The Best Intentions
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Our first reading today is from Isaiah 49, more from the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation...
Giving Jesus Our Best
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As we begin Holy Week, we'll be reading the prophesies of the Suffering Servant, or the Servant of the Lord, from Isaiah. We see Jesus so clearly portrayed in all...
The Lord's Passion
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Today is Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. Today we will hear the reading of the Passion narrative from Matthew's Gospel in the liturgy. It is perhaps the longest reading of...
One Dying for the Many
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As we approach Palm Sunday, the story of the final week of Jesus’ life unfolds. In the first reading from Ezekiel 37, the prophet speaks of the return of the...
Doing the Father's Works
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In today’s first reading from Jeremiah 20, we hear the people plotting against Jeremiah. But they will not be victorious; they will not have their way. Jeremiah says, “But the...
Longing for I AM
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There are only a very few instances of God changing someone’s name in the Scriptures. Today we see the first of these in Genesis 17. Abram gets a new name....
Trial by Fire
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In today’s first reading from Daniel 3, we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego getting thrown into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith. Faith enough...
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
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Sutton Turner of Vanderbloemen joined Gus to talk about how churches, religious schools and non-profits can benefit from the recent stimulus bill. Leaders of these groups must act fast. Get...
The Antidote for Sin
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Today’s first reading from Numbers 21 tells us the story of God sending saraph serpents among the people of Israel, who had become terrible whiners. God then commands Moses to...
Sin No More
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In today’s readings, we see the stories of two women who are about to be killed. In the first reading from Daniel, we see the story of Susanna. Two wicked...
Come Out!
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For the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the theme of the readings is being raised from the dead. In the first reading from Ezekiel 37, God says, “Then you hslal know...
Vengeance is Mine
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You may have heard the saying, "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." That's from Romans 12:19, and not part of today's liturgy. But it comes to mind for me because...
Close to the Brokenhearted
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An eerie first reading today from Wisdom 2. It describes the things that Jesus went through to a tee. Be sure to read it and see if you don’t shake...
Craving Approval
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In today’s first reading from Exodus 32, Moses has a little heart-to-heart with God, asking Him to relent from destroying His people. And God relented. A wonderful statement on the...
The First Christian
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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. This is the moment when the Angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she had been chosen to...
Do You Want to be Well?
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Water is a theme that runs through our two readings today. In the first reading from Ezekiel 47, the Angel of the Lord shows Ezekiel a trickle of water flowing...
"Heal My Son"
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I hear so often from people whose children no longer go to church or practice the faith. I know it is heartbreaking. More in a moment. In today’s first reading...
Blindness and Sight
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Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading today is from John 9. It is the story of a man blind from birth who received his sight from...
The Deadliest Trap
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Another beautiful reading from Hosea today for our first reading. Through the prophet, the Lord says, “For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather...
Loving God, Loving People
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Today’s first reading from Hosea 14 contains some of the most beautiful imagery in Scripture. It shows us God’s loving heart for his people. Even though they had turned away,...
Our Example of Fatherhood
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph. In our first reading from 2 Samuel, God says that his Son would spring from the line of David. “I will...
Passing On the Faith
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The observance of God’s laws was of paramount importance to the Israelite people. God gave his laws to Moses, who taught them to and enjoined them on the people. More...
No Wiggle Room
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In the first reading today from Daniel 3, we hear the heartfelt and beautiful prayer of Azariah. He, along with his two companions, is in a fiery furnace offering a...
Putting Away Pride
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Our first reading today is from 2 Kings 5. It is a story about a man named Naaman. Naaman was not a child of Israel. He was a commander in...
Breaking Down Barriers
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Today's Gospel reading is from John 4, the story of the woman at the well. Jesus meets up with a Samaritan woman at a well. Two unusual things automatically pop into...
The Way Home
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What a beautiful first reading we have today from Michah 7. The prophet says, “You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins.” When we confess our...
The Enemy that is Envy
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Today’s readings feature two stories of envy, one real, the other a parable. In the first reading from Genesis 27 we see the story of Joseph. His father, Israel “loved...
The Church as Messenger
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You trust God, right? Of course you do. But can you trust God more? Can you trust God in every area of your life? I believe that we probably don’t...
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
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I’m sure you’ve heard the old expression “No good deed goes unpunished.” Ain’t it the truth? Just take a look at the Scriptures. The prophets of old were simply doing...
Let Us Set Things Right
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I don’t know about you, but I find that, more often than not, something is not quite right in my relationship with God. It is always my fault, this I...
Of Judgment and Measure
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Confession is so important. In today’s first reading from Daniel 9, Daniel confesses the sins of his people to the LORD. He comes clean, as we must. Today’s Gospel reading...
Good That We are Here
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For the Second Sunday of Lent, we read the story of the Transfiguration from Matthew 17. Upon seeing Jesus in His glory, along with Moses and Elijah, Peter says, “Lord,...
No Reward for Easy
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In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew 5, Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” He then goes on to ask some rhetorical questions. “For if...
No Fair!
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I just love the first reading today from Ezekiel 18. The Lord God says, “You say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair!’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my...
Living the Golden Rule
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The first reading today is from the Book of Esther. It is a fascinating story and one that I recommend you read. (The whole book is just a few pages...
Ignoring the Sign
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Most people know the story of Jonah. At least, they know part of it; they know the part where he gets swallowed by a big fish. But what about the...
God Doesn't Do Something for Nothing
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Today's first reading is Isaiah 55:10-11. This passage is so important for us to understand, and is instrumental in my teaching about Seeds of Grace. "Just as from the heavens...
These Least Ones
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In the first reading today from Leviticus 19, the Lord tells Moses to tell the people how to conduct themselves. Though not the Ten Commandments, this reading sounds similar. It...
Going Into the Desert
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Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 4 tells us that, before the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus went into the desert for forty days, where he was tempted by Satan. This...
Following the Example of Levi
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Today's Gospel reading from Luke 5 is about the call of Levi. Not sure who Levi is? We know him better as Matthew. He was a tax collector. Jesus sees Levi...
A Different Kind of Fast
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In our first reading today from Isaiah 58, we hear what is truly an acceptable form of fasting. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading, the Pharisees...
The Consequences of Choice
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In our first reading today from Deuteronomy, Moses tells the people what they must do in order to enter the promised land. Obey the commandments of the Lord, love Him,...
You are Dust
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Blessed Ash Wednesday! Today we begin our Lenten journey for 2020. Whatever you have chosen to do or give up (or a combination thereof), I pray that this will be...
What We Ask For
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“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Those words of Jesus come to us from today’s Gospel reading from...
Help My Unbelief
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Wisdom comes in two forms: heavenly wisdom and earthly wisdom. St. James speaks of the two in today’s first reading from James 3. Which type of wisdom are we working...
Of Eyes and Teeth
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We have another controversial Gospel reading today from Matthew 5. Jesus talks about offering no resistance to the one who is evil; about turning the other cheek. The old law...
The Chair of St. Peter
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. It has nothing to do with a piece of furniture. Today we celebrate the office of the Papacy...
Faith and Works
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Today’s first reading from St. James is a treatise on faith and works. St. James says “faith without works is dead.” More on that in a moment. In today’s Gospel...
Get Behind Me, Satan
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Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 8 is the story of Jesus asking the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter replies, "You are the Christ." Peter then rebukes...
A Doing Problem
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More great stuff today from St. James in our first reading. In the Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus heals a blind man; but it takes Him two tries. In...