60 Second Reflections » 60 Reflections
R&R with Jesus
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In the first reading today from Exodus 3, Moses has a question for God. “When the children of Israel ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replies, “Tell the children of Israel: I AM sent me to you.” This became God’s name, and in the New Testament, we hear […]
God Speaks
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God reveals himself to us in many ways. In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 11, Jesus says that the Father has “revealed [these things] to the childlike.” We see a very interesting way of God speaking in our first reading from Exodus 3. God spoke to Moses in a burning bush. Except the bush […]
The Danger of Not Repenting
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We see the early life of Moses in today’s first reading from Exodus 2. Moses should have been tossed into the river at birth. But God had a different plan. He was saved from death and became part of the royal family. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus pronounces woes on Chorazin, Bethsaida […]
Taking Up Your Cross
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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 commands that every Hebrew boy child be killed. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus finishes His discourse to the Apostles as he sends […]
They Preached Repentance
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In the Gospel reading from Mark 6, we see Jesus sending out the Twelve. He tells them what they need to do. So what do they do? “So they went off and preached repentance.” Gee, I’ll bet that made them really popular guys! Let’s assume that telling people they need to repent is not going to […]
Acknowledging Jesus
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In today’s first reading, we see the end of the story of Joseph in Genesis 49 and 50. After Jacob had died, Joseph’s brothers were still afraid that Joseph might exact revenge on them for what they had done to him. But Joseph had no such plans. And he reassures them that he forgives them, […]
Shrewd and Simple
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What a beautiful reunion we read about today in our first reading from Genesis 46. Jacob/Israel thought that his youngest son, Joseph, had been eaten by wild beasts. But then his other boys come back from Egypt and spill the beans about the truth of what happened. Israel was now very old, and all he […]
A Greater Purpose
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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 you are to give.” The same holds true for us. God has given us everything freely. We should be willing to share the gifts that […]
Sent Out
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In today’s first reading, we see part of the story of Joseph from Genesis 41 and 42. I encourage you to read the whole story of Joseph, beginning in Genesis 37. This will give you the background for the first reading. It’s an amazing story. Our Gospel reading today from Matthew 10 is the naming […]
Divine Wrestling
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Another fascinating story today in our first reading from Genesis 32. Today we read about Jacob wrestling with a divine being. After something of a stalemate, Jacob gets his name changed. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells the disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the […]
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 reading from Genesis 28. Jacob has a dream about a stairway that goes up to heaven. Check it out. In our Gospel reading from Matthew […]
Lack of Faith
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Jesus was a miracle worker. We see this again and again. There was a common element to most of the healings He performed: faith. In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 6, Jesus goes back to His hometown. Because people were familiar with Him, they had no faith in Him. Because of this, “he was not […]
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 a day of great pride for patriotic Americans. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that we, as a nation, as a people, have taken the notion of independence […]
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 about the Church being “built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets.” I think if you asked many “Bible Christians” what the foundation of […]
The Test
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Have you ever felt like God is/was testing you? I think we all have at some time. Our first reading today is all about that. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 9, Jesus cures a paralytic; but it’s not so much the physical cure that was the big deal, but the fact that He forgave […]
Expelling Jesus
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When Sarah was afraid that Abraham would die childless, she encouraged him to have a child with her servant, Hagar. After having her own child, Sarah insisted Abraham expel Hagar and her son. Saddened, Abraham complies. In today’ Gospel, Jesus has an encounter with two demoniacs. He orders the demons out of them and into a […]
We Were Perishing
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In the first reading today from Genesis 19, we read about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Because of their wickedness, God had his sights set on them. But Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was in the region. Abraham asked that Lot be spared. So angels came and told Lot to get out of Dodge! They said […]
The Example of 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 day. I mean, after all, Peter was the first Pope, the one who got the keys to the Kingdom. (See today’s Gospel reading.) And Paul […]
Healing Our Children
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Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 5 tells the story of two healings. A synagogue official named Jairus asks Jesus to come to his home and cure his young daughter, who was near death. Jesus agrees to do so. While on the way, a woman touches Jesus’ cloak. Immediately she is healed, because of her faith. […]
Not Worthy, But Made Worthy
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Remember the first reading from yesterday, when Abraham laughed when God told him that he and Sarah would have a son? Well, there are more laughs in today’s first reading. Three men appear at Abraham’s tent, and one tells him that Sarah will bear a son by next year. Sarah hears this and laughs, too. […]
God’s Sense of Humor
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Abram had just had a son, Ishmael. This son was not born of his wife, Sarai. But in today’s first reading from Genesis 17, God tells Abraham that his wife, Sarah, (notice the name changes) will bear him a son. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading today, Jesus comes down off […]
Doing the Father’s Will
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What an interesting story we see in our first reading today from Genesis 16. Abram and Sarai have no children. Even at their advanced age, Sarai agrees to let Abram have relations with one of her Egyptian maidservants, Hagar. Abram impregnates her and then the soap opera gets even wilder. Check this story out! For […]
Mission-Focused
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Today the Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist. In the first reading from Isaiah 49, we see prophesies that certainly pertain to the life of John the Baptist. In the second reading from Acts 13, St. Paul tells of how John heralded the coming of the Lord Jesus. And the Gospel reading from […]
Of Pearls and Swine
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In our first reading today we find ourselves back in the Book of Genesis, reading about Abram and Lot. For our Gospel reading, we’re back in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. What I want to reflect on today will be difficult for some to hear, and will certainly put some people off. […]
The Pain of Beam Removal
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In today’s first reading from Genesis 12, God tells seventy-five year old Abram to pick up everything he owned (which was a lot) and move to a strange new place. “Abram went as the Lord directed him.” Are you sometimes afraid of change? Me, too. And imagine at Abram’s age! May we always have the […]
Great Calm
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus and His disciples take a little cruise on the Sea of Galilee. While they’re out, Jesus is taking a nap. (I suspect Jesus didn’t sleep too much in the first place.) Suddenly a violent squall comes upon the sea. The terrified disciples wake Jesus up, assuming He […]
Grace is Sufficient
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In the second 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. I generally think that this may be a predisposition to a particular sin. One of those things that you just can’t seem to get rid […]
Store Up 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 weakness. In our first reading today, St. Paul turns that notion on its head. He says, “If I must boast, I will boast of the […]
A False Gospel
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I start today’s reflection with a warning. What you are about to read, you may find offensive. So be it. On a personal note, I do not write these reflections to be popular. I write them to share truth. So if you think I’m being “political” or insensitive, no need to write me a scathing […]
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 reminded of. In the first reading today from 2 Corinthians 9, St. Paul says, “Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for […]
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 only come by those blessings through Christ’s poverty. In today’s first reading from 2 Corinthians 8, St. Paul puts it like this: “For your sake […]
Being “Ready”
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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 about retaliation and retribution. It is in our nature to want those who have harmed us to suffer. It reminds me of the old saying, […]
It’s About the Fruit
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Today’s readings are all about the fruit. We’re not talking about cherries or pears or strawberries here, either. We’re talking about the fruit that we bear through our actions, and the fruit that God has borne in the Church. The first reading from Ezekiel 17 speaks of God taking a “tender shoot” that “shall put […]
Let Your “Yes” Mean “Yes”
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Liturgically, today is an interesting day. It is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Optional readings today are for Ordinary Time. That’s what we’ll work on today. In the Gospel today, Jesus talks about swearing oaths, and about the importance of our word. He says, […]
Matters of the Heart
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the first reading we see the heart of God, the heart of Christ. “My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred.” And in the second reading, St. Paul prays that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” The heart is a […]
The Grudge Pact
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Today is the Feast of St. Barnabas. His given name was Joseph, but the Apostles gave him the name Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” In the first reading from Acts of the Apostles, we read two passages about Barnabas, who was a very important figure in the early Church and traveled with St. Paul. […]
The Law
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Today’s readings may be a bit confusing, as it seems they have contradictory messages. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians 3, St. Paul says, “for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life” and he refers to “the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone…” Is he saying that the commandments brought […]
Bringers of Light
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Have you said “yes” to Jesus? I hope so, because He says “yes” to you. Find out more in the first reading from 2 Corinthians 1. In the Gospel, we continue with the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5. We hear Jesus say, “You are the light of the world…your light must shine before […]
Encouraging Others
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Such a bounty of things to reflect on today! In the first reading, we begin a journey through 2 Corinthians. At the same time, our Gospel readings will be from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. Wow! The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for […]
The Body and Blood of Christ
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is “the source and summit of our faith.” It is incumbent on us as Catholics to know about the Eucharist; why we believe what we believe. Today’s readings point the way. In the first reading from Exodus […]
A Heavenly Visitor
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Generosity is all about trust – trusting in God to supply all our needs. We see one of the greatest stories ever about generosity in today’s Gospel reading from Mark 12. While rich folk are filling the temple treasury, a widow puts in two small coins. Jesus holds her up as an example. In today’s […]
Now I See
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We see in the Scriptures numerous stories of sight being restored. Bartimaeus and Saul come to mind immediately. Today in our first reading, we see another blind man getting his sight back. It is Tobit. In the Gospel from Mark 12, Jesus asks how the Christ could be the son of David. After all, David […]
The Couple That Prays Together…
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There are many touching, beautiful prayers in the Scriptures. Today in our first reading from Tobit, we see a newly married couple praying together. If this doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, then perhaps you need a check up from the neck up. In the Gospel reading, Jesus is asked which is the greatest […]
Dead or Alive?
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In today’s first reading from Tobit 3, we’re introduced to one of the archangels, Raphael. God hears the prayers of Tobit and Sarah, and sends Raphael to carry out His will. In the Gospel reading from Mark 12, some Saducees come to Jesus with yet another trick question. They pose to him a scenario where […]
Adversity and Character
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In the first reading today from Tobit 2, we see Tobit go through some real hardship in his life. He loses his sight for four years. How would this effect you? In a moment, we’ll talk about how it effected Tobit. The Gospel passage today is from Mark 12. Jesus is asked about whether it […]
Never a Wrong Time to Do the Right Thing
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Our first reading today is the beginning of the book of Tobit. This is one of those books that is found in the Catholic Bible, but not in a Protestant one. (Unless it contained the Apocryphal or Deuterocanonical books.) We’ll talk about today’s story in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus […]
The Family of the 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 only one God. “The Lord is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.” The second reading from […]
Living Under Jesus’ Authority
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Do you pray for wisdom? I hope so. When we pray for wisdom, we will receive it. (Usually in small doses, at least in my case.) Today’s first reading from Sirach 51 tells of the benefits of praying for wisdom. In the Gospel reading today from Mark 11, the chief priests, the scribes and the […]
Your Legacy
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Have you ever thought about your legacy – what you will leave behind when your days on earth are over? More on that in a moment. In today’s Gospel reading, we see an interesting story about Jesus cursing a fig tree. It dies, and Jesus gives His disciples a lesson on faith. In today’s first […]
The Prayer of Bartimaeus
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Atheists (allegedly) believe that there is no God. I’ve never been able to get my arms around that notion. Just look around at creation! That’s what Sirach does in the first reading today. “The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved. All of them differ, one from another, yet none […]