Cesar Fernandez-Stoll

  Gospel text ( John 1,47-51) : When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said of him, «Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him». Nathanael asked him, «How do you know me?». And Jesus said to him, «Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree and I saw you». Nathanael answered, «Master, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!». But Jesus replied, «You believe because I said: ‘I saw you under the fig tree’. But you will see greater things than that. Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man».

  Gospel text ( Luke 9,18-22) : One day when Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, He asked them, «What do people say about me?». And they answered, «Some say that you are John the Baptist; others say that you are Elijah, and still others that you are one of the former prophets risen from the dead». Again Jesus asked them, «Who then do you say I am?». Peter answered, «The Messiah of God». Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone. And he added, «The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life».

  Gospel text ( Luke 9,7-9) : King Herod heard of all that Jesus was doing and did not know what to think, for people said, «This is John, raised from the dead». Others believed that Elijah or one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. As for Herod, he said, «I had John beheaded; who is this man about whom I hear such wonders?». And he was anxious to see him.

Mr. Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada It is hard to explain to over 300 grown men and women the secrets of life, especially if all, without exception, have vigorously campaigned to represent an image of ‘salvation’ to each and every one out there who conceded you their votes, and with them, their trust on you and what you are going to do to ‘serve’ them better, with justice and fairness, or in other words, to protect their lives and freedom and count on them not to be threatened. Motion 312 as it is proclaimed, when it is proclaimed, it is shameful, not because of what it tries to achieve, but for what needs or must be achieved in a country praising itself of being ‘the best country in the world’. Motion 312 tries, simply put; to define when a human being starts being a human being, not before the eyes of God, our creator and true God and living God, but before the law, as if at all the law could be separated from the truth of our own being, as if the law could real

Islam and the Closing of the Secular Mind " One of the West's greatest impediments in its struggle against religious extremism may well the fact that the secular part of its soul turns out to be far less enlightened than anyone imagined possible "

  Gospel text ( Luke 9,1-6) : Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. And He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, «Don't take anything for the journey, neither walking stick, nor bag, nor bread, nor silver coins; and don't even take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they don't welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them». So they set out and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

  Gospel text ( Luke 8,19-21) : The mother and relatives of Jesus came to him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. Someone told him, «Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to meet you». Then Jesus answered, «My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it».

  Gospel text ( Luke 8,16-18): Jesus said to his disciples, «No one, after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; rather he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people coming in may see the light. In the same way, there is nothing hidden that shall not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that shall not be known clearly. Now, take care how well you listen, for whoever produces will be given more, but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them».