Homilies and Other Writings

 Today’s readings are a reminder that there is no love without suffering, but there is no happiness without love. There is no love without self-sacrifice: “ If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” ( Matthew 16:21-27) There is no happiness, no life without love: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” 1. Peter had just received the name “Peter” and had been established as the future foundation of Christ’s Church. He is now called “Satan” by the same mouth that proclaimed him rock (cf. Matthew 16:18, 23). Why? Because Peter thought that human beings could be saved without the Cross. It is as if Jesus were saying to him, “ Satan is the one who tells people that they can be saved without the cross, without penance and living the selfish lifestyle of the world. Satan is the one who told me to use my powers to impress people and have an easy life (cf. Matthew ...

  “Who do you say that I am?” How do we know the right doctrine about Jesus? How do we know what God says about this or that? This is today’s topic and I want to show the crucial role of the pope in God’s plan. 1. What do you think God says about…(“x”)? Is that a human idea? Of course: if it wasn’t, you could not think it. So, even if it is what God says, if you can think of it, then it is an idea proportionate to your mind, something you can think of and at least partially understand. Now, can this idea come from your own mind? It could, in the following sense: a human idea is something you can come up with, because it is proportionate to your mind. In the same way you can think of it, you can also come up with it. Could this idea come from an angel? Of course. If an angel, who is a superior mind, can think angelic ideas, much more can he think human ideas and come up with them. If he can think the more difficult, he can also think the less difficult. Thus, human ideas can a...

  1. A Canaanite woman from that region came out, and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon. ” But he did not answer her at all. Has it not happened to you? You pray, you shout, and He does not answer. Now, this woman knew that Jesus was hearing her shouting; we, sometimes, struggle to believe that someone is listening. Jesus did not answer her, but she knew that Jesus was good and that therefore He would help. Jesus did not respond, but the fact that He did not send her away gave her hope: “I will keep shouting.” This is important. The disciples know that Jesus ’ mission is related to the people of Israel, and so they do not understand why Jesus does not send her away. Jesus knew what He was doing: the disciples did not yet understand His plan. And so, his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” As if they were saying, “There is no point: You are not going to listen to her. ...