Family
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The Sunday after Christmas is the Feast of the Holy Family. There are a couple of options for a second reading today, and all of the readings talk about family and relationships. We would do well to read them all. The Holy Family is the perfect example of what a family is, and should be. A father, […]
Simeon’s Prayer
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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 is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.” We need to examine our hearts and accept the light of Christ […]
Our Holy Innocents
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Who are the Holy Innocents? They are the children killed by order of Herod in Bethlehem right after the birth of Christ. We read about this today in the Gospel reading from Matthew 2. Matthew tells us that this fulfilled what had been said through […]
John’s Message of Love
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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 Book of Revelation. Our first reading today is from the beginning of St. John’s first letter. “We proclaim now…our fellowship is with the Father and […]
Feast 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 the Gospel from Matthew 10, Jesus tells the disciples, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end […]
Christmas is Here!
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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. We would go wake up Mom and Dad, probably much earlier than they would have liked, and attack the presents under the tree with reckless […]
Always Christmas Eve
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Today is Christmas Eve. Many people (myself and my family included) will go to Mass this afternoon or this evening for Christmas. Many will attend the beautiful Midnight Mass. Whenever you attend, I pray that you will be filled with blessings! I recently read an interesting study that said that only 47% of Americans will […]
He Shall Be Peace
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At Mass today you’ll see all four of the Advent candles lit on the Advent wreath. The Fourth Sunday of Advent…almost Christmas! The first reading today is a beautiful prophecy from Micah 5. In it, the Lord says that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem (House of Bread). “One who is from of old, from […]
Our Dedication
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The Gospel reading today is from Luke 1. It is Mary’s great Magnificat. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.” Beautiful! A bit of personal trivia…my wife and I are part of Teams of Our Lady. We pray the […]
God Sings About You
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You know something cool about the Catholic liturgy? We celebrate parts of the Christmas story throughout the year. Many of the Gospel readings that we are hearing at this time are also used at other times. For instance, today’s Gospel reading from Luke 1 is the same reading for the Feast of the Visitation on […]
May it be Done to Me
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Today’s first reading is essential to our belief as Christians in the Virgin Birth. It is the prophesy from Isaiah 7: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Today’s Gospel reading is the same one we saw just a few weeks ago on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. […]
Miracle Baby
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Today’s readings are similar in that they both tell stories of angels announcing the birth of a baby. Both mothers are barren and childless. Both children will become mighty men of God. Be sure to notice the similarities in the stories when you read them. From the title of today’s reflection (Miracle Baby), one might […]
Joseph the 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 reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is right and just in the land.” I’m sure that, looking at this prophecy, the people were […]
Family Ties
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Well, it is one week before Christmas Eve! Are you feeling it yet? Beginning today, the liturgy begins to unfold the story of Christmas. In the first reading today from Genesis 49, we hear Jacob telling his sons, “The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, while tribute is […]
John’s Humility
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Today is the Third Sunday in Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. You’ll notice the priest lighting the rose colored candle on the Advent wreath. Once again, our Gospel reading concentrates on John the Baptist. Why does Holy Mother Church concentrate so much on John the Baptist during the season of Advent? Because John was […]
God of the Unexpected
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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 Matthew 17, Jesus says, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not […]
You Can’t Please Some Folks
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God only wants what is best for us. We see this in today’s first reading from Isaiah 48. “I, the Lord, you God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.” God has given us the Church, to teach us truth, and to point us in the […]
The Hand of the Lord
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John the Baptist played a very special role in the history of salvation. How special? Jesus answers that in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 11. The children of Israel were awaiting the return of Elijah to usher in the age of the Messiah. (The Jews today still are.) Jesus told the people, “If you are […]
A Message From Our Lady
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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, she declared, “I am your most merciful Mother…I want to show my loving clemency and compassion to those who call upon me in their sorrows.” […]
Cry Out!
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus talks about a man who has a hundred sheep and one goes astray. He leaves the ninety-nine behind to go in search of that lost one. And when he finds it, he rejoices greatly. He says,”I just the same way, it is not the will of your […]
Bringing Our Friends to Jesus
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I love today’s first reading from Isaiah 35 for the admonition that God gives. It is one that I hope you and I will follow every day. “Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, […]
John’s Tough Gig
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Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. In the Gospel reading from Luke 3, we read about the ministry of John the Baptist. He is the one about whom the prophet Isaiah wrote, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ ” That’s really […]
Our Immaculate Mother
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Remember that, for Catholics, today is a Holy Day of obligation, even though it falls on a Saturday. I hope you will make it a point to attend Mass. Let’s talk briefly today about what the Immaculate Conception is, and isn’t. Probably the most common misconception […]
Do You Believe?
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Once again, another theme runs through the readings for today. In the first reading from Isaiah 29, we read this…”And out of the gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” Be sure to read the rest of the reading, too. It is most beautiful! Our Gospel passage is from Matthew 9. Not […]
Our Foundation
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Have you ever been to New York City? If not, you’ve surely seen it before. Skyscrapers all throughout Manhattan reaching to the heavens. Ever wonder how they put those things all so close together, and how they always remain so firm? It’s because of their foundation. Manhattan has this amazingly strong bedrock underneath all those […]
Behold!
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 15, Jesus feeds a great multitude. He says, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd…I do not want to send them away hungry.” The disciples gave Him seven loaves and a few fish. Jesus fed the whole crowd. Afterwards, there were seven baskets of fragments left […]
Sharing Your Blessing
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What an amazing first reading today from Isaiah 11. We’ll hear it again in the near future. The first half of the reading talks about the Christ, the second half talks about how things will be when all is fulfilled. Breathtaking! In the Gospel reading today from Luke 10, Jesus says to the disciples privately, […]
I Am Not Worthy
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People have been fighting with one another since the fall in the Garden. War is commonplace. I think that at any given time in history, there has always been at least one war going on somewhere in the world. It won’t always be that way, though. Peace will come. You can read about it in […]
Holiness
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Happy New Year! What’s that, you say? It’s not January 1? No, but it is the beginning of a new Liturgical Year. The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new year in the Church calendar. Over the last week, our readings have taken on a very apocalyptic tone, urging us to be […]
Avoiding the Spiritual 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 the first reading from the end of the book of Revelation, we see this final beautiful view of heaven. “Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, […]
St. Andrew
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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 from Romans 10, St. Paul asks, “And how can people preach unless they are sent?” He then goes on to quote from Isaiah 52: “How […]
Zig Ziglar Interview
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On November 28, one of my heroes, Zig Ziglar went home to be with the Lord. Though I only met him once, Zig played a huge role in my life. His teachings and thoughts were instrumental in my book, Magnetic Christianity. Over the years I had the privilege of interviewing Zig on my radio shows. […]
Zig Ziglar Interview
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On November 28, one of my heroes, Zig Ziglar went home to be with the Lord. Though I only met him once, Zig played a huge role in my life. His teachings and thoughts were instrumental in my book, Magnetic Christianity. Over the years I had the privilege of interviewing Zig on my radio shows. […]
Raise Your Head
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Many Catholics think they don’t know much Scripture. I say that’s not true. If you’re a regular, Mass-going Catholic, then you probably know an awful lot more Scripture than you may think. The end of today’s first reading is a great example. If I asked you what it says in Revelation 19:9, you would probably […]
A God of Contradiction?
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Jesus never promised an idyllic life when one professes faith in Him. Quite the contrary, actually. In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 21, we hear about some of the things that may happen to us when we follow Jesus. It ain’t pretty. But the end turns out just fine, if we persevere. Listen to Jesus […]
The Inward Signs
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We get a couple of very apocalyptic readings today. In Revelation 14, we see one “like a son of man” reaping his harvest on the earth. But it’s good news-bad news. The first harvest is good. The second harvest gets thrown into “the great wine press of God’s fury.” Which harvest will you be in? […]
Generosity and Trust
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In today’s first reading from Revelation 14, we see once again the figure of the Lamb. He has with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who have his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. The Scripture says of them, “On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.” It reminds […]
Christ our King
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Today is the feast of Christ the King. It is the end of the liturgical year. Next Sunday we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year. In the Gospel reading today from John 18, Pilate asks Jesus directly if He is a king. Jesus answers, “My kingdom does not […]
God’s Word: Sweet and Sour
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In the Gospel reading today from Luke 19, we see Jesus cleansing the temple area of those who are selling things. He says, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” We then read that “every day He was teaching in the temple […]
Be Thankful
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Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Happy Thanksgiving! I have a link to today’s readings at the bottom of today’s post. But rather than comment on the readings, I want to take a moment to reflect on Thanksgiving. Did you know that the word Eucharist translates to “thanksgiving?” Isn’t it interesting that, as Catholics, […]
Eternal Investing
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In the first reading today from Revelation 4, we see in John’s vision of heaven some very strange looking creatures. These are the passages in Revelation that sometimes throw people for a loop. But don’t let that happen to you. Theologians and great saints down through the ages have exegeted these passages (St. Jerome and […]
An Encounter with Jesus
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If you’re lukewarm in your faith, there is a word – a warning, really – for you in today’s first reading from Revelation 3. Read what will happen to those who are lukewarm about their faith. Spoiler alert – it ain’t pretty. The character in today’s Gospel passage from Luke 19 is a favorite of […]
No Going Backward
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In the first reading today, we begin reading from the Book of Revelation. This can be one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted books in the Bible. Nothing a bit of study and reading won’t cure! In the Gospel reading today from Luke 18, Jesus gives a blind man his sight. In Revelation 2, John […]
Only the Father Knows
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You can always tell when we’re getting close to the end of the liturgical year. The Gospel readings are more of Jesus’ words about the return of the Son of Man. We sometimes refer to this as the “end times.” There are many who will say that we are in the end times right now. […]
Will He Find Faith?
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Are you supporting those doing missionary work? You should be. St. John exhorts us to do that in our first reading today from 3 John:5-8. He says of those doing missionary work that “we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.” In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 18, […]
Saving by Losing
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Our first reading today is from 2 John. This is the shortest book in the Bible, just 13 verses. But what a power-packed 13 verses! St. John writes, “For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments.” He then talks about those who would lead people astray. “Anyone who is so ‘progressive’ as […]
The Kingdom of God is Among You
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Today’s first reading is taken from St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. Here Paul urges his old friend to welcome back his slave, Onesimus. Onesimus had been travelling with and assisting Paul, and Paul had become very fond of him. In fact, he refers to Onesimus as “my child, whose father I have become in my […]
Be a Ten Percenter!
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What a great first reading today from Titus 3. St. Paul reminds us that we are saved “through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” An obvious reference to our baptism. In the Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus heals ten lepers. Of the ten healed, only one bothered to come back […]
Doing Your Job
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Young, old, male or female, we’re all called to live lives of holiness. Our first reading today from Titus 2 affirms this. How do we accomplish this? St. Paul gives a succinct answer. “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, […]
Causing Others to Sin
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In today’s first reading from Titus 1, St. Paul talks about the attributes of a bishop. “Blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be […]