Journey of Faith
185 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago -Get inspired and energize your faith with Journey of Faith (JOF) personal reflections by Maryknoll,
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Journey of Faith, June 7, 2020
June 07, 2020 05:01 - 5 minutes - 4.65 MBWhen he wrote his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul might have been thinking about the rejoicing we were all set to share yesterday on Ordination Day. Well, things got turned around through no fault of our own, and I think Paul would understand why: the unwelcome reality of quarantines and lockdowns. Yesterday Deacon Gregory McPhee was to have become a Maryknoll priest. And Friday was the day Father Alejandro Marina, a Maryknoll priest associate who served in Latin America, would have b...
Journey of Faith, May 31
May 31, 2020 04:00 - 4 minutes - 6.71 MBDid you know that today is your birthday—and mine, too? Believers the world over celebrate Pentecost Sunday as the birthday of our Church. Fifty days after Easter, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and gave them the gift of tongues. From that day forward, they were missioners of the Gospel, fortified with the Holy Spirit to make disciples of all nations. Because we are part of the universal Church—missioners called to love and serve the Lord—today is our birthday, too. On th...
Journey of Faith, May 24, 2020
May 24, 2020 04:00 - 3 minutes - 5.18 MBSome of the most reassuring words in the Gospel come from the evangelist Matthew who tells us that Jesus will be with us always, even until the end of time. The story of the Ascension is our spiritual touchstone—the fulfillment of Christ’s victory over death. Forty days after his resurrection from the dead, and after visiting with his apostles, Jesus made one last appearance—on Mount Olivet. With a traditional Jewish blessing, he raised his hands in a final parting and ascended into h...
Journey of Faith, Mother's Day , May17, 2020
May 17, 2020 04:04 - 4 minutes - 6.43 MB“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 Friend, I love Peter’s admonition to witness hope in God with gentleness and reverence. Never impose. Just live the Good News of salvation in Christ each day with joy—and be the example that changes someone’s life forever. As Pope Francis likes to remind us, Jesus is saying, “Go, don’t miss a chance to bear me witness!” The Resurrection is the...
Journey of Faith, Mother's Day , May10, 2020
May 10, 2020 04:00 - 4 minutes - 5.58 MBFriend, What gift is greater than the gift of life? I can’t think of one. Today we celebrate Mother’s Day, one of the most significant and memory-rich holidays in our calendar. Like you, I can’t help but recall the many celebrations in my home as I was growing up. Making Mom Queen for a Day gave us as much pleasure as it gave her! So we honor mothers everywhere today and ask God to bless them in their work of human creation—and for nurturing a new generation of believers, faithful to the Go...
Journey of Faith, Prayer for 4th Sunday of Easter , May 3, 2020
May 03, 2020 04:00 - 4 minutes - 6.43 MBHow you define “abundant life” depends a lot on your point of view. For some people it’s having security, even though we know security can be an illusion. For others it’s about acquiring things as though material objects are the source of lasting joy. Both of those ideas have little or nothing to do with creating the abundant life you and I know. The deepest and richest abundance only comes in one way: by caring for others—the way Christ did. Obviously, I’m not talking about an economic mode...
Journey of Faith, Divine Mercy Sunday, April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020 04:00 - 4 minutes - 6.43 MBSometimes our eyes are open, but we don’t always see... call it selective vision or just the pace of life getting in the way. Yes, our days can be filled with distractions. Today’s Gospel takes us on the road to Emmaus when two of the disciples, feeling the absence of their rabbi and leader, encounter a man whom they didn’t recognize—not at first anyway. Not until he broke bread with them just as Jesus had done at the Last Supper. And then, as Luke says, Jesus vanished. We have the benefit ...
Journey of Faith, Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19th
April 19, 2020 04:00 - 4 minutes - 6.43 MBEaster and divine mercy... these are sacred partners in the practice of our faith, and this time of crisis is a moment to recall the power of both gifts in our lives. Easter is God’s promise that through the Cross we are inheritors of the Kingdom—if we share Christ’s mercy with the world. That’s the plan! So today, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, an observance started by St. Pope John Paul II who often preached about mercy at Easter time. That’s because of his spiritual closeness with Faus...
Journey of Faith, Easter Sunday, 2020
April 12, 2020 04:00 - 4 minutes - 6.43 MB“Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King's triumph!” ~ The Exsultet: The Proclamation of Easter Friend, Even as we wait for our prayers for healing from COVID-19 to be answered, we know that Christ our Savior has risen from the dead and the promise of eternal life is ours to celebrate! The joy of Easter is almost beyond our comprehension. God turns everything we know upside down with his ...
Journey of Faith, April 5, 2020
April 05, 2020 04:00 - 4 minutes - 6.43 MB“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” ~ Matthew 21:9 It happened 2,000 years ago: the triumphal entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem, so quickly followed by the way of the cross. It’s the day we remember as Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week when faith triumphs over all suffering, including death itself. The enduring majesty of the message invites our remembering—and reflection—for in the midst of this pandemic we are on t...
Journey of Faith, March 29, 2020
March 29, 2020 04:00 - 3 minutes - 5.01 MB“Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” John chapter 11, verse 40 John’s Gospel is a consolation, particularly for today as we confront the suffering, pain and death brought on by the current pandemic. Like Martha and Mary, we may have our doubts—and our understandable fears. But our common faith in Christ provides the assurance that God is always with us, even as we pass through the valley of the shadow of death. Martha and Mary learned that lesson after Jes...
Journey of Faith, 4th Sunday of Lent, 2020
March 23, 2020 03:26 - 2 minutes - 2.67 MBBrothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” ~ Ephesians 5:8“ Dear Friend, St. Paul says we should live as children of light. I think that’s really good advice. You have to admit: we just don’t do well in the dark. We hurt ourselves... we bump into things... we get lost. Today’s reading tells us what we know in our hearts: that by welcoming the light of Christ into our lives, we leave the darkness behind. For us that means rel...
Journey of Faith, March 15, 2020
March 15, 2020 04:00 - 3 minutes - 3.33 MB“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” ~ Psalm 95:7 Friend, This is hard work. It’s the third week of Lent and what we started with every good intention is starting to feel weighty—maybe even burdensome. What exactly did we start anyway? Listen to the reading today from Exodus. The Israelites said the same thing to Moses when they left Egypt: “Why did you make us leave, only to die of thirst in the desert?” Worried for his people, Moses prayed with all his might; then he fo...
Journey of Faith, March 8, 2020
March 08, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 6.67 MBThe second week of Lent... and transformation is definitely the message of today’s Gospel. Are you up to the challenge? In the company of his disciples—Peter, James and John his brother—Jesus revealed his divinity. At that moment, Matthew says “his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” What Jesus is telling us by example is that we can be changed, too. Lent is the time for a quiet transformation of our spiritual lives, a time to shine our light and proclaim through...
Journey of Faith, March 1, 2020
March 01, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 5.01 MB“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.” Psalm Chapter 51, verses 3-4 Friend, Today is the first Sunday of Lent... and as some poets might say, the first day of the rest of our lives. Time to get on with the work of personal reckoning—acknowledging our sins and shortcomings, and seeking forgiveness. But it’s work of the most rewarding kind. Because we are missioners, each...
Journey of Faith, February 23, 2020
February 23, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 6.67 MBReaching the fullness of life... isn’t that what we all want? Not in a material sense but in a deeply spiritual way—by relieving a hurt, eliminating some past guilt, or just finding a new direction that’s centered on doing good and witnessing God’s love. Fortunately, we have a way. It’s called Lent and the possibility of second chances. This Wednesday we observe the ritual of the ashes and the beginning of Lent. We know the ashes are a reminder of our mortality, and Lent a time of denial. Bu...
Journey of Fatih, February 16, 2020
February 16, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 6.67 MBToday’s Gospel is a lesson in wisdom. There is God’s way—the mysteries we may never understand in this life. And then there is our way—the very human tendency to rely on our own instincts and see just what we want to see. Figuring out the difference doesn’t come from living longer or believing we’re smarter. It comes from knowing that God’s way is beyond us, and that trust in God is the way we draw closer to the mystery of our faith. Jesus is asking us to seek wisdom with the eyes of the in...
Journey of Faith, February 2, 2020
February 02, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.11 MB“Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory.” ~ Psalm 24:8~ Psalm 24:8 Today the psalmist is asking us to open our portals wide and let the king of glory enter our hearts. Not just when we hear Mass or say the rosary. But all the time. Sometimes we have the impression that to find God we need to get outside of daily living. Not so. In fact, just the opposite. God is present everywhere... amidst struggles and joys, with family and at the office, when we’re on the ph...
Journey of Faith, January 26, 2020
January 26, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 6.78 MB“They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” Matthew Chapter 4, verse 21 How spontaneous are you? Do you look for challenges? We can only admire the apostles James and John who had the heart-stopping courage to leave their comfort zone as fishermen and take up a new calling. “Come after me,” said the preacher from Galilee, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Today’s Gospel is a...
Journey of Faith, January 19, 2020
January 19, 2020 14:11 - 3 minutes - 5.07 MB“I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 I love the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25): They showed us unusual kindness. Here’s the background: When St. Paul arrived in Malta with his disciples, carrying the light of salvation, the people welcomed him with “extraordinary hospitality.” (Acts 28:2) The weather had turned bad, but the hosts lit a fire and welcomed their guests with kindness. ...
Journey of Faith, January 12, 2020
January 12, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 6.78 MB“He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Acts Chapter10 Verse 38 Here’s a suggestion for the early days of January: Let’s make 2020 a “Francis Year.” If I sound mysterious, I don’t mean to. Our Holy Father wants us to be inspired to greatness, constantly renewed in the Spirit. So let’s check in with him and see how we can make this New Year our personal best as missioners. “Ask yourselves this question,” says Pope Francis. “How often is ...
Journey of Faith, January 5, 2020
January 05, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.4 MB“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” Isaiah chapter 60 verse 1 Everyone has a ritual for ringing in the New Year and mine is pretty simple. The first thing I do is pause and thank God for my blessings. The year has been rich in Gospel witness—a blessing with so many rewards. Thanks to you, our Fathers and Brothers have brought the compassion of Our Lord to more families in need. Many of them have joined us as members of the faithful,...
Journey of Faith, December 29, 2019
December 29, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 7.37 MB“Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another...” ~ Colossians 3:12-13 Time to get dressed up in your best finery. No, I’m not thinking of New Year’s Eve, although I love a good party just as much as anyone! I’m thinking of Paul’s advice— to put on the mantle of compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness... you add the rest. Why do we make New Year’s resolutions? Becaus...
Journey of Faith, December 22, 2019
December 22, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 9.4 MB“Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” ~ Isaiah 7:14 Dear friend, Trust in God; do not be afraid. The Christmas story is filled with these comforting words. I think about the shepherds in the fields terrified at first by the appearance of an angel. But then they were immediately comforted with these words: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the pe...
Journey of Faith, December 15, 2019
December 15, 2019 22:16 - 3 minutes - 5.01 MB“Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.” ~ Isaiah 35:4-6 Dear Friend, What is your deepest longing? That’s the question I’ve been exploring with you these past few weeks of Advent. Perhaps it’s having more time to spend with the people you love the most: family, friends, fellow volunteers w...
Journey of Faith, December 8, 2019
December 08, 2019 05:00 - 4 minutes - 7.69 MB“There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:9 The lion resting with the lamb... the leopard reclining with the kid. These are just two of the traditional images of Christmas that convey our message of peace and good will. The birth of the Christ Child is nothing less than the transformational event of our lives. We call the Infant Jesus our Savior and Prince of Peace because God is asking us to become messeng...
Journey of Faith, November 10, 2019
November 08, 2019 20:11 - 4 minutes - 7.69 MBLife has a way of challenging our faith. At times it seems that God is asking us to carry burdens that are more than we can bear. We yearn to see things more clearly and understand God’s purpose for us and those we love. From time to time, I admit that includes me. The first step in receiving our “God of the living” is to trust. As I wrote last week, we cannot know the inner workings of the universe. The mystery is just too vast. But we do know that in Christ we are destined for greatness as...
Journey of Faith, Sunday, November 3 2019
November 01, 2019 15:55 - 4 minutes - 7.69 MB“Before the Lord, the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.” ~ Wisdom 11:22 Friend, The universe is almost unfathomable—more than we can imagine. It’s even more than scientists can grasp because with each discovery comes a puzzle, another awesome mystery to unpack. The human mind is naturally curious—we just want to know the intricacies of our universe. At the same time, it’s important to accept that our capabilities are finite. Unde...
Journey of Faith, Sunday, October 20
October 18, 2019 18:26 - 4 minutes - 7.69 MBWhen was the last time you updated your résumé? I’m kidding, of course, but not by much. The most important title any of us can have is “Compassionate Missioner,” although I imagine that’s not how you usually talk about yourself! As we begin our third week of the Church’s Extraordinary Month of Mission, I invite you to think about how you can grow as a compassionate missioner, and build up our Church along the way. Our Holy Father Pope Francis calls this a commitment to missionary formation...
Journey of Faith, Sunday, October 13
October 15, 2019 11:14 - 3 minutes - 3.54 MBFor people of faith like us, we have a trove of inspiration to help us live our mission calling. I’m talking about the saints and martyrs—and the unsung heroes of everyday life who have crossed paths with us and left behind a blessing or two. This week, during our Extraordinary Month of Mission, our Holy Father Pope Francis asks us to deepen our faith by spending time with the missionary saints, martyrs and confessors. From the earliest days of the Church right through the present century, w...
Journey of Faith, October 6, 2019 with Fr. Raymond Finch
October 04, 2019 17:23 - 4 minutes - 7.69 MBWelcome to the Extraordinary Month of Mission! Our Holy Father Pope Francis invites each of us to practice our faith a little more deeply, with a little more fervor this month. Here’s why: In order to increase our faith, as Luke says, we must go out to others. That’s what mission is—a personal relationship with Jesus impelling us to be more and do more in his name. He is asking you to be his personal ambassador. Proclaiming mission is something we were gifted in baptism. So our Holy Father ...
Journey of Faith, Sunday, September 22
September 22, 2019 04:00 - 4 minutes - 7.69 MB“Blessed are the peacemakers,” says the Lord. And I know you are one of them. “Bringing peace is central to the mission of Christ’s disciples.” ~ Pope Francis Pope Francis has made peacemaking a central part of his ministry. Blessed are we who answer his call by making peace a priority—even when achieving it seems illusive or a downright pipedream. The example of a suffering Christ tells us we always have to try. Yesterday’s observance of the International Day of Peace is a good place to s...
Jounrey of Faith, Septermber 15, 2019
September 13, 2019 15:53 - 5 minutes - 9.25 MB“Indeed the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” 1st Letter to Timothy, Chapter 1 Verse 14 In devoted service to the Mabatini region of Tanzania, Transfiguration is celebrating 15 years of evangelization. Here, practicing the Gospel values of caring and compassion are part of everyday life. “We say, ‘Kristo anaishi hapa Mabatini,’ ”says Maryknoll Father Lam Hua (NOTE:pronounced hwah). Transfiguration’s pastor. “That means, ‘Christ ...
Journey of Faith, September 8, 2019
September 06, 2019 19:36 - 5 minutes - 9.44 MB“And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours: prosper the work of our hands for us!”Psalm 90:17Today I am writing to you from Hong Kong—where I have a special mission to perform! This Thursday, the Catholic Church will remember a great and inspirational missioner whose example of love and compassion is still being felt throughout the world. I speak with love and admiration of Maryknoll’s co-founder, Father Thomas Frederick Price. Along with Cardinal John Tong and other dignitar...
Journey of Faith, September 2019
August 28, 2019 18:00 - 3 minutes - 6.46 MBDear Friend, Paul’s message is perfectly fitting for the Labor Day holiday we observe tomorrow... doing everything in God’s name for God’s glory. For those of us who are believers, is there any other way? “Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 The early Christians recognized the dignity of work, giving it a special meaning. Their worship was known as “liturgy,” a word derived from the Greek for “public service” or “work.” So for the early Christians you ...