Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

One of the most important characteristics of the Holy Family of Nazareth was God's faithfulness present in their midst. It was through God's faithfulness that Jesus, Mary and Joseph faced and conquered all adversities and did not give up. The Holy Family is an inspirational model for all the families of Jesus' disciples, our families.

Dear Fellow Disciples, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Today in the city of David, the savior is born!

The first ones to welcome Him were the shepherds in the periphery of Bethlehem. They were discriminated against and unwelcomed by everyone because their flock represented a threat to the farmers.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Ave!

The Angel's greeting calls attention to a fundamental aspect of the person of Mary in the economy of salvation. Kecharitomene, full of God's grace. To be blessed, kecharitomene, has great importance if and because it is connected with her mission, given by God. The Father counted on her to be the mother of the Holy One, His Son. For that reason, He has prepared her since the day of her conception.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Rejoice in the Lord!

The identity of John the Baptist was not understood right away by the disciples of Jesus. They started to see that his preaching, along with the austerity of his life, had several similarities with the prophet Elijah.

Dear Fellow Disciples, let us say "Maranatha"!

The "way" is a constant theme in the Bible. The historical tradition was the way leading out of the land of oppression - Egypt - to the land of brotherhood, through which milk and honey flow, the Promised Land. The sapiential (wisdom) tradition speaks of the way of life, referring to the choice of good and truth, instead of the way of death, impiety, and perversion.

Dear Fellow Disciples, HAPPY NEW LITURGICAL YEAR!

The metaphor of the master and the servants marks the spirit of Advent. In fact, this liturgical season focuses on the waiting of the Lord.

On one hand, the Lord has already come historically in the event of the incarnation of the word in Jesus of Nazareth. On the other He comes constantly and makes himself present in the life of each disciple of the Kingdom, calling him to solidarity and brotherly love.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The scene of the Final Judgement calls the attention of the disciples to their responsibility to live everyday life with their feet very grounded on earth but with their hearts and eyes fixed on heaven. Our historical gestures have an effect on our eternity.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The parable of the talents serves as a key to interpreting the whole existence of the disciple of God's Kingdom. God gives gifts and talents according to the capacity of each person. Some receive more, some less. However, everyone has the responsibility to multiply their gifts and talents. Every moment in life is an opportunity and a possibility to practice charity. In fact, charity is the only way to allow these gifts and talents God has sown in the heart of the disciple to grow.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The parable of the ten virgins is a metaphor for the two kinds of disciples. The provident disciple prepares well for his/her encounter with the Lord, even though the day and the time of such an encounter are unknown. The disciples persevere in faithfulness to the Lord and solidarity with the needy. He is always ready to serve. He stays on this path even when it is difficult and long.

Dear Fellow Disciples peace.

Jesus severely critiques the attitude of the Pharisees. Their hypocrisy and arrogance got on His last nerve because they preached one thing and lived something else. Their lifestyle exposed their inability to accept and practice the scriptures and, much less, God's will. For them the saying was very real and valid, "Do what I say, not what I do" or "They love to talk but do not walk the walk".

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The question raised by the doctor of the law tries to lead Jesus to take a stand concerning the rabbinic schools of the time. There were very strict rabbis who would easily find a new precept of the law to be turned into a commandment. This way they multiply the requirements for the faithful, making religion a burden. Other rabbis were soft and condescending, interpreting the law in such a politically correct way that it would become obsolete and irrelevant, making religion meaningless.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The treacherous question posed to Jesus by the disciples of the Pharisees along with the partisans of the Herodians is hiding a dimension that often stays hidden. The payment of taxes to the emperor goes beyond the submission to an oppressive power from which everyone wants to be set free, including the Pharisees. They knew very well the weight of iniquity that the occupation of the Romans was imposing on them.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today's parable calls attention to one possibility in Christian discipleship: discipleship does not depend on worldly status. The fake discipleship shows the externalities, and appearances but is shallow in commitment to conversion and holiness. The rash way in which the improperly dressed individual was treated is a warning. Whoever welcomes and accepts the Kingdom of God and its call to conversion and holiness, in faithful discipleship, must live a life that reflects it. What about the disciple who is selfish, merciless, biased, racist, unjust, or proud? His life betrays what he says he believes.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Jesus often is confronted with the hardness of heart of many of his listeners. He identifies in their behavior traces of that same hardness of heart present in the history of the people of Israel. They are a people to whom God manifests His love, care, and mercy and yet are incapable of giving back such love, care, and mercy to God and to others.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

The arrogant attitude of some religious authorities was always a target in Jesus' preaching. In fact, The high priests and the elders were often criticized by Him. He would always reveal their behavior and their apparent faithfulness which was just a hidden denial of God's will and ways.

The parable of the two sons illustrates two contrasting ways of aligning (conforming) oneself to God's will. The high priests and elders correspond to those who say 'yes' but refuse to obey. Representing those who are lip worshipers, who practice a false religion of appearances and exterior practices only.