit eternal life, the Lord instead told His parable of a good Samaritan. Two sisters welcomed Jesus’ visit, but Martha got exasperated with having to do the serving (a lot, if the Twelve had also come), while Mary sat li

Meeting Jesus for the first time, Nathanael realized that the Lord already knew him. Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew, became one of the Twelve. Unwelcome in a Samaritan village, Jesus told the Disciples not to retaliate. Nevertheless, He could seem harsh at times. When someone wanted to bury his father and then follow Jesus, the Lord said to leave the interment to others. Even a request to say good-bye to family at home met with admonishment to head with Him and not look back. Like children, we need God’s help and tend to ask for it now!