All Humans Carry Africa’s DNA: The Science of Our Shared Roots

Below is a blog-style post showing evidence that all humans have DNA tracing back to Africa, supported by scientific evidence from genetic studies and anthropology. 

The piece is written in an accessible tone, with sources implicitly woven into the narrative per your guidelines, followed by a clear list of references at the end.

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All Humans Carry Africa’s DNA: The Science of Our Shared Roots

Here’s a truth that binds us all: every human alive today has DNA that traces back to Africa. It’s not a guess or a feel-good story—it’s hard science, etched in our genes. From New York to Tokyo, Lagos to Sydney, our genetic code whispers the same origin story: we’re all descendants of a small group of Homo sapiens who walked the African savannah tens of thousands of years ago. Let’s unpack how we know this and why it matters.

The Cradle of Humankind

Africa’s been dubbed “the cradle of humanity” for a reason. Fossil records—like the 300,000-year-old Homo sapiens skulls from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco—pinpoint it as the birthplace of our species. But bones only tell part of the tale. DNA, the blueprint of life, fills in the rest. Every cell in your body carries mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), passed down from mother to child, and it’s a time machine to our past. Scientists have traced this genetic thread back to a single woman—nicknamed “Mitochondrial Eve”—who lived in East Africa around 150,000 to 200,000 years ago. She wasn’t the only human then, but her lineage survived, branching into every population on Earth.

Men’s Y-chromosome DNA, inherited from fathers, tells a matching story. The oldest Y-chromosome haplogroups—like A and B—pop up in African populations, dating back over 100,000 years. These markers show a “genetic Adam” whose descendants fanned out from the continent. Together, mtDNA and Y-DNA prove our roots aren’t scattered—they’re African.

The Great Migration

So how did Africa’s DNA spread worldwide? About 60,000 to 70,000 years ago, a small band of Homo sapiens—maybe just a few hundred—left Africa, crossing into the Middle East. Climate shifts had opened pathways; curiosity or survival pushed them on. Their DNA, tracked through haplogroups like L3 (mtDNA) and CT (Y-DNA), seeded every corner of the globe. In Europe, they mixed with Neanderthals, picking up 1-2% of their genes. In Asia, traces of Denisovans linger. But the core—98% or more of our genome—stays African, carried by those first migrants.

Studies of ancient DNA—like the 4,500-year-old Ethiopian skeleton from Mota Cave—match modern African genomes, showing continuity. Meanwhile, genome-wide analyses of today’s populations—over 3,000 people sampled across 200 groups—reveal African ancestry in everyone. Even the most isolated folks, like Australia’s Indigenous peoples or Scandinavia’s Sami, carry markers (e.g., haplogroup M) tying them to that African exodus.

First Caucasian was Black skinned

Unity in Our Genes

The numbers don’t lie: 99.9% of our DNA is identical across all humans, and the 0.1% that varies still points to Africa. Skin color, eye shape, height—these adapt to local climates, but beneath it, we’re one family. The Human Genome Project mapped this unity, while projects like 1000 Genomes and the African Genome Variation Project zoomed in, finding the richest genetic diversity in Africa itself. Why? Because our species spent most of its history there, diversifying before spreading out.

This isn’t about politics or pride—it’s biology. Your spit in a test tube, run through a sequencer, will show African haplogroups, whether you’re Black, white, or anything else. Companies like 23andMe bank on this: every result, even for a blond Swede, traces back to those ancient African ancestors. It’s not a theory; it’s a fact backed by decades of peer-reviewed data.

Why It Matters

Knowing all humans share African DNA flips the script on division. Racism, tribalism, “us vs. them”—they crumble when you see we’re all cousins, split by just 2,000 generations. It’s a call to rethink identity, not as borders or shades, but as a shared journey from one continent. Science doesn’t erase culture or history, but it reminds us: before we were anything else, we were African.

So next time someone asks where you’re “really” from, smile and say: “Africa—just like you.” Our DNA doesn’t lie—we’re all walking proof of a single, incredible origin.

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Sources

1. Nature (2017): “The Southern Route ‘Out of Africa’: Evidence from Modern and Ancient DNA” – Details the 60,000-year-old migration via haplogroup L3.
2. Science (2015): “Ancient Ethiopian Genome Reveals Extensive Eurasian Mixture” – Mota Cave DNA linking African ancestry globally.
3. American Journal of Human Genetics (2000): “The Genetic Legacy of Paleolithic Homo sapiens in Extant Europeans” – Mitochondrial Eve and African origins.
4. National Geographic Genographic Project (ongoing) – Maps Y-chromosome and mtDNA haplogroups worldwide to Africa.
5. Human Genome Project (2003) – Established 99.9% genetic similarity, with African roots via mtDNA.
6. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2016): “Genomic Insights into the Peopling of the World” – Confirms African diversity as the deepest.
7. Current Biology (2014): “A Draft Sequence of the Neanderthal Genome” – Neanderthal interbreeding, still dominated by African DNA.

These sources, from journals and projects, ground the post in genetic and anthropological consensus without clogging the flow. Let me know if you’d like it adjusted—more casual, more technical, or otherwise!

Recent Scientific Evidence on Adam and Eve: Bridging Faith and Science

Recent Scientific Evidence on Adam and Eve: Bridging Faith and Science

The story of Adam and Eve, as recounted in religious texts, has long been a subject of fascination and debate. Recent scientific discoveries have provided intriguing insights that bridge the gap between faith and science, shedding light on the possible historical and genetic foundations of this ancient narrative.

Genetic Evidence: Mitochondrial Eve and Y-Chromosome Adam

Modern genetic research has identified two key figures in human ancestry: Mitochondrial Eve and Y-Chromosome Adam. These terms refer to the most recent common ancestors of all living humans through maternal and paternal lines, respectively.

- **Mitochondrial Eve**: Scientists have traced the mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from mother to child, back to a single woman who lived in Africa approximately 200,000 years ago. While she was not the only woman alive at the time, her genetic lineage is the only one that has survived to the present day.

- **Y-Chromosome Adam**: Similarly, the Y-chromosome, passed from father to son, can be traced back to a single man who lived around 135,000 years ago. This does not imply that he was the only man alive, but rather that his Y-chromosome lineage is the one that has persisted.

These findings suggest that all humans share common ancestors, aligning with the concept of a single origin for humanity.

Archaeological Discoveries: The Garden of Eden

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that may point to the historical basis of the Garden of Eden. The region known as Mesopotamia, which spans modern-day Iraq, eastern Syria, and northwestern Turkey, is often identified as the cradle of civilization. This area, rich in fertile land and water resources, is believed to be the birthplace of agriculture and early human settlements.

- **Mesopotamia**: The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, mentioned in the biblical description of Eden, flow through this region. The fertile crescent, with its nutrient-rich soil, enabled the first deliberate planting and harvesting of crops around 20,000 years ago. This aligns with the idea of Eden as a paradise where humans first thrived.

Cultural and Mythological Parallels

Ancient Sumerian myths from the Mesopotamian region share striking similarities with the biblical creation story. These parallels suggest that the story of Adam and Eve may have roots in earlier cultural narratives, reflecting shared human experiences and beliefs.

Reflection: Science Seeking God

The convergence of scientific evidence and religious narratives highlights the profound connection between faith and science. The story of Adam and Eve, while rooted in religious tradition, finds echoes in genetic and archaeological discoveries. This interplay between science and faith underscores the universal quest for understanding our origins and the nature of existence.

Conclusion

Recent scientific evidence provides fascinating insights into the story of Adam and Eve, bridging the gap between ancient narratives and modern discoveries. The identification of common ancestors through genetic research and the archaeological findings in Mesopotamia offer a deeper understanding of humanity's shared heritage. As we continue to explore the intersections of faith and science, we are reminded of the enduring quest for knowledge and the profound mysteries of our origins.

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Sources:

Scientists have evidence that Adam and Eve existed

Scientists prove the existence of Adam and Eve | Watch

Scientists reveal all the evidence Adam and Eve really DID exist | Daily Mail Online

Adam and Eve: 'Proof' Biblical couple existed unveiled - US News - News - Daily Express US

Archaeologists Discover Evidence of 3200-Year-Old Bible Story Where Moses Led His People To The Promised Land

Science breakthrough as experts reveal all the evidence that Adam and Eve did exist

Adam and Eve Didn’t Drop Dead?! What Really Happened in Eden 🌳🍎(The Patrick Madrid Show) - Relevant Radio

Why Do We Fast?

 

Why do Catholics fast? A religious reason and a remedy for sin

Fasting is a practice that many Catholics observe during Lent, the season of preparation for Easter. But what is the meaning and purpose of fasting? How does it relate to our faith and our relationship with God? In this blog post, we will explore the religious reason why we fast and how it can help us overcome the effects of sin in our lives.

Fasting is the voluntary deprivation of food or other goods for a certain period of time, usually for a spiritual motive. Fasting is not a form of dieting or self-punishment, but a way of expressing our love and devotion to God, who is the source of all good things. Fasting is also a way of imitating Christ, who fasted for forty days in the desert before beginning his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11).

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest theologians of the Catholic Church, fasting has three main purposes:

1. To restrain the lusts of the flesh, which can lead us to sin and distract us from God. Fasting helps us to control our appetites and to detach ourselves from worldly pleasures that can enslave us. Fasting also strengthens our virtue of chastity, which enables us to love God and others with purity and respect.

2. To raise the mind to the contemplation of heavenly things, which can fill us with joy and peace. Fasting clears our vision and sharpens our focus on God, who is the ultimate goal of our existence. Fasting also fosters our prayer life, which is the dialogue of love between God and us.

3. To make satisfaction for sins, which can damage our relationship with God and others. Fasting is a form of penance, which means expressing sorrow for our sins and repairing the harm they have caused. Fasting also shows our willingness to cooperate with God's grace, which heals us from the wounds of sin.

The Bible gives us many examples of fasting as a religious practice that pleases God and brings about his blessings. For instance, Moses fasted for forty days on Mount Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28). Esther fasted for three days before approaching King Ahasuerus to save her people from genocide (Esther 4:16). Daniel fasted for three weeks before receiving a revelation from God (Daniel 10:2-3). Jonah fasted for three days in the belly of the whale before being sent to Nineveh to preach repentance (Jonah 1:17-2:10). Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert before being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).  

St. Francis de Sales tells us in his Ash Wednesday sermon that we fast in order to discipline the mouth. This is because sin began in the mouth, so to speak. Adam and Eve spoke to the serpent and plotted their disobedience of God with their mouths. It was via the mouth that Adam and Eve consumed the forbidden fruit, so the mouth was, in effect, the entry way of the Original Sin.  This is why fasting is often needed to drive stronger demonic forces away. The fasting is a form of the human being taking control back from the enemy. It weakens the enemy. Fasting to prepare for feasts allows us to desire the feast more just like when we crave a favorite food after depriving ourselves of it.  

The Church teaches that fasting is a form of asceticism, which means practicing self-discipline for spiritual growth. The Church also prescribes every Friday and certain days and seasons of fasting and abstinence, such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Lent, to help us prepare for the great feasts of Easter and Christmas. The Church also encourages us to practice voluntary fasting and abstinence at other times, according to our ability and circumstances. We saw this a few times during the pandemic and outbreak of war when Pope Francis called on Catholics to fast and pray. 

Fasting is not an end in itself, but a means to an end: to love God more and to serve him better. Fasting is not a burden, but a privilege: to share in the sufferings of Christ and to rejoice in his resurrection. Fasting is not a punishment, but a remedy: to cleanse our souls from sin and to renew our hearts with grace.  Also note that those with medical conditions or who are of mature age are not obligated to fast. 

As we enter into this season of Lent, let us embrace fasting as a religious reason and a remedy for sin. Let us fast with faith, hope, and love. Let us fast with gratitude, humility, and joy. Let us fast with Jesus, who is our model, our strength, and our reward.

What do you think? Post your comment below on Disqus.  Be sure to follow the rules so your comment can go through.  

Good Friday

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Today billions of Christians throughout the world are supposed to be commemorating the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  However, due to the exaggerated policies of governments and Church officials, Good Friday is not the same.  Most people are forced to be at home and watch "services" on television or social media.  This faux attempt at worship is troubling. While live streaming and television are good to promote the faith and aid those who cannot attend Mass, to force everyone to rely on it is disturbing and unfortunate.  It encourages spiritual sloth.  Worship in Christianity has to be physical and communal. Let me be clear. This is not an attempt to disgrace or shame anyone. It is just a collective sigh of disappointment exhibited by many Christians of all denominations.  As a former atheist, faith is something that I have grown to love.  It was not easy, but it happened. To see our bishops, priests, religious and laity encourage the closing of churches and suspension of the Sacraments hurts a lot.

It makes me and many others wonder what faith exists on earth?  We all know that we are flesh and flesh is weak.  We will get sick, get hurt, get killed, etc. No one is Superman or the Brightburn character. No one is Hulk or Thanos.  Even Jesus faces the pains and weaknesses of the body. He was human in all things except sin. However, we must understand that while we are subject to nature and its qualms, this does not mean God will not protect anyone doing His will.  It is just not rational to think that Jesus would allow His Eucharistic presence to become a conduit for disease. It is just not rational to think that Jesus would allow contagion to spread during His Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  This is just absurd to think.  Nevertheless, there are some who literally believe this can happen despite absolutely no evidence of it in history.  A year after the onset of this pandemic and we still have no science showing the mass or Sacraments as conduits for the spread of Covid 10 coronavirus.  Once again, Jesus is abandoned by His alleged disciples today. Jesus is an often misunderstood person in history.  

Christ Jesus, the prophesied Messiah came not as a warrior of politics, but of love.  As an atheist, Good Friday was a hard concept for me to understand.  As I get older, I grow in its meaning.  At first, it seems like a bunch of superstitions.  Christians worship a man who died on a Cross - big deal right?  What is so important about this?

Many Catholic parishes and other Protestant sects have processions reenacting the Stations of the Cross or "Via Crucis" as it is called in Latin.  These are the events that took place as Jesus carried the Cross eventually meeting death at Golgotha.  Christians and Popes have described this act as an "act of love."  How is carrying a cross in a humiliating and painful way eventually leading to death by an "act of love?"  Why would God use this to redeem the world?  Is God crazy or a masochist?  Any true atheist or skeptic curious about the Christian faith would ask these and more.  Death entered the world due to the sin of Adam and Eve (Romans 5:14).  It is via death that Christ brings life and grace to all (Hebrews 2:5-18).

Love hurts most of the time.  How many times have we had a lover who we tried to impress with flowers, chocolates, and what not only for it to go sour later on?  Love is so good but can be bad, we often think.  Love hurts.  We give so much to a person and that person may not give as much back, if anything at all.  John 3:16 is often quoted and is perhaps the most quoted passage from the Bible.  It says to the effect that God loves the world so much that He sent His only son.

God sent His son Jesus for all of humanity.  This is the greatest love of all (John 15:13).  This act makes no sense to those who are limited in reasoning.

For Christ to lay down His life for all of us shows the extent to which God will go through in order to show that He seriously loves each one of us.  Jesus is willing to go through hell, so to speak, in order to show that we are loved and never abandoned.  This spoke volumes to me as an atheist.  Other gods or conceptions of gods that man has used to define the one reality of God present these beings as egoistic, limited, and unconcerned about the affairs of men.  In many instances, people were sacrificed for these conceptual gods. With Jesus, He becomes the sacrifice for man recalling how Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac his son after getting the command from God (Genesis 22).  Even philosopher Kierkegaard regarded this command and act as a "suspension of the ethical."   

However, Abraham was about to do this act out of love and faith.  Naturally, God was not going to allow him to kill his only son.  He was merely testing him to show that Abraham was not tainted by the rituals of paganism in his time which called for human sacrifices.  This story is also a foreshadowing of God sending His own Son to be the sacrificial lamb.  It is a preparation for love personified in the person of Christ giving His life for all of us.

We know Jesus was betrayed by Judas with a kiss.  A kiss is most likely the universal symbol of love and affection.  We use this physical symbol to show love to our parents, other relatives, friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, husbands/wives, and even people we have just met.  It is a simple gesture that is quick and sends the message that we are close to the recipient.  The kiss of Judas has an interesting context here.  It is a kiss of betrayal and hypocrisy.  Here we see two kinds of love presented: genuine agape love and selfish love.  Jesus is giving His life for all, including Judas.  Judas is giving "love" via a kiss but only for his own ulterior motives which are 30 pieces of silver.

In today's world, we see so many broken relationships.  Love is given conditions in order to function in society.  Many of us look for looks instead of hearts.  Our partners have to look a certain way, act a certain way, or have a certain amount in order for us to consider even meeting or dating.  It has gone even more bizarre with the promotion of same-sex unions which completely negates the psychological and biological function of courtship in the natural world.  Love is being twisted to serve the self instead of others.  This is what I call the "Judas effect."  Today we often love in order to get something in return.  Love becomes a stock bond in which we gamble to see what we gain and what losses we cut.  Marriages dissolve because of financial reasons or changes in personal desires - again selfish motives.  Calls for "marriage equality" are pushed down our throats in the name of love that cannot give of itself via reproduction and that promotes unions only of the sake of seeking rights to a partner's assets - again selfish motives.  It is no wonder why so many couples break up and so many marriages go down the path of divorce and why love and marriage have become a circus for the egotistical.  Our society has lost the love Christ preached and presented today on Good Friday over 2,000 years ago.

Christ gave Himself for us without condition.  He died for each one of us as we are.  Jesus did not care how we looked, what we had, who we associate with or who we are deep down.  Jesus died on the Cross because we are part of God's family and He loves us.  He is our brother and God the Father is our Father.  Good Friday should remind us of this.  We should not go to Good Friday liturgies and just go through the routines of the rites without adsorbing their meanings.  The events of today have so much wisdom for us to grow as human beings, not only in grace and spiritually, but also psychologically and socially with one another.

Jesus is the "just man" foreshadowed by Plato in his Republic (Book 2, 361e, 362a), "...the just man will have to endure the lash, the rack, chains, the branding-iron in his eyes, and finally, after every extremity of suffering, he will be crucified."  He is the model for all humanity to follow.  We all want love and want to love.  Jesus is the only one who can show us how through His Word and example.  God is indeed love (1 John 4:8).   We should return the favor by loving Him unconditionally. This Lent and Holy Week has been filled with a deep spiritual meaning.  Covid-19 Coronavirus has shown the world that man is not in charge. Science is not in charge. Government is not in charge. Not even religion is in charge.  Perhaps Covid-19 was meant to bring humanity to its knees to remind the species that there is a God and He will not have much more of its nonsense.  Let us reflect on this Good Friday what it means to love God and suffer; yes, suffer.  Many do not like the word, but it is part of Christianity.  So a Christian can attempt to hide from a silly virus, but life will come with something else for him or her to suffer.  This is why we must reflect on suffering and why it matters in the Christian life.     

I ask the Lord to bless you via my relic of the True Cross.  Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the Savior of the world!

       

Good Friday Reflection: Jesus Abandoned Again

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Today billions of Christians throughout the world are supposed to be commemorating the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  However, due to the exaggerated policies of governments and Church official, Good Friday is not the same.  The people are forced to be at home and watch "services" on television or social media.  This faux attempt at worship is troubling. While live streaming and television is good to promote the faith and aid those who cannot attend Mass, to force everyone to rely on it is disturbing and unfortunately.  It encourages spiritual sloth.  Worship in Christianity has to be physical and communal. Let me be clear. This is not an attempt to disgrace or shame anyone. It is just a collective sigh of disappointment exhibited by many Christians of all denominations.  As a former atheist, faith is something that I have grown to love.  It was not easy, but it happened. To see our bishops, priests, religious and laity encourage the closing of churches and suspension of the Sacraments hurts a lot.

It makes me and many others wonder what faith exists on earth?  We all know that we are flesh and flesh is weak.  We will get sick, get hurt, get killed etc. No one is Superman or the Brightburn character. No one is Hulk or Thanos.  Even Jesus faces the pains and weaknesses of the body. He was human in all things except sin. However, we must understand that while we are subject to nature and its qualms, this does not mean God will not protect anyone doing His will.  It is just not rational to think that Jesus would allow His Eucharistic presence to become a conduit for disease. It is just not rational to think that Jesus would allow a contagion to spread during His Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  This is just absurd to think.  Nevertheless, there are some who literally believe this can happen despite absolutely no evidence of it in history.  Once again, Jesus is abandoned by His alleged disciples today. Jesus is an often misunderstood person in history.  

Christ Jesus, the prophesied Messiah came not as a warrior of politics, but of love.  As an atheist, Good Friday was a hard concept for me to understand.  As I get older, I grow in its meaning.  At first, it seems like a bunch of superstition.  Christians worship a man who died on a Cross - big deal right?  What is so important about this?

Many Catholic parishes and other Protestant sects have processions reenacting the Stations of the Cross or "Via Crucis" as it is called in Latin.  These are the events that took place as Jesus carried the Cross eventually meeting death at Golgotha.  Christians and Popes have described this act as an "act of love."  How is carrying a cross in a humiliating and painful way eventually leading to death be an "act of love?"  Why would God use this to redeem the world?  Is God crazy or a masochist?  Any true atheist or skeptic curious about the Christian faith would ask these and more.  Death entered the world due to the sin of Adam and Eve (Romans 5:14).  It is via death that Christ brings life and grace to all (Hebrews 2:5-18).

Love hurts most of the time.  How many times have we had a lover who we tried to impress with flowers, chocolates and what not only for it to go sour later on?  Love is so good but can be bad, we often think.  Love hurts.  We give so much to a person and that person may not give as much back, if anything at all.  John 3:16 is often quoted and is perhaps the most quoted passage from the Bible.  It says to the effect that God loves the world so much that He sent His only son.

God sent His son Jesus for all of humanity.  This is the greatest love of all (John 15:13).  This act makes no sense to those who are limited in reasoning.

For Christ to lay down His life for all of us shows the extent to which God will go through in order to show that He seriously loves each one of us.  Jesus is willing to go through hell, so to speak, in order to show that we are loved and never abandoned.  This spoke volumes to me as an atheist.  Other gods or conceptions of gods that man has used to define the one reality of God present these beings as egoistic, limited and unconcerned of the affairs of men.  In many instances, people were sacrificed for these conceptual gods. With Jesus, He becomes the sacrifice for man recalling how Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac his son after getting the command from God (Genesis 22).  Even philosopher Kierkegaard regarded this command and act as a "suspension of the ethical."   

However, Abraham was about to do this act out of love and faith.  Naturally, God was not going to allow him to kill his only son.  He was merely testing him to show that Abraham was not tainted by the rituals of paganism in his time which called for human sacrifices.  This story is also a foreshadowing of God sending His own Son to be the sacrificial lamb.  It is a preparation for love personified in the person of Christ giving His life for all of us.

We know Jesus was betrayed by Judas with a kiss.  A kiss is most likely the universal symbol for love and affection.  We use this physical symbol to show love to our parents, other relatives, friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, husbands/wives, and even people we have just met.  It is a simple gesture that is quick and sends the message that we are close to the recipient.  The kiss of Judas has an interesting context here.  It is a kiss of betrayal and hypocrisy.  Here we see two kinds of love presented: genuine agape love, and selfish love.  Jesus is giving His life for all, including Judas.  Judas is giving "love" via a kiss but only for his own ulterior motives which are 30 pieces of silver.

In today's world, we see so many broken relationships.  Love is given conditions in order to function in society.  Many of us look for looks instead of hearts.  Our partners have to look a certain way, act a certain way, or have a certain amount in order for us to consider even meeting or dating.  It has gone even more bizarre with the promotion of same-sex unions which completely negates the psychological and biological function of courtship in the natural world.  Love is being twisted to serve the self instead of others.  This is what I call the "Judas effect."  Today we often love in order to get something in return.  Love becomes a stock bond which we gamble to see what we gain and what losses we cut.  Marriages dissolve because of financial reasons or changes in personal desires - again selfish motives.  Calls for "marriage equality" are pushed down our throats in the name of love that cannot give of itself via reproduction and that promotes unions only of the sake of seeking rights to a partner's assets - again selfish motives.  It is no wonder why so many couples break up and so many marriages go down the path of divorce and why love and marriage have become a circus for the egotistical.  Our society has lost the love Christ preached and presented today on Good Friday over 2,000 years ago.

Christ gave Himself for us without condition.  He died for each one of us as we are.  Jesus did not care how we looked, what we had, who we associate with or who we are deep down.  Jesus died on the Cross because we are part of God's family and He loves us.  He is our brother and God the Father is our Father.  Good Friday should remind us of this.  We should not go to Good Friday liturgies and just go through the routines of the rites without adsorbing their meanings.  The events of today have so much wisdom for us to grow as human beings, not only in grace and spiritually, but also psychologically and socially with one another.

Jesus is the "just man" foreshadowed by Plato in his Republic (Book 2, 361e, 362a), "...the just man will have to endure the lash, the rack, chains, the branding-iron in his eyes, and finally, after every extremity of suffering, he will be crucified."  He is the model for all humanity to follow.  We all want love and want to love.  Jesus is the only one who can show us how through His Word and example.  God is indeed love (1 John 4:8).   We should return the favor by loving Him unconditionally. This Lent and Holy Week has been filled with a deep spiritual meaning.  Covid-19 Coronavirus has shown the world that man is not in charge. Science is not in charge. Government is not in charge. Not even religion is in charge.  Perhaps Covid-19 was meant to bring humanity to its knees to remind the species that there is a God and He will not have much more of its nonsense.  Let us reflect on this Good Friday what it means to love God and suffer; yes, suffer.  Many do not like the word, but it is part of Christianity.  So a Christian can attempt to hide from a silly virus, but life will come with something else for him or her to suffer.  This is why we must reflect on suffering and why it matters in the Christian life.     

I ask the Lord to bless you via my relic of the True Cross.  Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the Savior of the world!