From the heart of Deacon Doug.
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our Responsorial Psalm today we sing, “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.” A large crowd of people were following Jesus, so he asks Phillip where they can buy enough food for all of them to eat. Phillip must Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org The image Jesus uses today is the example of planting, harvesting and sorting the good fruit from the bad. Weeds can spoil and even kill a good harvest if they are not separated and destroyed at the proper time. Uprooting them too early in the process Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our Gospel today, Matthew 13:16-17, Jesus tells his disciples they are blessed because they could see and hear who Jesus really is, and this was revealed to them by the Father. He also comments that many prophets and righteous people longed to see and hear Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our Gospel today, Matthew 12:38-42, the scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus and demanded a sign from heaven to test him and prove that he was from God. Jesus responded to them by saying, “an evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,” because he knew Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today of Matthew 12:1-8, Jesus says, “If you knew what I meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men”. He rebukes the Pharisees saying if they are able to offer animal sacrifices on the sabbath, why can’t Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Jesus reaffirms for us today a basic truth, that unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Even as adults we must never cease being childlike, uncomplicated and duly dependent. Children are not naturally complicated and deceitful. If my wife and Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org The goal of all of Jesus’ signs is to bring about a change of heart in his people. Even in the Old Testament, the signs and wonders done by Yahweh were to elicit a response of faith from Israel. The danger for them, and us, is to Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In today’s Gospel of Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus says, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it. Finding their life means living for themselves, and losing their life means living for others. I had a priest call Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Jesus tells his apostles to travel light. Life is too short to be weighed down with excess baggage. The reason for traveling light is not because these things are evil or because I’m suppose to have some sort of pious discomfort with material things. A religion that believes Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org I’ve noticed that lies and mis-statements travel like the speed of light these days, thanks to the internet ! The truth however moves at a much slower speed. I suppose this has always been true, which is why St. Paul tells us not to get discouraged. The fact Read more…