Browsing Weekly Reflections
What if?
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 7/23/16
Lord, teach us to pray This weekend Luke will tell us that the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. If the disciples, who have been following Jesus, admit they need help in learning how to pray; then what are we? I probably need an extra help remedial ... Read More »
You have another letter
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 7/07/16
GALATIONS 6:14-16
“but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God.”
Brothers and Sisters,
I was the worst of the worst.
My job was to persecute all who followed Jesus. I was always on the lookout ... Read More »
You have mail from Paul
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 6/10/16
Galatians 1 11-19
Your Brother Paul has written a letter to you.
Brothers and Sisters,
The people of Galatia, where Turkey is today, must have stared in disbelief when I started telling them about Jesus. They knew me as one who was killing Christians.
What happened to me? I ... Read More »
One-of a-Kind
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 5/27/16
Trinity Sunday
“the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Rom 5:5
The Holy Trinity is one of the mysteries of our Catholic Faith.
The Trinity, 3 persons of God in one person.
The most frequent ... Read More »
One of a Kind
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 5/18/16
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord;there are different workings but the same Godwho produces all of them in everyone.To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
1 Corinthians 12:3-7
... Read More »
Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 5/08/16
We have looked at the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, but how about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit has given us the 7 gifts, wisdom, understanding, knowledge fortitude, counsel, piety, wonder and awe. It is how we use, and share these gifts which develops and ... Read More »
It’s a WONDERful Life!
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 5/01/16
The Seventh gift of the Holy Spirit is my favorite, Wonder and Awe, not Fear of the Lord. Personally, that doesn’t sound like a gift to me. Wonder and awe makes us aware of the glory and majesty of God. It increases our desire to draw closer to Him.
... Read More »
Piety
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 4/23/16
Piety comes from the Latin pius meaning dutiful, not excessive devotion, but a reverence, respectful worship and discipleship. Catholics are occasionally called superstitious for genuflecting in the presence of the Eucharist, kissing a Rosary, or bowing their heads at the name of Jesus or Mary. If these gestures are mere rote, ... Read More »
Fortitude
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 4/17/16
“they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand’. Jn 10
Fortitude is both a gift of the Holy Spirit and a virtue, a cardinal virtue in fact. As a cardinal virtue man develops this virtue by habit to become part of our moral conscious.
Fortitude ... Read More »
Breathe!
Posted by Fr. Valentine Rebello on 4/10/16
Counsel is the third of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that we receive in confirmation. This gift of the Holy Spirit was exclusively referred to as“Counsel” until the end of the 20th century. The more recent use of “Right Judgement” for this gift points the role of ... Read More »