Father Richmond's reflections

4th Sunday of Easter-B

Acts 4:8-12

Psalm 118

I Jn. 3:1-2

John 10:11-18

One Flock with One Shepherd

Beloved in Christ, our gospel today contains one of the sayings of Jesus that has occupied me for most of my adult life. I think about that statement a lot as a Catholic priest. Jesus says, "I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold; they too I must lead so that there will be one flock and one shepherd (John 10:16)."

What does Jesus mean by that? So, besides Catholics, Jesus has other flock? Really? Who are they? Jesus describes them: Even though they do not belong to this fold, they hear his voice as we do. 

Jesus' description brings a lot of faces to my mind. I think of a couple I know who are one of my adopted families. They call me son, and I call them Mom and Dad.

11th Sunday-Year B

Ez. 17: 22-24

Psalm 92

2 Cor. 5: 6-10

Mk. 4:26-34

Be a Seed Planted in Christ

Beloved in Christ, last week Monday, After the Noon Mass, one of our Parishioners, Bernie, approached me and congratulated me for taking very good care of some tomatoes plants she had given me two weeks ago to plant in our parish garden. And I with the tomatoes seed. When she praised me, my face fell because I had forgotten to plant the tomatoes and they had died.

6th Sunday of Easter-Year B

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Ps 98

1 Jn 4:7-10

Jn 15:9-17

Can Anyone Withhold the Water for Baptizing these People?

Beloved, today's readings remind me of a story that one of my friends in Germany recently shared with me. A priest and a pastor of a protestant church in Germany planned to hold a prayer service for Christian unity.

5th Sunday of Easter-Year B

Acts 9:26-31

Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

1 Jn 3:18-24

Jn 15:1-8

God: The Vine Dresser

One of my most favorite passages in the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11, when God tells us, “ I know the plans I have for you, …plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” I can tell you that inasmuch as I love this passage, there have been many moments in my life that I have asked: “God, is this also part of your plan? What good can come out of this pain?

4th Sunday of Easter-B

Acts 4:8-12

Psalm 118

I Jn. 3:1-2

John 10:11-18

Open the Door to the Church

Beloved in Christ, I don’t remember many of the things I learned in high school, but one thing that stuck with me was something we read in my religious studies class. We were studying the similarities and differences between Christianity and other religions.

3rd Sunday of Easter_Year B

You are beloved sons and daughters of God

Beloved in Christ, besides Jesus, who is the most favorite child of God? You! Each Christian should be able to answer, I AM the most favorite child of God. This is the truth that Jesus came to reveal to the world that each of us is the most favorite child of God. Ignorance of this is what makes our hearts restless and makes us chase after other things we think will bring us peace and make us happy.

2nd Sunday of Easter-Year B

(Divine Mercy Sunday)

Acts 4:32-35

1 Jn 5:1-6

Jn 20:19-31

God Wants to Have Mercy Through YOU

Beloved in Christ, two years I was traveling back from China, and I happened to sit by a woman on the flight, and we had a 12-hour conversation about how difficult it is to live our Christian calling in our world today.

Easter Vigil Mass: Holy Saturday

Gn 1:1—2:2

Ex 14:15—15:1

Rom 6:3-11

Mark 16:1-7

Jesus is Alive! He is not Done! Things will get Better!

Alleluia! Alleluia!!, Alleluia!!!

Beloved in Christ, What a Happy Night! I wish you A Happy Easter! Our Lord Jesus has Risen, Alleluia! On Good Friday, I gave a homily that convicted me. It was about living the passion of Christ by reaching out to somebody you find difficult to love.

5th Sunday of Lent-Year B

Jer 31:31-34

Psalm 51

Heb 5:7-9

Jn 12:20-33

How Much Does Your Covenant with Jesus Mean to You?

Beloved in Christ, my sister has a very good friend who is a pilot. Last year, he gave my sister a surprise of a lifetime. My sister was flying from New York to Ghana, about a 10-hour flight, and her friend happened to be the pilot that day. Guess what happened? One first-class seat was empty because a passenger did not show up.

4th Sunday of Lent-Year B

2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-2

Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

Eph 2:4-10

Jn 3:14-21  .

Give God the Benefit of the Doubt

Beloved in Christ, we all go through situations in our lives that make us cry out: “God, is everything going to be alright? Why me, Why this? Why this time? Why my family? We this struggle with sin, and at times, the harder we try, the more we fail.