Which is the greatest commandment? This question evoked a paradigm-shifting response from Christ. Reflecting on this, Fr. Deepak D’Souza says: “The love of God that does not lead us to love our neighbor is futile, has no value…So let us love God, and let that love reflect in our actions towards each other.”

Sharing stories of saintly lives to celebrate the Feast of All Saints, Fr. Deepak D’Souza reflects on our common call to sainthood. He begins, simply, by stating: “We are all called to be saints.”

There are so many lessons we can learn from the gospel account of Christ’s healing of the blind man. Fr. Tony Cutcher emphasizes: “An encounter with Christ results in discipleship. We are called to be those disciples. Why? Because every Sunday when we come here, it’s an encounter with Christ: Christ made present physically in the Eucharist, Christ here in spirit as we read his words, Christ in our hearts as we leave the building.”

Reflecting on Christ’s healing of the blind man, Fr. Deepak D’Souza reflects on spiritual blindness: “There are many of us who silence the poor, downtrodden, the exploited and marginalized from getting to Jesus. Many of us who are so judgmental, so critical, and obsessed with self-righteousness, fail to recognize that Jesus came for those, that Jesus came for the sinners..."

The Prosperity Gospel is a twisted interpretation of Christ’s message. And Fr. Tony Cutcher addresses this fallacy, saying: “Jesus is trying to tell us time and time again in the Gospel that this is not a Gospel of Prosperity — it is a Gospel of Servants…If we’re going to be the greatest in the Kingdom, we must be the servant of all. This is the power we’ve been given at our Baptism: to serve one another, not to be in charge of one another.”

The Word of God is a double-edged sword — it consoles and convicts, it comforts and commands us to love more fully. Fr. Deepak D’Souza reflects on the transformative power of this reality: “Every time we come in and we go out, something in us has changed, something in us has made us more beautiful, much more loving, much more kind…Let this Mass, let this hour become that strengthening hour for us…”

We live in a throw-away society. Do we dispose of people like we dispose of things? Fr. Tony Cutcher reflects on this question: “Jesus is trying to tell us that we can’t just discard those people who are nothing to us...As we go into our Pro-Life month, no one is disposable. Every soul deserves heaven. Everyone deserves to be in the presence of our Lord.”

Every story has a beginning. Fr. Joseph Kindel explores the story of humanity and the essential nature of living with and for others by. He says: “When a man and a woman come together in marriage, faithful for life, in a way they are returning to the beginning — the original unity of man and woman.”

Keeping God in our relationships is essential. Fr. Deepak D’Souza reflects on the human struggle between selfishness and selflessness towards others. “The truth doesn’t change,” he says. “Our attitude might change. But let us create that society where everybody lives in peace and also has appreciation for one another.”

Have you ever noticed how man’s need for feeling special seems to override things? Fr. Tony Cutcher address this human tendency as he reflects on the implications of the sacraments and the unique call of the Christian life. He says: “We are called to be more than just an exclusive club.”