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...
Laborers for the Harvest
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 10, Jesus sends out seventy-two of His disciples to prepare the way in all of the towns and villages where He was going to...
A Deceptive Blessing
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Today’s first reading from Genesis 27 is one that is tough to read and perhaps even tougher to understand. Isaac is an old man and wants to anoint his heir...
Dependence Day
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Happy 4th of July! In the USA, today is Independence Day. It’s the day we celebrate our breaking away from the British empire and declaring ourselves an independent nation. It’s...
Believing the Outlandish
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. In the first reading from Ephesians 2, St. Paul tells us that the household of God, the Church, is...
Casting Out Jesus
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In today’s readings we see three instances of casting out. When Sarah was afraid that Abraham would die childless, she encouraged him to have a child with her servant, Hagar....
The Fate of Sodom
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In today's first reading, we read about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 8, Jesus is asleep on a boat...
A Godly Negotiation
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In our first reading today from Genesis 18, we see an amazing story of Abraham negotiating with God. In the Gospel reading, we read about two interesting encounters that Jesus...
Saints Peter and Paul
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Interesting, isn’t it? You would think that, given the importance of each, they would both have their own feast...
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
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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...
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
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Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the first reading from Ezekiel 34, we read about how God will shepherd his people. And our Gospel...
The Collapse
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In today's first reading from Genesis 16 we see the disastrous consequences when we try to hurry along God's plans, or don't trust in him. For our Gospel reading, we...
The Making of a Covenant
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In the first reading today from Genesis 15, God makes a covenant with Abram. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 7, Jesus talks about false prophets and how you can...
John the Baptist
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Today the Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist. Jesus proclaimed that John was Elijah, come to prepare the way for the Messiah. There are so many traits of...
The Splinter and the Beam
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Abraham is known as the father of the faith. We see why in today’s first reading from Genesis 12. When Abram was 75 years old, God told him to pack...
Satisfying Our Hunger
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The readings for today all point toward the Eucharist in an interesting way....
The Thorn in the Flesh
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In the first reading today from 2 Corinthians 12, St. Paul says that he has been given “a thorn in the flesh.” Now, he never says what exactly that is....
Treasures in Heaven
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In the world, especially in business, there’s an old expression: Never expose your weakness. I think that’s why so many men don’t cry. They view it as a sign of...
Forgiveness is Not Optional
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From the very beginning of the Church, there have been those who have preached a false gospel. St. Paul addresses that in today's first reading from 2 Corinthians 11. He...
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
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Our Gospel reading today is the same one we read on Ash Wednesday. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Always lessons that we need to be...
No Reward for Easy
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Are you rich? Most people would probably answer no to that question. They think of only worldly riches. As Christians, we think differently. We think in terms of blessings. We...
The Time is Now!
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus talks about how we are to no longer live under the old law of “an eye for an eye.” He is talking...
The Most Holy Trinity
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity; three Persons, one God. The readings today reflect that. The first reading from Deuteronomy 4 tells us that there is...
A New Creation
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Are you a person of your word? We should all be. In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 5, Jesus says, "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean...
Grace and Thanksgiving
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Happy Feast of St. Anthony of Padua! In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus says, "Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her...
The Grudge Pact
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In our first reading today from 2 Corinthians 3 and 4, St. Paul writes about how the Gospel is "veiled for those who are perishing, in whose case the god...
The Importance of Being an Encourager
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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...
Like Fuzzy Cheese
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Have you ever answered a question, "Well, yes and no." I'm sure I have. And sometimes that may by a legit answer. But read about what St. Paul has to...
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...
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
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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 Concern is it of Yours?
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For today's Gospel reading, we read the conclusion of John's Gospel. Peter inquires to Jesus about John. Jesus answers, "What if I want him to remain until I come? What...
The Primacy of Peter
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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...
That We May be One
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In our first reading today from Acts, Paul puts himself squarely in the middle of a dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Paul, a Pharisee by birth and training,...
A Prayerful Parting
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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....
No Shrinking Violet
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In today's Gospel reading from John 17, we listen in on Jesus prayer to the Father at the Last Supper. In our first reading from Acts 20, we hear the...
Sharing Your Story
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St. Paul was a very persuasive guy. Time and again he persuaded people about Jesus being the Christ of God. They weren’t persuaded by St. Paul, but in today’s Gospel...
You are a Gift
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Today I'll reflect on the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, though most folks will be celebrating the Feast of the Ascension. I did a reflection on those readings...