60 Second Reflections » 60 Reflections
Sharing God’s 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’ll trust you to do that on your own!), I thought we could take just a moment to reflect on God’s mercy. If you do a search of the Scriptures, you will find hundreds of […]
Holy Boldness
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In Acts today, we see Peter and John before the Sanhedrin saying, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” And in the Gospel from Mark 16, Jesus tells the Eleven to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Peter and John give […]
A Fishy Number
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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 us that Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” As we should be! In the Gospel reading from John 21, the disciples have an encounter […]
Ignorance is Bliss?
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You’ve heard the old expression “Ignorance is bliss.” In the first reading today from Acts 3, St. Peter refers to the people’s ignorance. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 24, we read about what happened right after the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus makes […]
Emmaus and the Eucharist
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 24, we read the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They have an encounter with the risen Jesus, but don’t recognize Him, until “he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” What does this mean? As Catholics, we believe that at Mass, […]
Decisions, Decisions
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Back we go to the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 today. When the people heard about salvation through Christ Jesus, they asked Peter and the other Apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading today, we’re in John 20, reading about St. John’s post-resurrection […]
Do Not Be Afraid!
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Happy Easter! I know, I know…Easter was yesterday. That is so old news. But it isn’t! The Church celebrates Easter for fifty days! Wish someone a Happy Easter today. See what kind of look you get, then explain to them that the celebration didn’t end yesterday. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 28, we read […]
Happy Easter!!
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Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia! Our triumphant Holy Day! Alleluia! Today we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. This is the greatest day of the Church year. The day that sin and death were defeated, put in their place. Even death could not hold the Son of God. And this is what the Good […]
Now We Wait
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Today is Holy Saturday. There is no Mass until tonight’s Easter Vigil. The link provided below is for the Easter Vigil readings. Jesus was dead. In the tomb. For His disciples, this had to be a terrible day. He said He would rise from the dead, but how could they really know? This day must […]
A Day to Remember
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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 the Good Friday liturgy are so moving. In the first reading from Isaiah 52, we see prophesied that which Jesus would endure on this day. […]
The Importance of Holy Thursday
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Lent is over today. Now, that doesn’t mean that you stop with your Lenten penances and practices. Those should continue into Saturday evening. Tonight 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 it to church for all […]
The Kiss of Judas
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Want to know what Jesus is all about and what he did for you? Check out today’s first reading from Isaiah 50. It really says it all. On Wednesday of Holy Week, we think about Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 26, we see Judas cutting a deal […]
I Will Lay Down My Life for You!
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Our first reading today is from Isaiah 49, the second oracle of the Servant of the Lord. “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Our Gospel reading is from John 13. Here we see Peter at his finest, just moments before we would […]
Of Reeds and Wicks
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Monday of Holy Week. For the next few days, our first readings will be from Isaiah, the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. We’ll talk about today’s reading in a moment. The Gospel reading today is from John 12. Jesus goes to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary anoints his feet with […]
Passion Sunday
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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 Palm Sunday Mass than any other. Why? Because the Church is giving something away! Free palms for all! I hope that if we see people […]
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 Davidic Kingdom. Of course, Jesus came to fulfill the Davidic Kingdom in a perfect way. In the Gospel reading from John 11, Caiaphas, the high […]
Doing the Father’s Works
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In today’s first reading from Jeremiah 20, we hear the people plotting against Jeremiah. But they will not be victorious; they will not have their way. Jeremiah says, “But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph…Praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of […]
Covenant with God
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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. “Your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations.” This is pretty groundbreaking stuff, as Abraham and […]
Into the Fire
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In today’s Gospel reading from John 8, we hear Jesus tell the Jews who believed in Him, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That statement is always true. Lies and falsehood and deception keep us imprisoned. The truth does, indeed, set us free. This statement plays into our first […]
The Antidote for Sin
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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 make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. Whenever someone looked up at the serpent, they would be healed and live. In the […]
A Second Chance
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In today’s readings, we see the stories of two women who are about to be killed. In the first reading from Daniel, we see the story of Susanna. Two wicked men falsely accuse her of a crime punishable by death. But their falsehoods are revealed by Daniel. It really is a magnificent story, one that […]
The Purpose of Suffering
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Today’s Gospel reading from John 11 is probably the longest reading of the Church year outside the reading of the Passion. It is the story of Jesus raising His friend Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was good friends with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. The sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was […]
Prejudging
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Jesus was a very controversial figure. Still is to many. In today’s Gospel reading from John 7, we see some of that controversy. Some people believed Jesus to be the Prophet. Others said He was the Christ. But some doubted because of where He was from. “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? […]
God’s Timing
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In today’s first reading from Wisdom 2, we see Jesus. Not mentioned by name, of course, but the prophesy spells out in great detail the circumstances surrounding the passion and death of Jesus Christ. In our Gospel reading from John 7, the Jews continue in their plot to have Jesus killed. “So they tried to […]
Seeking Praise
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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 power of prayer. And in the Gospel reading from John 5, Jesus talks about accepting praise. He says, “I do not accept human praise.” And […]
Seeking the Father’s Will
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“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?” This is a question we see in our first reading today from Isaiah 49. It would seem a ridiculous question. The bond between mother and child is strong. But not nearly as strong as the bond between you and God. […]
Sickness or Health?
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Water is a theme that runs through our two readings today. In the first reading from Ezekiel 47, the Angel of the Lord shows Ezekiel a trickle of water flowing out from the temple. The farther they get from the temple, the greater the flow, until the water becomes a large river, teeming with abundant […]
Healing of Our Sons and Daughters
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I hear so often from people whose children no longer go to church or practice the faith. I know it is heartbreaking. More in a moment. In today’s first reading from Isaiah 65, we get a beautiful vision of the future. Check it out! A royal official comes to Jesus asking Jesus to heal his […]
Blindness and Sight
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Today’s Gospel reading from John 9 is the story of the healing of the man born blind. It is a story of darkness and light. (St. John was big on the theme of darkness and light.) Jesus and His disciples come upon a man who was born blind. Jesus says, “I am the light of […]
Merry Christmas…Nine Months Early!
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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 first reading, we see the prophesy from Isaiah: “The virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, […]
Do You Get It?
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I know a lot of people who have workaholic tendencies. While the reasons are many, I think for some, the “work of their hands” can become their god. In other words, they put work above everything else in their lives, including family and God. See what God has to say about this in today’s first […]
Being Fully Armed
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus is accused of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebul. He then talks about a house divided. I want to concentrate today on something else Jesus says in this passage. “When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one […]
Our Christian Duties
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The family is the first school for children. Even if we send them off to a school at some age, we as parents are called to be the primary teachers of our children, especially when it comes to the faith. This is job that never ends. How important do you think this is? See what […]
The Importance of the “Unless”
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In the first reading today from Daniel 3, we hear the heartfelt and beautiful prayer of Azariah. He, along with his two companions, is in a fiery furnace offering a prayer to God. Spoiler alert: he walks out of that furnace. The Gospel reading from Matthew 18 is a familiar story about Jesus telling Peter […]
A Dad-ly Example
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph. Normally the feast is March 19, but since this year that was a Sunday, the feast is moved to today, because of its importance. In our first reading from 2 Samuel, God says that his Son would spring from the line of David. “I will make […]
The Living Water
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Today’s Gospel reading is from John 4, the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus and His disciples come to a Samaritan village when the disciples go off to rustle up some food. Jesus is sitting at Jacob’s well when a woman approaches to draw water. Jesus tells her to […]
Father and Sons
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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 reminds us that “The Lord is kind and merciful.” And speaking of kindness and mercy, our Gospel reading is from Luke 15, the story of […]
Producing Fruit
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Today’s first reading from Genesis 37 is the story of Joseph being sold out by his brothers. The brothers were jealous of him because he was the favored son of Israel, their father. Originally the plan was to kill him. But one of the brothers had a fit of conscience and nixed that plan. So […]
Lessons From Lazarus
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 16, Jesus tells the Pharisees the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus is a poor beggar who waits by the rich man’s door each day hoping for just scraps from the table. They both die and end up in opposite places – Lazarus in the bosom of […]
The Fate of a Disciple
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I’m sure you’ve heard the old expression “No good deed goes unpunished.” Ain’t it the truth? Just take a look at the Scriptures. The prophets of old were simply doing what they were told by God to do. It didn’t end well for them. Jeremiah questions God about this in our first reading today from […]
Practicing What We Preach
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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 open arms. Here is what the Lord says in the first reading today from Isaiah 1: “Come now, let us set things right, says the […]
Of Judgment and Measure
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Confession is so important. In today’s first reading from Daniel 9, Daniel confesses the sins of his people to the LORD. He comes clean, as we must. Today’s Gospel reading from Luke 6 is one of the most difficult in all of Scripture. Not difficult to understand; it is quite simple, really – but difficult […]
Why Wait?
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Today’s Gospel reading is from Matthew 17, the story of Jesus taking Peter, James and John up on Mt. Tabor where He is transfigured. For a brief, shining moment, Peter, James and John get a glimpse of “the other side” of Jesus; in His glory. Without realizing it, they were looking into the future. Not […]
Loving and Praying for Our Enemies
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In today’s first reading from Deuteronomy 26, agreements are made. The people make an agreement with God, to walk in his ways, obey his commandments and hearken to his voice. And God makes an agreement with the people, that they will be “peculiarly his own.” In the Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus says, “But […]
Sometimes Life Ain’t Fair
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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 way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?” “It’s not fair!” Sound familiar? If you have children, you’ve probably heard it a […]
Asking for Help
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It’s common knowledge that men don’t like to ask for directions. I guess in the age of the GPS, that problem has been all but eliminated. Asking for help, for men or women, is often a very difficult thing to do. We fancy ourselves strong and independent. I can handle it! In the first reading today […]
Actions and Intentions
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There’s an old saying that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” In these days when lots of folks don’t even believe in hell, that probably sounds very harsh. Our Scripture passages today speak to the importance not of intentions, but of actions. In the first reading from Jonah 3, we read about how […]
His Will for His Word
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What a beautiful reading today from Isaiah 55. We’ll talk about it in a moment. Our Gospel reading today from Matthew 6 is where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray. He teaches them the “Our Father.” But that’s not the end of the story. Immediately after the prayer, Jesus tells them, “If you forgive men […]
Lives of Service
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“The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul.” That is the first line in today’s Responsorial Psalm from Psalm 19. In the first reading from Leviticus, we hear some of these “laws of the LORD.” This reading hearkens us back to the ten commandments. Our Gospel reading today is one that should be […]
Holding Up Under Tempatation
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Today is the First Sunday of Lent. Our Gospel reading is from Matthew 4. St. Matthew recounts the forty days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before He began His public ministry. While He was in the desert, Satan came to tempt and test him. We must always remember that Jesus, though […]