Posted by Carol Johnson on 3/01/26
After more than two years of traveling together, the Lord shared a revelation that shattered the disciples' expectations. He spoke plainly of the looming shadow: his impending suffering and execution in Jerusalem. For the disciples, who viewed their journey as an exciting, dream-like adventure, this news was devastating. Yet, ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 2/21/26
Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve existed in a state of grace far removed from the brokenness of modern humanity. Their hearts were equipped to always do good. Malice was not in them. Distrust of others and of God did not exist in their minds. However, this original ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 2/18/26
“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; rend your hearts, not your garments.” Originally a prophetic invitation to conversion in Joel’s time, these words now mark the Church’s official entry into Lent—a universal call for all to return ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 2/16/26
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we encounter part of the Sermon on the Mount—the Lord’s most profound teaching. Here, the Lord addresses three specific commandments regarding murder, adultery, and swearing.
To truly grasp His message, it helps to examine the structure of the sixth, seventh, ninth, and tenth commandments of ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 2/08/26
Today’s Gospel continues the Sermon on the Mount, following immediately after the Beatitudes. In this passage, the Lord uses two powerful images to describe His followers: salt and light. He tells His disciples, "You are the salt of the earth... the light of the world." There is something profound ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 2/01/26
The Beatitudes describe a variety of human conditions: poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger for justice, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and persecution. Despite their different outward forms, these states share a common essence—they all emerge from a place of profound hardship and affliction.
While human reactions to hardship ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 1/24/26
Capernaum, an ancient city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, served as a vital first-century hub for administration, military, and trade. Situated along the major caravan route between Mesopotamia and Egypt, its cosmopolitan atmosphere fostered a culture of open-mindedness among the Galilean people. In contrast, the ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 1/20/26
Today’s Gospel unfolds in the moments following the Baptism of the Lord. St. John recounts the powerful testimony of John the Baptist, who witnessed the Holy Spirit descend upon the Lord. This was the definitive sign John had been awaiting—the divine confirmation that revealed the identity of the Messiah.
... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 1/01/26
When Our Lady of Guadalupe first appeared to Juan Diego, she introduced herself with a profound declaration: "Juanito, the humblest of my children, know and understand that I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God through whom all things live." As the first apparition formally sanctioned by ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/27/25
The Christmas liturgical season is like the Church opening a family album of the Lord’s early years. This Sunday, the Church invites us to look closer at this family album, focusing on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is a profound mystery that when the Lord ... Read More »