Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:02:41 -0600EditMySiteSun, 08 Jan 2023 19:28:28 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/january-9-2023Often time, the spirit of Christmas dies quickly because we are swayed by the narrow perspective we have of the celebration. We fail to grasp the true meaning of Christ's birth. The feast of the Epiphany, which we are celebrating today invites us to look at the radical vision of God's love that teaches us that in God there are no barriers that divide people from each other; there are no walls that divide you and me. In God's eyes we are all one.

Let us have the courage to see the coming of Christ among us as an invitation to stretch out our arms and embrace others. May the love of God find a home in our lives so that the star of hope will shine brightly in our hearts, and that we will learn, once again, that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. 


]]>Sun, 18 Sep 2022 15:35:56 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/september-18-2022As we are convinced that following Jesus' will as baptized Christians is the right thing to do, we should then live our Christian faith 24/7. Jesus wants us to have an undivided heart so that we can have strength of soul and peace of mind. He tells us that we can only serve one master, and we must decide who it will be, God or mammon. 

It is difficult to make a total decision for Jesus Christ. Often it is difficult to know what He is asking us to do, and often it is even harder to do it. This is why Jesus gave us the Mass. By listening to the guiding light of sacred scripture, and by being strengthened by the power of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, Jesus enlightens and strengths us before sending us back to our everyday lives. It is outside the church walls that our decision to live completely for Jesus Christ is put to the test. This is the challenge for us this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is in our everyday lives that we encounter Jesus afresh; in the people and circumstances of our lives. It is in these everyday moments and circumstances that we are called to live with undivided hearts. 
]]>Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:47:36 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/september-11-2022The discovery of God's unconditional love and mercy, as emphasized by St. Luke's gospel, insists on the need to respond to that love in a similarly unconditional way. The gospel passage today makes it clear that there can be no temporizing where commitment to Christ is concerned. 

Today, we are challenged by the gospel to put Christ first. If we do, everything else will fall into place according to the wisdom and will of God. 

On this the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, let us be mindful, that as disciples of Jesus Christ, we are committed to preach the gospel at all times. ]]>Mon, 29 Aug 2022 17:52:35 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/august-28-2022Often we forget the fundamental vocation of very person and trade it with what the world makes us out to be, a commodity - something with a price on it. Our fundamental vocation is to be sons and daughters of God, which Jesus achieved for us. By His death we are all saved. 

In this 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, let us imitate the humility of Jesus. Let us truly be humble before our Almighty God for being saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. May we value our own life and the life of others as worth the price paid by Jesus. 
]]>Tue, 23 Aug 2022 12:53:36 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/august-21-2022As Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem, he was teaching how to attain eternal life. On this 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, let us remember the suffering that Jesus endured for love of us. May we find the courage to walk in his footsteps, even in the smallest of ways. ]]>Sun, 24 Jul 2022 03:06:54 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/july-24-2022It seems that the readings today are not so much about teaching us how to pray, but more importantly, how attentive God is to our prayers. Sometimes, that attentiveness comes to us in strange and unexpected ways, such as when difficult situations we live through become the source of unexpected blessings.

Our life is a precious gift that God gives to us. God hears our prayers and promises us that he will be there for us and to guide us in ways that we can never imagine. God never abandons us and God always keeps a promise. 
]]>Mon, 18 Jul 2022 02:02:23 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/july-17-2022There is a great lesson that the gospel today wants to teach us about hospitality. Perhaps even more important than physical hospitality is simply listening to one another. This kind of hospitality always brings a gift from God. 

True hospitality is first of all recognizing that each of us is God's creation, as the presence of Jesus Christ himself. If we recognize Christ in each other, all of the other details of hospitality will take care of themselves. It is when we only see another human being as sinful and broken that we treat others poorly. 

Let us pray today for the grace to see Christ in each other at all times. 
]]>Sun, 03 Jul 2022 22:00:44 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/july-3-2020Just like last Sunday, the key theme in today's gospel is discipleship. Jesus knew the difficulties in being a disciple, and assures us today, that if we follow him, he will work wonders through us. Our journey as followers of Jesus will be accompanied with signs and wonders, which do not need to be grandiose, but can be simple miracles of daily life. ]]>Mon, 20 Jun 2022 16:28:07 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/june-19-2022Today's celebration of Corpus Christi - the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - is the feast at the very center of our church, of our faith and of our parishes. All of us form the Church - the Body of Christ - and at the head of this body is Jesus, present to us also in the Blessed Sacrament.

May Jesus in the Eucharist always be at the very center and heart of our faith communities. May the loving presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament be our comfort and consolation, our peace, our hope and our salvation. Let us adore Christ who loves us and remains present with us in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
]]>Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:14:43 GMThttps://www.beltcatholic.com/fr-rodneys-blog/april-10-2022Whenever we hear or read the account of the Passion and death of Jesus, we can't help but be moved with emotion. It fills us with pain, as if we were there as it happened. It was not just the chief priests, the cruel Roman soldiers, and the cowardice of the apostles, but it was all of our sins that inflicted this suffering upon Jesus. 

On this Passion Sunday, or better known as Pam Sunday, let us enter into Jerusalem with Jesus, but only hail and cheer Him if we are truly repentant for our sins, which caused him so much suffering and death. Let us not forget, that when we sin, we crucify him again. ]]>