Category: Reflection
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Time for an “Awe-full” Advent
As part of a school Christmas pageant, some first-graders reenacted the nativity story. Mary and Joseph, weary after their journey, sat by the manger and closed their eyes. The lights went out. When they came back on, Joseph woke up, looked in the manger and said, “Mary, wake up! Wake up! Look who you had!” […]
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Minute Meditation: Thank God
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10 In the first reading today, St. Paul says, We give thanks to God always for all of you,remembering you in our prayers,unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of loveand endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,before our God and Father,knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, […]
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The Paradox of Love: Friday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Joshua 24:1-13; Psalm 136:1; Matthew 19:3-12 Today’s readings remind me of that famous scene in the musical Fiddler on the Roof when Tevye asks Golde, his wife of 25 years, do you love me? She replies, “Do I love you? For 25 years I’ve washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned your house, given you […]
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I Will Make You Great: Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30 An important part of getting to know someone is finding out about their background – their childhood, family, whatever details they’d like to share. It gives us a fuller, richer picture of the person, puts what they say and do in context, and helps us come to a better understanding and appreciation […]
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Sheep and Shepherd: St. Augustine of Canterbury
1 Thessalonians 2:2b-8; Matthew 9:35-38 During a parish mission years ago the homilist asked the congregation, “Do we live the Christian life as sheep or shepherds?” At the risk of oversimplifying, his point was that being a true follower of Christ requires us to be both. Key moments from the life of St. Augustine of […]
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The Invitation to Dare: Divine Mercy Sunday
Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31 The gospel according to John has been called the gospel of encounters. Each follows the same basic pattern: Jesus encounters someone, they test him, there is an exchange, and the encounter ends with those who tested Jesus finding that in reality they are the ones being tested: Will […]
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Mercy and Forgiveness: Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38 The readings today evoke two images of Pope St. John Paul II in my mind. The first is of a trip the pope made on April 13th, 1986. Although very short – less than two miles from the Vatican – its impact was as great as any pastoral visit he would […]
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To Life: Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Ezekiel 33:11 In the gospel acclamation from the book of Ezekiel, the Lord says, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man… but rather in his conversion, that he may live (Ezekiel 33:11). A popular radio talk show host recently died and the air waves are full of condolences but also, sadly, […]
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Today: Thursday After Ash Wednesday
Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Matthew 4:17; Luke 9:22-25 Today. We just heard Moses say it twice. Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today… (Deuteronomy 30:15). We can almost feel the immediacy in his words. Don’t put […]
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The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 February 2nd is a day of celebrations. Many know it as Groundhog Day, the day when it seems the whole world watches the behavior of a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. What many may not know is that this lighthearted little distraction began over a century ago as a Protestant […]
Mark 10:45 