Words that Hurt to Heal
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There's a popular notion that Jesus was a very nice man. He would never do or say anything that would hurt anyone; therefore, we should never do or say anything...
Enter Through the Narrow Gate
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 13, someone asks Jesus, “Will only a few be saved?” Jesus responds, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you,...
Humble Yourself
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In today’s Gospel reading, we hear Jesus say, “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.” Many non-Catholics will use this verse to try...
A New Family
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The Book of Ruth is one of the shorter books in the Bible. In today’s first reading, we meet Ruth. Ruth was King David’s great-grandmother. But the story of how...
Being Properly Dressed
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Today’s first reading from Judges 11 may be hard for us to understand, and even harder for us to accept. Jephthah makes a vow to the Lord. If the Lord...
You're Invited
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There are plenty of shifty characters in the Scriptures. We see one of them today in the person of Abimelech, in our first reading from Judges 9. He killed all...
What's Possible
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In the first reading today, we meet Gideon. Be honest now…you thought he was just a guy who dropped Bibles off in hotel rooms, right? Actually, Gideon is one of...
The Recipe for Perfection
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Today's first reading is from the Book of Judges 2. It explains how the judges were like the prophets. They tried to keep the people on the right path, but...
Let's Get Fired Up
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Of course, Jesus isn’t...
As For Me and My House
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We have a very short Gospel reading today. But as always, it is packed. Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom...
Assumed into Heaven
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is one of those days that is greatly misunderstood by many. So let’s talk about...
Forgive Just Once
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Have you ever seen the waters of a flowing river stop dead? Of course not. But the children of Israel did, as God stopped the Jordan from flowing so that...
On Binding and Loosing and Praying
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Today we read about the death of Moses. It has been fascinating reading about his life and times. As I’ve mentioned many times, no one had a relationship with God...
Like a Child
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In the first reading today from Deuteronomy 31, Moses delivers his farewell address. He has seen an awful lot in his 120 years. Now it is time for the children...
Looking a Gift Fish in the Mouth
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In today's first reading from Deuteronomy 10 Moses encourages the people to keep the commandments and statutes that God had given them for their own good. A point for us...
Ready or Not!
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In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus talks about being prepared. Prepared for what? His return. Jesus said, "Be sure of this: if the master of the house had...
Moving a Mountain
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Moses wanted to make sure that the children of Israel remembered who God was, and that He alone was worthy of their worship. He gives them yet another reminder in...
What is Your Soul Worth?
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The people of Israel were privileged. God chose them as his own. In the first reading today from Deuteronomy 4, Moses again reminds them of all the marvelous things that...
The Keys and the Rock
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Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 16 is a very important one. Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They give Him varied answers....
Seeing His Glory
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Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus took Peter, James and John up Mount Tabor and they witnessed something remarkable. In the account from St. Luke,...
The Danger of Jealousy
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Moses was the greatest prophet ever. He was a great leader. Any time people are in high positions, there will be those who are jealous of them. More in a...
Satisfied?
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Moses was a man with an enormous burden. In today's first reading from Numbers 11, he expresses his frustration to God. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 14, we read...
A Dead End Street
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In the Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus says, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” He...
The Jubilee
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In today’s first reading from Leviticus 25, we read about the jubilee. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 14, we read the story of...
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus goes back to Nazareth (his native place) and teaches in the synagogue. It didn't go so well. The people started questioning because...
The Wicked and the Righteous
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In today's Gospel reading, we come to the final parables from Matthew 13. Jesus uses a fishing parable, on that would have been so familiar to His Apostles who were...
You Gotta Give It All Up!
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus tells two very brief parables about what the Kingdom of heaven is like. Though often times his messages were hidden, Jesus always...
A Holy Family
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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In previous years it was the Feast of St. Martha, but now the whole family is celebrated. Martha, Mary...
The Power of Yeast
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When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments, he saw a horrific sight: the people were worshiping a golden calf. Moses goes...
Asking for the Spirit
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Today's Gospel reading from Luke 11 contains a famous saying of Jesus that most folks know: "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find;...
On Grandparents
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Happy Grandparents’ Day! Now I know that Hallmark doesn’t declare this today, but today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. The Protoevangelium of James (c. 150) tells...
St. James
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. James. This James is the son of Zebedee and the brother of St. John the Apostle. He is known as James the Greater....
Life as a Parable
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus is asked why He speaks in parables. He replies, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted...
Our Daily Bread
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Bread from heaven. When most people hear that phrase, they probably think of Jesus. And rightfully so. But in today’s first reading from Exodus 16, we once again experience typology....
A New Creation
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Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. There are different options for the first reading. In an optional reading for the feast day from 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, St. Paul...
Give Me a Sign!
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Back in 1971, a group called The Five Man Electrical Band released a song called "Signs." Most of us boomers recall the hook. "Sign, Sign, everywhere a sign, blocking out...
The Better Part
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In our Gospel reading from Luke 10, we see the famous story of Mary and Martha. Martha is bothered by the fact that her sister was not helping with the...
No More Slavery
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In the first reading today from Exodus 12, we read about the aftermath of the Passover. The people of Israel fled from their bondage of slavery in Egypt. This time...
Passover and the Holy Mass
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Each year on Holy Thursday, the first reading for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is taken from Exodus 11-12. That same reading is today’s first reading. In the Gospel...
The Yoke's on You
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Today we hear God reveal his name to Moses. "This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: I AM sent me to you." In today’s Gospel reading from...
Who, Me?
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In today’s first reading, we see God calling to Moses in the burning bush. The story is one of the most compelling stories in the Old Testament. How did Moses...
Saved by the Belle
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus pronounces woes on two towns because they witnessed the mighty deeds of Jesus, yet failed to repent. In the first reading from...
Your Cross Awaits
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A new chapter begins in the lives of the children of Israel in today’s first reading from Exodus 1 – slavery. The Egyptians made the Hebrews their slaves, and Pharaoh...
Your Neighbor
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Our Gospel reading for today is from Luke 10, the story of the Good Samaritan. We’re all familiar with this story, right? A guy asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?...
He Knows Your Hairs
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 10, Jesus talks about your worth. “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground...
It's Nonsensical!
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In today's first reading from Genesis 46, Israel is finally reunited with his beloved son Joseph. He says, "At last I can die, now that I have seen for myself...
Seeing God's Bigger Plan
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 10, Jesus sends out the Twelve and gives them their “marching orders.” He says to them, “Without cost you have received; without cost...
Go to the Lost Sheep
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Israel's son Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers. He had risen to a position of great power with Pharaoh, unbeknownst to his brothers. Now his brothers had...
The Cure
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In the first reading today from Genesis 32, Jacob gets in an all night wrestling match with a man. But is it a man? The man says, "You shall no...
Two Healings
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Everyone knows the classic song “Stairway to Heaven,” right? Did you know the title of the song is based on a passage from Scripture? We find it in today’s first...