Pouring Out Your Troubles
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 1, Jesus casts an unclean spirit out of a man while in the synagogue in Capernaum. The people recognized the authority that Jesus had,...
The Baptism of the Lord
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Today the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord. We see that moment in Mark’s Gospel where John the Baptist has just baptized Jesus when a voice came from the...
Wise Men Still Seek Him
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Today is the Feast of Epiphany. The Gospel reading tells the story of the Three Kings, or the Three Wise Men. They heard that the King of the Jews had...
Life in the Son
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In today's first reading from 1 John 5, St. John writes this: And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Every...
Loving in Deed and Truth
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In the Gospel reading today from John 1, we see an encounter between Jesus and Nathanael. Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew, says to Jesus, “Rabbi, you are the Son of...
To Whom Do You Belong?
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Today's reflection is about a topic that doesn't seem to get covered much these days: sin. St. John covers a lot of ground on this in our first reading from...
We Shall Be Like Him
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Do you know John 1:29? If you’re Catholic, I’m certain you do. We hear it every time we go to Mass, as the priest holds the consecrated host aloft, right...
Remain in Him
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Keeping your faith in Christ is pretty important. (That's a bit of understatement, in case you're wondering.) In our first reading today from 1 John 2 we see this clearly...
Theotokos
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Happy New Year! Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. In honor of that, I want to share with you a chapter from A Minute...
Your Holy Family
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Today is the Feast of the Holy Family, always the Sunday after Christmas. All of the readings today talk about family. In the Gospel reading from Luke 2, we read about...
Anna's Evangelization
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In today's Gospel reading from Luke 2, we read about the prophetess Anna. "And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child...
The Canticle of Simeon
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Today is the fifth day in the Octave of Christmas. In our first reading from 1 John 2, St. John talks about light and darkness. He writes, “Whoever says he...
The Holy Innocents
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Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. On this day we remember all those children who were slaughtered in Bethlehem and the surrounding area after the birth of Jesus....
Sprinting to the Lord
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. St. John was the beloved disciple, the author of the fourth Gospel, three letters in the New Testament and the...
The Witness of St. Stephen
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr. In the first reading from Acts of the Apostles, we see the story of Stephen’s martyrdom. And in...
A Christmas Thank You
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Christmas is here! Christmas is here! I can remember waking up VERY early on Christmas mornings when I was a kid and yelling that out to my brothers and sisters....
Nothing is Impossible
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While today is Christmas Eve, in the liturgy it is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Just a reminder that for Mass attendance, you don't get a twofer. One must attend...
Zechariah's Silence
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Today's Gospel reading is the naming of John the Baptist. John's father, Zechariah, was struck dumb after the angel announced to him that he and his wife would have a...
Hannah and Mary's Prayer
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In today’s first reading from 1 Samuel 1, we see Hannah giving up her only son to the service of the Lord. Eli, the priest, had prayed that Hannah might...
Filled With the Holy Spirit
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As the Christmas story continues to unfold in the liturgy, today's Gospel reading is the story of the visitation, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth's greeting to Mary is...
The Handmaid of the Lord
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During December, we see a few readings multiple times. Today’s Gospel reading is a case in point. In fact, it is the exact same Gospel reading we saw on the Feast...
Miracle Babies
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Today’s readings tell the stories of two miracle babies – Samson and John the Baptist. The mothers of both of these boys were barren. Everyone assumed they would never have...
A Righteous Man
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Today in the first reading from Jeremiah 23, the Lord says, “Behold, the days are coming when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall...
Gaudete Sunday
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Today is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. Today we light the pink, or rose, candle on the Advent wreath. It is called Gaudete Sunday because of the opening...
Not What You Expect
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In the first reading today from Sirach 48, we see a synopsis of the life and times of Elijah. The people were awaiting his return. In the Gospel reading from...
God's Way is Simple, But...
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Love always desires the good. God is love. Therefore, God always desires the good. He always wants what is best for us. He also knows that often what we want...
The Return of Elijah
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You may know that the most common admonition in Scripture is "Be not afraid" or some variation thereof. We see one in today's first reading from Isaiah 41. "It is...
Battery Recharge
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I'm now a former runner. I've done over a dozen marathons, countless half marathons and even some ultra-marathons in my day. Unfortunately, my knees gave out a few years ago...
Your Merciful Mother
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on a hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, in December of 1531,...
Incredible Things
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Today's "golden thread" is about healing. In the first reading from Isaiah 35 we read, "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be...
A Voice in the Desert
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Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. In the Gospel reading from Mark 1, we read about the ministry of John the Baptist. He is the one about whom the...
Your Life GPS
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I have always been somewhat directionally challenged. That's why I love the invention of the GPS. It tells me where I need to go, and corrects me when I've gone...
Conceived Without Sin
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Remember that, for Catholics, today is a Holy Day of obligation. I hope you will make it a point to attend...
Surviving the Storms
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The theme of today's readings is a strong house. In the first reading from Isaiah 26, it is referred to in the context of a city and a nation. And...
On This Mountain
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Mountains are a big deal. (See what I did there?) Scripture is filled with stories from and references to mountains. That's a theme in today's readings. In the first reading...
Childlike
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Today’s first reading from Isaiah 11 starts with what should be a familiar prophesy. “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse…” Jesse was King David’s...
Subject to Authority
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Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 8 contains a line that every Catholic should be familiar with. They are the words of a centurion who asked Jesus to heal a servant...
The Jesus Window
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Happy New Year! No, it's not January 1, but it is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year. And no matter what year it is,...
The Dreaded Rut
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Today is the last day of the Church year. Tomorrow begins a brand new liturgical year with the season of Advent. In our Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus has...
His Words Live On
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” And so it has been. Seasons come and go. Rulers...
A Fishing Brother
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew. Andrew was an Apostle, the brother of Simon Peter. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” In the first reading today...
The White Envelope
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The White Envelope by Nancy Gavin Editor’s Note: This is a true story that is provided to us by the family of the author. Even though Nancy passed away two...
Wisdom in Speaking
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Christianity has to be from God. Why do I say this? Because Jesus told His disciples again and again what they were in for. “They will seize and persecute you,...
The End is Near!
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Ever heard the expression “feet of clay?” It means when someone has a fatal flaw. Usually someone admired or thought highly of. We use the expression when someone lets us...
No Pain, No Gain
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In the first reading today, we read the beginning of the Book of the Prophet Daniel. Daniel was a gifted young man, and faithful to God. For that, God blessed...
The Perfect King
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Today the Church celebrates the end of the liturgical year. Fittingly enough, it is the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, or more commonly referred to...
Life After the Resurrection
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In the Gospel from Luke 20, some Saducees, who don’t believe in the resurrection of the body, throw a trick question at Jesus about who a woman would be married...
A House of Prayer
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In the first reading today from 1 Maccabees 4, we read about the origins of Hanukkah. Do you know what that Jewish feast, celebrated to this day, is all about?...
Gratitude
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Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a day when Americans give thanks to God for all their blessings. I suspect you're like me and have received more blessings than you could possibly...
A Mother's Courage
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In our first reading today from 2 Maccabees 7, we meet yet another fascinating character. She is a mother who exhibits amazing faith and bravery. Some may think otherwise, but...