From the heart of Deacon Doug.
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org One of the remarkable characteristics of Jesus in the Gospels was the way he was able to forgive. He forgave even people who didn’t deserve it. He forgave without delay. He forgave without asking people to earn it. He gave forgiveness as a gift, and he gave it Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org One of the first things Jesus does after his resurrection is to return to his disciples and breathe the Holy Spirit upon them. The work of Jesus did not end with his resurrection. He breathed the Holy Spirit upon them and sent them out to continue the Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today from John 3:1-18, Jesus is speaking about being born again, and Nicodemus, a Pharisee, is really struggling with the concept. Nicodemus is taking his statement literally, and Jesus is referring to being born of water and the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus was following the Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Today’s gospel reflects upon the first time the disciples have met Jesus following that horrible sequence of events when they failed miserably. During Jesus’ passion and death, the disciples were not at their finest. Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him three times, and the rest all ran Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org What Jesus experienced for our salvation with his passion and death wasn’t just death. It was a senseless suffering and beating leading to his death. He was beaten so badly that he died quickly on the cross to the amazement of everyone including Pilate. Mary Magdalene Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today from John 21:1-14, the risen Jesus reveals himself to the seven disciples, and tells them again to go fishing after they have fished all night and caught nothing. They listened to him, threw out their nets and caught 153 large fish, but their Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Peter and John were firsthand witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Peter went into the empty tomb but is confused about what happened. Later on, when Jesus appears to the disciples in the Upper Room, Peter overcame his doubts and believed. Many examination of conscience books, in listing possible Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org The story of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus is one that many who lived their Cursillo remember. It’s a story that reminds us that our God always wants to travel with us on the road of life. He wants to be our companion for Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Every Resurrection story in the New Testament begins with Mary Magdalen’s visit to the empty tomb. Earlier in the gospel she is identified as the woman from whom Jesus drove out the seven devils. We don’t know much about her, but she was most likely a woman Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today from Matthew 28:8-15, Jesus appears to the two Marys and tells them, “Do not be afraid, tell my brothers to go to Galilee and I will see them”. The very same people who abandoned him in his time of need, and were no Read more…