Fear of the Lord
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In the first reading today from Hosea 10, we read, "Since they do not fear the LORD, what can the king do for them?" It's a rhetorical question, of course....
The Law of Sowing and Reaping
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In today's first reading from Hosea 8, we read this: "When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind." Perhaps you've heard the old expression, "You reap what you...
Jesus' Healing Touch
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Today in the Gospel reading from Matthew 9, we see two miracle healings. The two are similar, yet very different. And we can learn lessons from both of them. A...
Being Yoked to Jesus
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 11, we hear a familiar saying of Jesus. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest....
America the Beautiful
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Happy Independence Day! Imagine it - 250 years of the American experiment. Hard to believe we've been around for that long. Even though this great nation has its flaws, warts...
Awesome Thomas
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Today is the Feast of St. Thomas. That’s right, Doubting Thomas. That story is our Gospel reading. More on that in a moment. Our first reading today from Ephesians talks...
An Unlikely Prophet
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Amos was an unlikely prophet. Take a look at the first reading today and you’ll see what I mean. He was, like most all the prophets, quite unpopular, too. More...
Good and Evil
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Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 8 is the story of Jesus casting demons out of two men and into a herd of swine. The people of the town were none...
O You of Little Faith
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We know that God is a loving Father. Jesus came to show us that. But even loving fathers punish their children when punishment is merited. In today’s first reading from...
Two Giants of the Faith
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Today the Church celebrates two giants of the faith. It is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Interesting, isn’t it? You would think that, given the importance of each,...
Jesus Over All
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus finishes His instructions as He sends out the Twelve. He says, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy...
I am Not Worthy
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Today’s first reading is from Lamentations. It is a sad, depressing read. After reading over the last few days about the diaspora and the Babylonian exile, this is a cry...
Overcoming Shame
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 8, Jesus comes down from the mountain after giving the Sermon on the Mount. He is approached by a leper who says to Him,...
The Importance of Doing God's Will
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7, Jesus says, "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of...
The Last of the Prophets
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Today the Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist. In the first reading today from Isaiah 49, we see the messianic prophesies, all of which certainly could be attributed...
Entering Through The Narrow Gate
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Our God is a big God. He can handle anything, even things that we might think are too big for even God! We see an awesome example of this in...
The Beam in Your Eye
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After doing some yard work recently, I got a little piece of wood stuck in my eye. I went to my eye doctor (a wonderful Catholic deacon) and he removed...
He Knows Your Hair(s)
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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...
Why Worry?
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Today’s first reading from 2 Chronicles is a story of what happens when we abandon God. Read the story and you’ll see that it is not good. In today’s Gospel...
Using Our Eyes
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus talks about the eye. "The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be...
If You Forgive Others...
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. He teaches them the prayer we all know as the Our Father. It is probably...
Double the Blessing
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Today’s first reading is one that has stuck with me since the first time I ever heard it. Elijah is about to hand the office of prophet over to Elisha....
It Rains on Us All
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The Sermon on the Mount is filled with tough teachings. Today’s may be the toughest of all. (Of course, we can say that about nearly every verse!) “But I say...
Turning the Other Cheek
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In today's first reading from 1 Kings 21, we meet Jezebel, one of the most cold-blooded people you'll ever hear of. Read the sordid tale. In our Gospel reading from...
Without Cost
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Today in Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus sending out the Twelve saying, “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.” Sometimes it is easy for us to...
A Mother's Heart
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Yesterday was the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is appropriate that we celebrate the heart...
A Heart for You
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Today is the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 11, we see Jesus' heart for you when He says, "Come to me,...
Son of Encouragement
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Barnabas. There are two optional Gospel readings for today. The reading for the feast day is from Matthew 10 where Jesus sends out...
Testing God
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More from the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel reading today. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have...
God Provides
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In the first reading today from 1 Kings 17, we see more of the story of Elijah. More in a moment. We continue in the Sermon on the Mount for...
A Beatitude Meditation
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In today’s Gospel reading, we begin Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount, from Matthew 5. He begins with the beatitudes. I’d like to go through a quick exercise today where...
Christ's True Presence in the Eucharist
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi. All of the readings today point to the Eucharist, the source and...
Like a Libation
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Today's Gospel reading is one of my favorite stories in Scripture. Jesus points out a widow putting two small coins into the temple treasury. Read His comments about her generosity....
Scripture
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Jesus got thrown trick questions and conundrums often by the Pharisees, the scribes, the Sadducees and others. In the Gospel reading today from Mark 12, Jesus throws out a tricky...
Denying Jesus
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus is asked, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” His answer may have surprised some. He gives not a singular answer,...
On Fire for Jesus
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Today's first reading is from 2 Timothy 1. St. Paul tells Timothy, “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands....
The Error of the Unprincipled
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Today’s Gospel reading contains one of the most famous sayings of Jesus. In fact, even people who are mostly unfamiliar with the Scriptures could probably finish this quote: “Repay to...
Sharing in the Divine Nature
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In our Gospel reading today from Mark 12, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard and has tenants care for it. The man sends servants to...
Trinity Sunday
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity; three Persons, one God. We see this idea fleshed out at the end of the second reading from 2 Corinthians...
Have Mercy
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Today's first reading is from the Letter of Saint Jude. This is one of the shortest books in the Bible, just 25 verses. Saint Jude has an important message for...
My Life Verse
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Do you have a Life Verse? Do you even know what that is? A Life Verse is a passage of Scripture that you adopt for your own. A passage that...
The Spiritual War
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Today's Gospel reading from Mark 10 is one that is very close to my heart. A blind man (Bartimaeus) keeps crying to Jesus, "Son of David, have pity on me."...
Loving Intensely
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The story we see in today’s Gospel reading from Mark 10 is very interesting. James and John come and say to Jesus, “Grant that in your glory we may sit...
Be Holy
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In the first reading today, St. Peter talks about how the prophets were testifying to Christ. He says that they “were serving not themselves but you.” In the Gospel reading...
Mary, Mother of the Church
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Today, the day after Pentecost, the Church celebrates the feast of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. This is a relatively new memorial, instituted by Pope Francis in...
Come, Holy Spirit, Come!
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Today is Pentecost Sunday. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the birthday of the Church. We see this event in the first reading from Acts 2. At...
What About Him?
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In Acts 28 today, we see Paul continuing in his ministry, even while in custody. Oh, that we could all have the evangelistic spirit of St. Paul! In the Gospel...
Undoing Our Denials
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Today's Gospel reading from John 21 is, I think, one of the the most moving scenes in the New Testament. After the resurrection, Jesus and Simon Peter are on the beach....
God's Love in Us
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Paul was seen by many as a rabble-rouser. In today’s first reading from Acts, he creates a stir between the Pharisees and the Sadducees over the resurrection of the body....
A Prayerful Goodbye
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In the first reading today from Acts 20, we hear the conclusion of Paul’s farewell address to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus. What a stirring and moving speech....