Joy In Truth

Holy Trinity Sunday. God is one and God is Three. One God, who is three Divine Persons. Explore the Catholic dogma of the Holy Trinity, the foundation of the Christian divine faith, and the temporal mission of God by which the incarnate Son is sent into the world in order to rescue man from his sins.

As part of a university course project I’m involved in which entails presenting the Catholic and Christian faith in the modern world, I recently took a trip down to the local university here in town and interviewed some of the students there. I interviewed eight people whose religious beliefs were quite diverse.

On Good Friday of the Lord's Passion, some of the priests and deacons in the area of my local parish were asked to give meditations on the seven last words of Christ. I was asked to give my meditation on Christ's second last word: "Today you will be with me in paradise." The following podcast is a reconstruction of that meditation.

Our gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent is taken from John 11:1-45. It’s a very beautiful gospel, rich in meaning and filled with a number of wonderful elements. Its main thrust is the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This podcast focuses on the words of Jesus Christ given to Martha, Lazarus's sister, in the context of the general resurrection: "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" What will take place at the general resurrection of the dead? What will the glorified body the followers of Christ receive be like?

The question of whether we have a personal relationship with Jesus is a valid and important question, not just for Catholics but for every person on the face of the earth. How do we develop this essential relationship with the incarnate Son of God? What are some of the marks of such a relationship? This podcast takes a look at this question in reference to the gospel proclaimed on the 4th Sunday of Lent, taken from John Chapter 9.

The podcast below explores the gospel passage from Luke 6:36-38, on judging others, specifically the way v. 37 is misunderstood, misquoted and misused: "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven."

The ancient practice of fasting is often set aside today, viewed as unimportant. If it is undertaken at all, it is often done for purely physical benefits. As important as that is, more important is the spiritual benefits of fasting as an act of penance, as well as an act of voluntary suffering engaged for the love of God over self.

This podcast is based on the gospel for March 9, 2017. The message is the importance of seeking to know who Christ really is, in order to enter into intimate communion with him, rather than seeking extraordinary signs, such as those found in private revelations and perhaps miraculous events.