From the heart of Deacon Doug.
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Simeon was a devote Jew who loved God and ardently awaited the Messiah. He studied the Scriptures and prayed constantly in the Temple to see the fulfillment of God’s promise. He was a man who yearned to see the face of God. Because of his love and faithfulness, Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our Gospel today, Mark 5:1-20, Jesus encounters a possessed man full of a legion of evil spirits. The man was so wild that he could not be restrained even by chains. He runs up to Jesus and falls prostrate at his feet. The evil spirits in Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Psalm 95 tells us: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.“ There is really two things to reflect upon here. First is hearing his voice. I believe God speaks to us often. The problem is we fill our world with so much noise, Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In Mark’s gospel today the apostles are in a boat with Jesus. He is asleep and a violent storm comes up and they fear their boat is going to sink. They cry out, “Teacher we are perishing”, and he calms the sea. For most of Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our Gospel today, Mark 4:26-34, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. His followers were hoping for something much bigger. They wanted a savior that would come in and free them of the Roman domination that oppressed them. Someone to come in with a Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org One day a young executive asked the company president how he does such a good job running the company, because each year it is more successful. The president answered, by making good decisions. The junior executive asked him how he learned to make good decisions. The president Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org I would say most of us are familiar with the parable of the sower and the seeds. We often reflect upon whether God’s seeds fall upon the path and get trampled, on rocky ground where they can’t grow, in with the thorns where they get choked Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Today we celebrate the feast of two of St. Paul’s closest friends, Sts.Timothy and Titus. Imagine the difficulties they faced in the early days of our church. Timothy in setting up the churches in Greece, and Titus who had to deliver a rebuke to the Corinthians and Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today, Mark 16:15-18, Jesus just finished rebuking his disciples for their disbelief and hardness of hearts, then he commissions them to go out into the world and proclaim the Gospel. Jesus doesn’t just call the perfect and those with strong faith, he Read more…
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today, Mark 1:14-20, Jesus invited Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to discipleship and to help him on his mission. They all immediately left everything behind to follow Jesus. Jesus saw them not only as they are, but more importantly, as what Read more…