From the heart of Deacon Doug.
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today Mark 3:20-21, Jesus came down from the mountain, returning to Peter’s house in Capernaum. The news of his healings had spread, and the crowds gathered in so great a number, that they couldn’t even eat. When his relatives heard of Jesus Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today Mark 3:13-19, Jesus “went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted” to be his disciples. The mountain represented a quiet place away from the crowds that were surrounding him, and also a mountain top encounter, where God commissioned many for Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Tomorrow marks the 48th anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. That law effectively turned the wombs of mothers into tombs of babies. Tomorrow the U.S. Bishops have designated the day as a day of prayer for Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Seldom does the gospel show Jesus angry. In today’s reading he is angry at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and their hardness of heart. In our society today we see so much anger, and we know that anger can be very destructive. Yet St. Thomas Aquinas taught that Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org The past year 2020 presented some unique challenges for all of us: a global pandemic, economic hardship, disrupted plans, political and racial tensions. Any one of these alone could have shaken us. Add to this the personal trials may people are facing, and you have a very Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today, Mark 2:18-22, Jesus is asked why his disciples don’t fast like everyone else. Jesus tells them there will be time for fasting when he is gone. He also tells them that you don’t pour new wine into old wine-skins, or the new Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org “Here I am Lord, I have come to do your will!” Have we really prepared ourselves to make that statement ? In making that statement we are not telling God we will do what he asked after the pandemic is over, or next month, or even Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Jesus gives forgiveness as a gift to people who do nothing to earn it and to some people who don’t seem to deserve it. He also forgives here and now. A person no longer has to live with sin, because Jesus is so generous with this gift. Forgiveness Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org In our gospel today Mark 2:1-12, a group of men bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. They can’t get into the door of the house where Jesus is because of the crowd, so they drop him down from the roof to meet Jesus, and he Read more
Orange County Cursillo | communications@occursillo.org | occursillo.org Old Testament scholars of the law were saying that when God comes he’s going to be mad and that’s bad news. He’s going to crack down on the law so you better get ready. Then Jesus came and the first words out of his Read more