The Feast of the Holy Cross, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, or Feast of the Cross, commemorates the True Cross. On 13 September, 335, the Constantinian Basilica over the Holy Sepulcher was consecrated in Jerusalem. The day after the church’s consecration, the relic of the cross was shown or “exalted” the first time to the people for veneration. Later, the feast was also associated with the commemoration of the recovery of the Holy Cross by Emperor Heraclius on 13 September 628.

In English, the feast is called The Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the official translation of the Roman Missal, while the 1973 translation called it The Triumph of the Cross.

According to Christian tradition, the True Cross was discovered in 326 by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, during a pilgrimage she made to Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was then built at the site of the discovery, by order of Helena and Constantine. The church was dedicated nine years later, with a portion of the cross. One third was brought to Rome, one third remained in Jerusalem and was deposited in the Sensoria basilica Santa Croce (Holy Cross in Jerusalem), and one third was taken to Constantinople to make the city impregnable.

The history of this feast begins in Constantinople where it was the custom to carry the relic of the True Cross through the streets and squares of the city to ask for God’s blessing and for relief from sickness.

The cross, once a symbol of suffering, human cruelty, and violence at its worst, has been transformed by Christ’s self-giving love. It has become a sign of love, forgiveness, and the very symbol of salvation and God’s boundless love for us. In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about his journey to the cross. Jesus knows that the cross is in his future. He says, “The son of man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Carrying the cross today means staying true to God, to love, to the commandments, and to our baptismal calling. Because each of our lives and challenges is unique, the cross we bear is specific to each one of us. When we embrace our crosses in faith, it is transformed. The good news is that, with each cross we bear, we have an opportunity to renew our relationship with God.

We shall pray to Jesus Christ to give us the courage to carry the cross with great joy and never complain. Our crosses appear to us in different ways—like sicknesses, failures, losing jobs, or even unexpected things that happen in our lives suddenly. The one who carried the cross without any complaint—Jesus Christ—will give us the courage to carry ours. He is always with us when we carry our daily crosses. He is really helping us, telling us that He is with us always.

God Bless us all,

Fr. Charley

If you prize something of great value and want to possess it, it’s natural to ask what it will cost you before you make a commitment to invest in it. Jesus was utterly honest and spared no words to tell his disciples that it would cost them dearly to be his disciples—it would cost them their whole lives and all they possessed in exchange for the new life and treasure of God’s kingdom. The Lord Jesus leaves no room for compromise or concession. We either give our lives over to him entirely or we keep them for ourselves. As St. Paul the Apostle reminds us, “We are not our own. We were bought with a price.” We were once slaves to sin and a kingdom of darkness and oppression, but we have now been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ who has ransomed us from a life of darkness and destruction so we could enter his kingdom of light and truth. Christ has set us free to choose whom we will serve in this present life as well as in the age to come—God’s kingdom of light, truth, and goodness. We are always called for God’s kingdom.

Jesus’ words may sound radical: renounce all possessions. But He is not condemning material things themselves. Rather, He is teaching us about attachment. The danger is when possessions own us, rather than us owning them. A disciple is one who puts Christ first, above comfort, wealth, or even personal dreams.

Renouncing possessions doesn’t always mean selling everything and living in poverty—though some are called to that radical witness. For most of us, it means holding what we have with open hands, willing to let go if Christ asks. It means never clinging to wealth, status, or comfort in such a way that it keeps us from following Him fully. True freedom comes not from accumulating, but from trusting God enough to let go. When Christ is our greatest treasure, everything else falls into place.

A wealthy traveler once carried a heavy bag of gold on a long journey. At first, he was proud to have it, feeling secure. But as he walked, the bag slowed him down. He grew tired, hungry, and weary. Others on the road passed him with light steps while he struggled under the weight. Finally, he met a wise old man who asked, “Why do you carry such a heavy burden?” The traveler replied, “This is my security.” The old man smiled and said, “Your ‘security’ is what is making you weak. If you let go, your hands will be free to receive what truly matters.” Hesitant, the traveler finally set the bag down by the roadside. Immediately, he felt lighter, freer, able to move forward with joy. Only then did he realize the truth: he had been a slave to what he thought he owned.

Jesus invites us to travel light, so our hearts are free for Him. To renounce possessions is to say: “Lord, everything I have belongs to You. You are my true treasure.”

God Bless us all,

Fr. Charley

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is invited to a Pharisee’s house for a meal. As He observes the guests scrambling for the places of honor, He turns the moment into a lesson about humility. The world teaches us to climb higher—to seek titles, positions, recognition. But Jesus turns that ladder upside down: “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place…For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Once a great king invited the people of his city to a banquet. The royal hall was filled with gold decorations, music, and the smell of rich food. As the guests arrived, many rushed to sit at the long table closest to the king’s throne, hoping to be noticed. But one young farmer quietly walked to the farthest corner, content to watch from a distance. He had no fine clothes, no titles—only a heart full of gratitude that he had been invited at all. When the king entered, he looked over the table and saw pride in many faces—but joy and peace in the farmer’s. Smiling, the king left his throne, walked to the corner, and said, “Friend, come sit beside me.”

Humility is not self-hatred or pretending we have no gifts. It’s the quiet, steady awareness that all we have is from God, and therefore, we don’t need to boast or push our way forward. True humility allows us to be at peace, even if no one notices us. It opens the heart to serve without expecting repayment.

God sees the hidden goodness we do. He notices the sacrifices no one else applauds. And in His time, He raises up the humble—not with worldly applause, but with the joy of His presence and the crown of eternal life.

We live in a culture that tells us, “If you don’t promote yourself, no one will.” Jesus counters: “If you trust Me, I will take care of your place.” The lowest seat in God’s banquet is still a place of honor—because we are close to the Host who loves us.

Today, let’s ask for the grace to choose the path of humility: to listen more than we speak, to serve without being asked, and to let God be the One who lifts us up.

Let us Pray: Lord, teach me to find joy in the lowest place, knowing You see my heart. Free me from the need for recognition, and help me to trust that in Your banquet, the humble will always be honored.

God Bless you all,

Fr. Charley

Jesus warns that we can be excluded if we do not strive to enter by the narrow door. The door which Jesus had in mind was himself. Jesus says that “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved.” God sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to open the way for us to have full access to the throne of God’s grace, that is his favor and his blessings. And his mercy is his pardon for our sins. Through Jesus’ victory on the cross, he has freed us from slavery to sin and hurtful desires and addictions. And he has made us His own sons and daughters and citizens of his kingdom. We are free now to choose which kingdom we will serve—the kingdom of truth and light ruled by God’s wisdom or the kingdom of falsehood and darkness ruled by Satan. We have to decide it, because God will never put his hands on our individual freedom.

Today’s gospel presents Jesus’ uncompromising challenge regarding the serious demands of true discipleship. Jesus is the door to life that we must walk through to enter the kingdom, but today’s images—a narrow gate and a locked door—remind us that this journey requires our own effort. Jesus is telling us that we must be willing to take up our cross and follow him every day of our lives. The Christian way of living is not meant to be an easy way. It is about living an active lifestyle that chooses the way of God. Each day, we are invited to live the paschal mystery, that is to take up our daily crosses—die to ourselves and live for the sake of the gospel. Or in other words to live and act like Jesus every day of our lives.

The word strive can also be translated as agony. To enter the kingdom of God we must struggle against every force or power of opposition—even the temptation to remain indifferent in our faith and personal trust in Jesus, our hope in holding firm to the promises of Jesus, and our uncompromising love for God above all else. Paul the Apostle reminds us that our hope in God does not disappoint us because “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The Lord reminds us that when we face difficulties, trials, temptations, and even failures, we do not struggle alone. He knows our weaknesses even better than we do, and he is always ready to help us in our struggles to overcome sin and wrong-doing. God’s grace is sufficient for us! Then Jesus assures us of complete victory!

Today Jesus us is asking us whether we are ready to trust in God’s grace and help, especially in times of testing and temptation! When we trust in God, surely He will be on our side to help us always. He will never ever abandon us at any time—because He is a faithful God. Put all our trust in Him and only in Him.

God Bless you all.

Fr. Charley

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus speaks with surprising intensity: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” He continues with even more startling words about division, not peace: “Do you think I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

At first glance, this may seem confusing—after all, isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace? Yes, He is. But the peace He offers is not the comfort of avoiding conflict or keeping everyone happy. It is the deeper, lasting peace that comes from living in truth and fidelity to God, even when it costs us something.

Jesus is warning us that following Him is not always easy. True discipleship will challenge our priorities, test our relationships, and sometimes place us in uncomfortable or even painful situations. The Gospel may cause division—within families, friendships, and communities—not because it is harmful, but because not everyone will accept its demands.

In our world today, we see this reality lived out. Standing up for truth, defending the dignity of every human life, choosing forgiveness over revenge, or remaining faithful to Church teaching may isolate us or draw criticism. But Jesus calls us not to be lukewarm, but to be “on fire” with love, courage, and conviction.

Discipleship requires a decision. And that decision must be renewed daily—through prayer, through action, and through the witness of our lives. We must ask ourselves: Are we willing to follow Christ even when it’s hard, even when it costs us approval, comfort, or ease?

Let us not fear the fire Jesus speaks of. It is the fire of the Holy Spirit—the fire that purifies, strengthens, and sets hearts ablaze with truth and love. May we have the courage to embrace the Gospel fully, and to walk faithfully with Christ, even when the path is difficult.

Lord Jesus, set our hearts on fire with love for You. Give us the strength to follow You with courage and faith, no matter the cost. Amen.

Father Charley

Take a moment and think about the person you most associate with faithfulness. Is it someone who expresses gratitude to God and others during the good times only? Or is it someone who is steady and calm even in the face of hardship? The second group of people we call people of “deep faith.”

Today’s Scriptures invite us to reflect on that kind of faithfulness—a faith that endures not only in moments of blessings but also in moments of difficulty. It’s a faithfulness that is rooted in hope, that means “something deeper and more lasting.”

Let us see the meaning of the parable of the master who returns from a wedding feast to his home in the middle of the night. The door to one’s house in the ancient world was usually bolted from the inside, especially at night, to keep out thieves and troublemakers. It was not possible to enter from the outside without help from someone inside. Household servants who knew their master’s voice were expected to be always vigilant and prepared to unbolt the door and let him in without any hesitation. This required an attentive watchfulness and a listening ear for any sign of the master’s approach. No distraction, not even sleep, could be allowed to interfere with the preparation for the master’s return. If the servants failed to hear the voice of their master upon his return, they literally shut him out since he could not unbolt the door from the outside—only they could open the door from within and allow him to enter. Their failure to welcome and serve the master on his return brought shame and dishonor.

He wants us to be prepared for his coming—every day and even at the hour of our departure from this life (our death), and when he comes again at the end of this present world to judge all the living and the dead. The Lord will reward those who have believed in him. The Lord Jesus knocks on the doors of our hearts each and every day.

Jesus’ parable has an important lesson for each one of us. Just as Jesus was faithful and ready to obey his Father in everything—even to the point of laying down his life on the cross for us, we, too, are called to be faithful and obedient to the Lord’s will for our lives. In order to grow in faithfulness and obedience to the Lord, the Lord gives us his Holy Spirit who frees us from the worldly distractions. Then we can hear the Lord and embrace his way of love and faithfulness always. If we fail, the Lord will not fail us. He gives strength to the weak and to those who turn to him with trust in his mercy and help. Ask the Lord Jesus to fill us with his Holy Spirit and with the holy desire to seek the Lord and his kingdom first
and above everything else.

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, He is ready to send His Holy Spirit always in our daily lives. The question is—are we ready to open the door for Him? As we read in the book of Revelation, the Lord calls to each one of us and says, “Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will feast together.” Let the Lord come into our hearts so we may feast with Him.

Love and Prayers,

Fr. Charley

During World War II, the Nazi warplanes were constantly bombing Britain. The Principal of the Bible College, Mr. Reece Howells, called all the students together and began a prayer campaign. Many buildings around the college were destroyed in the bombing. The prayer of the students lasted for days and nights. It was a prayer for salvation from the bombing. However, the college itself was not damaged at all.

Some of the people who saw this said to Howells, “What great luck you had!” But Howells replied, “This is not luck. It was God’s great protection! And he built a hedge around us to protect us.” Does God build a hedge around us to protect us from dangers and troubles? Of course, he does! But we can’t see it because the hedge is invisible. Many of us don’t understand or realize that because God builds a hedge around us to protect us from the dangers, that is why all our affairs go smoothly. And the hedge He builds is always invisible.

Job was one of those God protected. In the book of Job1: 8-10 we read: “God asked Satan: ‘Have you considered my servant Job? Is there anyone on earth like him, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil?’ Then Satan asked: ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? You have put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, and you have blessed his work.'” Actually, in these words Satan reminds us of something that many of us forget: God always protects us.

God does not fail to protect us during our trials. Sometimes we experience hardship and suffering in our lives, but never should we think that God has abandoned us. We can only assume that it happens as part of God’s providence. That is what the story of Job shows. Satan, in order to test Job, withdrew many of the protections that God had given Job. As a result, Job lost his wealth, lost his children and servants. But Job never rejected God while he was overcoming the tragedies one after another.

Job said: “I know that my way is closed up like a door,” but his faith in God did not waver at any time. Job said: “I know that my justice is living and that the end will come upon me.” Job believed that it would happen, so, we see that God again richly blessed Job.

My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, when we have difficulties and troubles in our lives, we should take refuge in God more than ever. Then we will definitely follow His guidance and follow His path. We will also receive protection. God’s protection is not something that can be achieved. However, we can prepare ourselves to receive that protection through Prayer. If we dedicate our lives completely to God and pray, we will surely receive that Protection from God. Put our Trust in the Lord always and He will build the Fence around us to protect us. Without His knowledge, nothing will happen to us, surely. Sometimes God allows us to suffer like Job, but that does not mean that He is abandoning us. He is still with us like God was with Job. The question is: Do we have that kind of tremendous faith and hope in God in those situations like Job had? Or do we fall down like helpless people and reject God? God’s love and mercy will never abandon us at any time—it is written in our hearts—that is the beauty of God’s love towards us.

God Bless us and Protect us always in His care.

Fr. Charley

Today we are given two examples of prayers. One is of Abraham praying, and the other of Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. Abraham gives us an example of persistence in praying. He never gave up on God. There was a reason for his persistence. He knew God was willing to be merciful to sinners. Think of that and of how Abraham just didn’t give up on asking God to spare the people. Abraham’s persistence is amazing and admirable, and maybe tiring, but God’s mercy is also amazing and admirable. Prayer is not magic, although we sometimes expect it to be.

Jesus’ prayer tells us about God and about ourselves: it tells us that God is Father in being the Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything, and transcendent authority, and he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only begotten Son who, reciprocally, is Son only in relation to his Father. All fatherhood and motherhood are derived from him. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we are spiritually reborn and made new, and we become the adopted children of God.

Jesus teaches us to address God as “our Father” and to confidently ask him for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his atoning death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace—that is, his favor and blessing and mercy, which is pardon and healing. He is kind and forgiving towards us, and he expects us to treat our neighbors the same.

When we pray for God’s kingdom to come, we pray in our trust in God for what he wants for us to happen in the end of time so that we can be with him forever. When we pray for his kingdom to come, we pray for the victory of his love for us. That is actually what we want in our lives.

God is God always. God can do anything. He is all powerful. God is our loving Father. Our salvation and our happiness come from him. That means that they will and do come from him alone. Keep this in mind: our salvation and our happiness come from God, who loves us as our Father. Put our trust in God the Father with willingness to listen to Him and accept His holy Will in our daily lives, whether it is happiness or joy or sorrow. Let His will be done in our lives.

God Bless us all.

Fr. Charley

Jesus loved to visit the home of Martha and Mary and enjoyed their gracious hospitality. Martha loved to serve, but in her anxious manner of waiting on Jesus, she caused unrest. Mary, in her simple and trusting manner, waited on Jesus by sitting attentively at his feet. She instinctively knew that what the Lord and Teacher most wanted at that moment was her attentive presence.

Anxiety and preoccupation keep us from listening and from giving the Lord our undivided attention. The Lord bids us to give him our concerns and anxieties because he is trustworthy and able to meet any need we have. His grace frees us from needless concerns and preoccupation.

The Lord Jesus desires that we make a place for him, not only in our hearts, but in our homes and in the daily circumstances of our lives as well. We honor the Lord when we offer to him everything we have and everything we do. After all, everything we have is an outright gift from God. St. Paul, in the letter to the Colossians 3:17, tells us to give God glory in everything: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

The Scripture tells us that when Abraham opened his home and welcomed three unknown travelers, he welcomed the Lord who blessed him favorably for his gracious hospitality. The Lord wants us to bring him glory in the way we treat others and use the gifts he has graciously given to us. God, in turn, blesses us with his gracious presence and fills us with joy.

In the Scripture we shall listen to God always to hear what he wants us to do for him on earth, and pray before we start working or serving others. Both the Prayer and the service are the two sides of the same coin. We cannot avoid one and take the other. Both are needed in our lives. So, we shall listen to the WORD of God every day and listen to HIM and he will inspire in us what to do at the right time.

God Bless us all.

Fr. Charley

Jesus told a parable to show how wide God’s love and mercy are towards every fellow human being. Jesus’ story of a brutal highway robbery was all too familiar to his audience. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho went through a narrow winding valley surrounded by steep rocky cliffs. Many wealthy Jews from Jerusalem had winter homes in Jericho. This narrow highway was dangerous and notorious for its robbers who could easily ambush their victims and escape into the hills. No one in his right mind would think of traveling through this dangerous highway alone. It was far safer to travel with others for protection and defense.

Actually, Jesus’ story tells us about true love for one’s neighbor. We must be willing to help even if others brought trouble on themselves through their own fault or negligence. Always our love and concern to help others in need must be practical. Good intentions and showing pity, or empathizing with others, are not enough. Our love for others must be as wide and as inclusive as God’s love. God excludes no one from his care and concern. God’s love is unconditional. Jesus’ love shows the mercy and care for others that we should practice. By helping our neighbor at any cost and giving what we have or sharing with him, we will be acting just as Jesus did towards others.

Jesus not only taught God’s way of love, but he showed how far God was willing to go to share in our suffering and to restore us to wholeness of life and happiness. Jesus overcame sin, suffering, and death through his victory on the cross. His death brought us freedom from slavery to sin and the promise of everlasting life with God. He willingly shared in our suffering to bring us to the source of true healing and freedom from sin and oppression. True compassion not only identifies and empathizes with the one who is in pain, but takes that pain on oneself in order to bring freedom and restoration.

Jesus showed us the depths of God’s love and compassion by sharing in our suffering and by offering his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins upon the cross. His suffering is redemptive because it brings us healing and restoration and the fullness of eternal life. God offers us true freedom from every form of oppression, sin, and suffering. Therefore, we shall embrace the cross of Christ to suffer for his sake and to lay down our lives for our neighbors. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, we are the Shadows of Christ to others in this world. May the Good Lord bless us always, especially when we treat others like Christ.

Love and prayers.

Fr. Charley