Love and Sin
Love and Sin
Father Anthony reflects on John 19:1–5 — the haunting scene of Jesus scourged, crowned with thorns, and presented to the crowd with the words, “Behold the man,” revealing the depth of His humility and love as He silently bears humiliation and pain for our salvation, inviting us to gaze upon Him, recognize our own sin and suffering laid upon His shoulders, and respond not with indifference, but with repentance, gratitude, and trust in His mercy.
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Father Anthony reflects on John 11:35 — “Jesus wept” — the shortest verse in Scripture, yet one of the most profound, revealing the tender heart of Christ, who enters into our sorrow with compassion, love, and tears, reminding us that God is not distant from our suffering but present within it.
The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011626.cfm
Father Chris Alar, MIC, draws us into the dramatic Gospel scene of the paralytic lowered before Jesus and reveals why this passage speaks so clearly of the Sacraments of the Church. What Jesus responds to first is not the man’s condition, but faith — specifically, the faith of those carrying him. “When Jesus saw their faith” (Mk 2:5; NABRE), He forgives sins before He heals the body.
Father Anthony reflects on the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, showing how authentic humility draws God’s mercy like a magnet. He reveals how self-righteousness blinds the heart, while honest repentance opens it wide to grace. In this simple but piercing story, we learn that true discipleship begins not with boasting in our virtue, but with trusting in God’s compassion—where the lowly are lifted and sinners go home justified.
