Meditations in Manhattan

Fr. Joe Keefe reflects on how the Holy Spirit brings us together in the Unity of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Fr. Henry Bocala reflects on the reality of evil in our life and the need to struggle till the very end. We all have inner battles, but we fight with optimism because Jesus Christ is on our side. God is determined to make us saints.

In June 26, we celebrated the liturgical memorial of Saint Josemaria Escrivá. In this meditation, Fr. Timothy Uhen reflects on the core of Saint Josemaria's message: God's presence in our everyday activities.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him." (Jas 1:12) In this meditation, Fr. Timothy Uhen reminds us the hidden value of trials in our path to Heaven.

The Feast of Corpus Christi invites us to dwell on the mystery of a God who gives himself to us as food. Fr. Joe Keefe considers the Church’s understanding of the fractio panis (breaking of the bread) as the gesture of Jesus’ self-giving, which gives life to the world.

In this meditation, Fr. Joe Keefe reflects on the revolution Jesus began in the world with his approach to racial distinctions. How can we be yeast in society to bring about a true transformation, revealing the radical equality of each human being, made in the image and likeness of God, and worth all the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross?

Fr. Timothy Uhen helps us to consider the interior freedom which a Christian can find through his Faith.

By baptism, each of us has been introduced into the inner life of God, into His family: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this meditation, Fr. Joe Keefe helps us to appreciate more keenly this greatest of gifts.

"If anyone will come after me, let him take up his Cross and follow me." (Lk 9:23) The word martyr comes from Greek and it means witness. In this meditation, Fr Timothy Uhen helps us to reflect on the need to bear witness to Christ in our daily life.

Saint Josemaria Escrivá referred to the Holy Spirit as the Great Unknown because, for some, "He is merely a name that is mentioned, but not Someone, not one of the  three persons in the one God, with whom we can talk and with whose life we can live". With the Feast of Pentecost fast approaching, Fr. Timothy Uhen helps us pray about ways we can grow in friendship with the Holy Spirit.

"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and  drunkenness," says Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. In this meditation, Fr. John Agnew helps us see the importance of the virtue of temperance to  keep our hearts free to love God and our friends.

In Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman, we are shown what it means to look at another person with a pure gaze. Father Joe Keefe reflects on the universal thirst and hunger for true happiness. Holy Purity is the virtue that allows us to feed and drink from the one Source that never fails, that never dries up.

On the Feast of the Ascension, we consider the mixed emotions of the Apostles as they rejoice in our Lord’s triumphal entry into Heaven, while feeling “orphaned” by his departure. Father Joe Keefe meditates on the fact that Jesus remains with us powerfully in the Sacraments, exercising his role as High Priest in the Heavenly Temple.

Saint Josemaria saw in the care for little things a way to respond to God's infinite love for us. For him, Holy Mary always stood out as a model of dedication to Jesus through the seemingly unimportant occurrences of everyday life. In this meditation, Father Timothy Uhen explores the evangelical roots of that intuition of Saint Josemaria.

"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and the disciple whom he  loved. Then Jesus said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother'." (cf. Jn  19:25–27) The mystery of the Mother of God has been an inexhaustible source of Hope since the early days of the Church. Msgr. Thomas Bohlin reminds us that She wants to be a bulwark against sin in our lives today.

In this meditation, Father Joe Keefe reminds us that God tends to hide himself from the self-sufficient and proud, and reveal himself to mere children; for the simple and pure of heart mirror His nature. Our Lady of Fatima teaches us to have a simple outlook on life: fear Hell, desire Heaven.

Like You, Jesus, I want to serve. Father Timothy Uhen encourages us in this meditation to look out for the "other," to be attentive — "up to the  brim" — and to discover that only in caring for the others will we find joy.

Jesus teaches us how to be good friends of our friends. In this meditation, Msgr. Thomas Bohlin reflects on the Gospel scene of the disciples of Emmaus to bring forth the beauty of friendship.

The Mother of Jesus accompanies us in our journey to her Son. In this meditation, Father Timothy Uhen invites us to consider Mary's role in the life of all Christians.

Every time is an opportune time for an encounter with God through work, service to others, and prayer. Father Timothy Uhen gives practical advice on how to take advantage of the current lockdown to grow in our relationship with Christ and our friends.

Jesus entrusted his Church to the care of Peter and his successors. In light of this truth, Father Joe Keefe addresses the question: how can we correspond to the gift of unity and manifest our love to Pope Francis in deeds?

In the aftermath of the crucifixion, Christ's friends and disciples were disoriented and downcast. In those hours, one heart was still burning with faith and love: the Mother of Jesus safeguarded all the hope of the nascent Church. Father Timothy Uhen invites us to look at Mary to learn how to discover God's merciful care in good and bad times.

The Resurrection of Christ is the most important event in history. Not just the history of humankind, but the personal history of every woman and man. Father Timothy Uhen reflects on the individual and social consequences of Christ's victory over death.