Casting Stones
Posted on
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...
Scripture's Shortest Verse
Posted on
Today's Gospel reading for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, is one of the longest of the Church year. Yet it contains...
Vengeance is Mine
Posted on
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...
Obnoxious
Posted on
The first reading today from Wisdom 2 (Old Testament) fits Jesus to a tee. It begins with this: The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright, "Let us beset the...
Protector, Provider, Teacher
Posted on
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...
An Unbreakable Bond
Posted on
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 Power of Sin
Posted on
In today's first reading from Ezekiel 47, we see a prefigurement of the Church. Water is so important to our faith lives. Read it and see if you can find...
A Bright Future
Posted on
1 comment
In today's Gospel reading from John 4, we read about the second sign that Jesus performed in Galilee. Do you know what that was? Read it and find out! In...
Vision
Posted on
Today's readings have to do with vision. In the first reading from 1 Samuel 16, the LORD says to Samuel: "Not as man sees does God see, because man sees...
Humble Me, Lord
Posted on
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...
Get It?
Posted on
What a beautiful first reading we have today from Hosea 14. God tells the people, “Say to him, ‘We shall say no more, “Our god,” to the work of our...
Faithfulness has Disappeared
Posted on
1 comment
In the Gospel reading today from Luke 11 Jesus is accused by some people of driving out demons by the prince of demons. Jesus talks about what a ridiculous notion...
So Many Rules!
Posted on
1 comment
So many people look at Christianity, and especially Catholicism, as a religion of rules and regulations. You know, Thou Shalt Not this and that. Like it or not, God has...
"Feeling" Forgiveness
Posted on
1 comment
Our first reading today is one of the most beautiful prayers in all of Scripture. It is the prayer of Azariah in the fiery furnace from Daniel 3. He says...
Be a Prophet
Posted on
2 comments
What a fascinating story we see in our first reading from 2 Kings 5. Naaman the Syrian, a respected military man, was a leper. He asks the king of Israel...
Breaking Down Barriers
Posted on
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 Un-Prodigal Son
Posted on
1 comment
Today's Gospel reading from Luke 15 is probably a familiar story - we call it The Prodigal Son. And rightly so. But it is really a story of two sons...
One of the Seven Deadlies
Posted on
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 Even See Him?
Posted on
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...
Standing in the Gap
Posted on
1 comment
Jeremiah had a tough gig. You’ve heard the old expression “No good deed goes unpunished.” Well, Jeremiah was a living example of that. He was a prophet, a messenger. All...
Preaching by Practicing
Posted on
God is always ready to make things right. We are the ones who mess up, who walk away from God. Yet God is always waiting to welcome us back with...
The Power of Giving
Posted on
Lent is a great time for us to come clean - to look inward and admit our faults to God. We see this in our first reading from Daniel 9...
Becoming
Posted on
1 comment
Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew’s version of the Transfiguration. This is when Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the top of the mountain and reveals His heavenly glory....
Practice Makes Perfect
Posted on
1 comment
In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus gives us more difficult fare. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” As if...
Sometimes Life Just Ain't Fair
Posted on
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...
God as a Safety Net?
Posted on
Our first reading today is from the Book of Esther. Esther had the weight, and fate, of a nation on her shoulders. She knew that she was the last hope...
Our Evil Ways
Posted on
1 comment
In today's readings we hear about Jonah. In fact, the first reading is from the Book of Jonah, where the Ninevites listen to Jonah and "they turned from their evil...
The Necessity of Forgiveness
Posted on
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. We know it as the Lord's Prayer, or the Our Father. But immediately after that prayer,...
Action vs. Feelings
Posted on
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...
Hit Him with the Scriptures!
Posted on
1 comment
On this First Sunday of Lent, we hear the Gospel reading from Matthew 4 about Jesus being "led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil....
Repairer and Restorer
Posted on
Today's Gospel reading is from Luke 5 about the call of Levi. You may know him better as Matthew. Jesus dines at his home with tax collectors and sinners, and...
An Acceptable Fast
Posted on
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...
Our Daily Cross
Posted on
1 comment
Choose Life. Some folks may think that that is a marketing phrase made up by the pro-life community. Actually, it originated MUCH earlier than Roe v. Wade. Many millennia earlier....
Remember You are Dust
Posted on
1 comment
Blessed Ash Wednesday! Today we begin our Lenten journey for 2026. Whatever you have chosen to do or give up (or a combination thereof), I pray that this will be...
On Temptation
Posted on
In our first reading today from James 1, St. James talks about temptation. This is a subject that comes up at the end of the Lord’s Prayer. More in a...
This is Joy?
Posted on
1 comment
For our first reading today, we begin the Letter of St. James. James is one of those books in the Bible that it would be very good for us to...
Hurt People Hurt People
Posted on
The Sermon on the Mount is probably the most challenging teaching ever. Jesus raises the bar on our thinking and our behavior to ridiculous levels. It really starts today with...
Power and Corruption
Posted on
In the first reading today from 1 Kings 12 and 13, we read about Jeroboam. Jeroboam was one of the kings of Israel. He was not a good guy. More...
Speaking Plainly
Posted on
In today’s first reading from 1 Kings 11, we see the beginning of the splitting up of Israel. Solomon had turned his back and worshipped false gods. God told him...
No One is Exempt
Posted on
In the Gospel reading today from Mark 7, we see the power of perseverance in prayer. A Greek woman, not a daughter of Israel, comes to Jesus asking that He...
It Takes My Breath Away
Posted on
1 comment
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus declares all foods clean, negating the many dietary laws of the Jews. He says it is not what goes into one's mouth...
Jesus' Condemnation of tradition
Posted on
In today’s first reading from 1 Kings 8, Solomon stands before the altar in the magnificent temple that he had built and offers up a prayer to God. This is...
Scurrying to Jesus
Posted on
In today's first reading from 1 Kings 8, Solomon and the people bring the Ark of the Covenant to the temple. In the Gospel reading from Mark 6, Jesus continues...
Please Pass the Salt
Posted on
For the Gospel reading today, we’re back in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus says to His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.” I’m sure...
Want to be Wise? Ask for Wisdom
Posted on
In today’s first reading from 1 Kings 3, we meet Solomon. Solomon’s father, David, had just died. The son had ascended to the throne of Israel. More in a moment....
Remembered Like David
Posted on
1 comment
For today's first reading, we get a recap of David's life from Sirach 47. The Gospel reading from Mark 6 recounts the story of the killing of John the Baptist....
Time to Shake the Dust
Posted on
In today's first reading from 1 Kings, we read about the death of David. Solomon now sits on the throne. In the Gospel reading today from Mark 6, Jesus instructs...
They Took Offense
Posted on
1 comment
Taking responsibility seems to be something that has gotten lost these days. I suppose that has always been true in some measure. It seems people, especially leaders, always want to...
God's Will and Our Children
Posted on
1 comment
Today’s readings center around children. In the first reading from 2 Samuel 18, we see the tragic story of King David’s son Absalom. Absalom had become his father’s mortal enemy,...
Always Faithful
Posted on
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Also known as Candlemas, this is the day when candles will be blessed. There will be three readings today. In...