Raised on the Last Day
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In the first reading from Acts 8 today, we read about Saul persecuting the Church. Because of the persecution happening in Jerusalem, all but the Apostles left there. We read...
The Greatest Sign Ever
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In today's first reading from Acts 7, we read about the martyrdom of St. Stephen. The last line of today's reading says, "Now Saul was consenting to his execution." We...
Accomplishing the Works of God
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Today in Acts 6, we begin reading about St. Stephen. This was a very bold guy who was about to find himself in some real trouble. But even in the...
The Big Question
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Our Gospel reading is from John 21, one of the most moving stories in all of Scripture. Jesus had just finished having breakfast with the disciples on the beach, after...
Show Us the Father
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Today is the Feast of Saints Philip and James. Philip and James were two of the Apostles. The first reading today is from 1 Corinthians 15, where St. Paul mentions...
Fighting Against God
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In our Gospel reading today, we begin a journey through John 6. Later in the chapter we will be reading and reflecting on the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus’ principle...
Obey God or Men?
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There is a theme today in the readings: obedience. We hear Peter and the Apostles talk about it in the first reading from Acts 5. And in the Gospel reading...
The Gospel in a Nutshell
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In today’s first reading from Acts 5, we see the first of numerous jail breaks in the Acts of the Apostles. Seems that the authorities wanted to keep the Apostles...
The Church and Socialism
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I'll start today's reflection with a warning. Some folks may find this reflection "political." I'm going to reflect on socialism, because some use today's first reading to imply that the...
Born Again Catholics
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Another awesome first reading today from Acts 4. After Peter and John were released, the disciples all got together and prayed, “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and...
On Divine Mercy
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Today, the second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. So, rather than do a reflection on the daily Scriptures, I thought we could take just a moment to reflect...
Impossible for Us Not to Speak
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In today's first reading from Acts 4, Peter and John are before the Sanhedrin after healing the crippled man in the temple. The elders have them leave the room as...
A Great Fish Story
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In today’s reading from Acts 4, Peter and John spend the night in the clink and the next day they proclaim Jesus to the powers that be. The Scripture tells...
Ignorance and Conversion
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You’ve heard the old expression “Ignorance is bliss.” I suppose that’s true in a sense. In the first reading today from Acts 3, St. Peter refers to the people’s ignorance....
If You Have Ears to Hear
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The Gospel reading today is the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus from Luke 24. Please take the time to read it. As Catholics, we believe that...
God's Promise to You
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We’re back in Acts 2 for our first reading today, hearing more of Peter’s great speech at Pentecost. In the Gospel reading from John 20, Mary Magdalene has two amazing...
Fear and Evangelization
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Happy Easter Monday! Today we begin a journey (an apt phrase) through the Acts of the Apostles for our first readings. In this Octave of Easter we'll be reading the...
Celebrate the Resurrection
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He is risen! Alleluia! (Boy, it seems like a long time since we’ve heard that word!) Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. This is the greatest...
You Were There
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Today is the one day of the year when there is no Mass celebrated. The commemoration of Good Friday is the most solemn day of the year. The readings for...
Washing Feet
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Lent is over today. We begin tonight the Sacred Triduum. It is one long liturgical celebration that encompasses Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I hope you will make...
I Am the Betrayer
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When we think of the brutality that Jesus suffered for us, we can see that this was all foretold in today’s first reading from Isaiah 50. “I gave my back...
"I Will Lay Down My Life for You"
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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...
Out of the Dungeon
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The Gospel reading for the Monday of Holy Week is the story of Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anointing the feet of Jesus. When Judas protests, Jesus replies,...
Enter His Passion
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Today is one of the most well-attended Mass days of the year. Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday. Outside of Christmas and Easter and perhaps Ash Wednesday, more people come to...
One Dies for 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...
Entrust Your Cause to Him
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In today's Gospel reading from John 7, the people are wondering just who Jesus is. The first reading is from Jeremiah 11. In it, Jeremiah prays: "But you, O LORD...
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....
True Freedom
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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...
Look Up and Live
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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...
You Judge by Appearances
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The long form of today's first reading is one of the longest in the liturgical cycle. From the Book of Daniel, it reads like a courtroom novel. In the end,...
Let He Who is Without Sin...
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In today’s Gospel passage from John 8, we read the story of the woman caught in adultery. The scribes and Pharisees bring the woman before Jesus, telling Him that the...
On Surrender
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In today's Gospel reading from John 7, the people are wondering just who Jesus is. The first reading is from Jeremiah 11. In it, Jeremiah prays: "But you, O LORD...
Blinded by Wickedness
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In today’s first reading from Wisdom 2, we hear from the wicked. They despise “the just one.” They want to “condemn him to a shameful death.” We know, of course,...
Seeking People's 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...
I Will Never Forget You
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In the Gospel reading today from John 5, Jesus begins to reveal more clearly who He truly is. He says, “My Father is at work until now, so I am...
The Church's Medicine
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In today's first reading we see some typology. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from John 5, Jesus heals a man who has been ill for thirty-eight years....
Signs and Wonders
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In today's first reading from Isaiah 65 we see what things will be like when God brings forth "new heavens and a new earth." It is going to be beautiful....
Everything I Have is Yours
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Today's Gospel reading is the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15. There are so many things to reflect on from this story. It's always good to pick a...
The Pharisee in Me
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We’re back in Hosea for our first reading today. We see a verse from Hosea that is quoted a few times in the New Testament. “For it is love that...
Healing Our Wounds
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus is asked which is the first of all the commandments. Jesus answers to love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. When...
If Today You Hear His Voice
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Today we think about how God speaks to us. In the first reading from Jeremiah 7, we read:"Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to...
How We Teach Our Children
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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...
The Handmaid of the Lord
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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. It is exactly nine months before Christmas. Let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas this year! In the...
That's Ridiculous!
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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...
Sin = Death
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Today and for the next few Sundays in Lent, the readings at the Mass you attend may be different from the readings I will reflect on. The reason is that...
A Loving Father and His Kids
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Some beautiful imagery in today’s first reading from Micah 7. We see that God “delights in clemency…will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins.” Then Psalm 103...
Deadly 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...
Can You See Him?
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Our first reading today from Jeremiah 17 and the Responsorial Psalm are nearly identical. At the end of the passage from Jeremiah, we read, “I, the Lord, alone probe the...
Terror of Demons
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Today is the Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What a wonderful day! Years ago, we consecrated ourselves to St. Joseph. In the Litany of St....
Works to be Seen
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 23, Jesus warns His followers not to be like the scribes and Pharisees. He says, "Do observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but...