Seeking Our Own Will
Posted on
In the first reading today from Isaiah 49, we hear this question: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?” Now, you would think that that is a rhetorical question. Yet it isn’t. We have all heard cases of mothers doing unspeakable things to their children. Here is […]
Sticking With the Status Quo
Posted on
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 […]
Even When He’s Far, He’s Close
Posted on
What a beautiful reading today from Isaiah 65. We get a glimpse of what things will be like in the days to come. “There will always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create.” The New Jerusalem. It’s where we’re headed! In our Gospel reading today from John 4, we see Jesus perform a “long […]
Seeing and Not Seeing
Posted on
Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading today is from John 9. It is the story of a man blind from birth who received his sight from Jesus. The man goes before the Pharisees and they question him about Jesus. When proclaims that the healing is from God, the Pharisees become indignant […]
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Posted on
We’re back in Hosea for our first reading today. We see a verse from Hosea that is quoted a few times in the New Testament. “For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” It would do us well to learn the meaning of those words. In […]
A Difficult Love
Posted on
Today’s first reading from Hosea 14 contains some of the most beautiful imagery in Scripture. It shows us God’s loving heart for his people. Even though they had turned away, He will welcome them back, if they just ask for His forgiveness. “I will heal their defection, says the Lord, I will love them freely.” […]
Fully Armed
Posted on
In the first reading today from Jeremiah 7, we read the story of a nation that has abandoned God. God says, “Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned […]
Teaching Our Kids the Faith
Posted on
The observance of God’s laws was of paramount importance to the Israelite people. God gave his laws to Moses, who taught them to and enjoined them on the people. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus gives the people the same message. “Do not think I have come […]
How Many Times?
Posted on
Today’s first reading contains one of the most beautiful prayers in all of Scripture. It is the prayer of Azariah from Daniel 3. Azariah and his two companions had been thrown into the fiery furnace by the king, because they prayed to the one true God. While in the furnace, this is the prayer that […]
Loving the Outsider
Posted on
In today’s first reading from 2 Kings 5:1-15, we see the story of Naaman the Syrian. Naaman was a high ranking military official in Syria, but not an Israelite. He was also a leper. The prophet Elisha gave him instructions on how to cleanse himself of his leprosy. Reluctantly, he listened to the words of […]
Breaking Down Barriers
Posted on
Today’s Gospel reading is a very long one. But so worth it! Do yourself a favor and read the reading before you go to Mass today. And if you’ve already been to Mass, read it again. It will certainly be time well spent! Jesus meets up with a Samaritan woman at a well. Two unusual […]
The People of the Prodigal Son Story
Posted on
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 […]
And the Answer is…YES!
Posted on
Exactly nine months from now, we celebrate Christmas! Let me be the first to wish you Merry Christmas 2011! So, what would happen nine months before the birth of Christ? Mary finds out she is with child. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. In the first reading we see that famous prophecy […]
Can You See Him?
Posted on
Our first reading today from Jeremiah 17 and the Responsorial Psalm are nearly identical. At the end of the passage from Jeremiah, we read, “I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.” God knows where our hearts are. […]
Standing in the Gap
Posted on
Jeremiah had a tough gig. You’ve heard the old expression “No good deed goes unpunished.” Well, Jeremiah was a living example of that. He was a prophet, a messenger. All he did was stand up and say what God wanted him to say. And what did it get him? Only the wrath of the people. […]
Leading by Example
Posted on
Have you ever messed up and wanted to make things right? In today’s first reading, we hear that very kind of language. Only the one who wants to set things right is not the one who messed things up in the first place. It is God Himself. “Come now, let us set things right, say […]
Give
Posted on
Anyone who has ever dealt with addiction of any kind knows that the first step to recovery is admitting that we have a problem. Part of the human condition is that we are all addicts; we are all addicted to sin. In the first reading today from Daniel 9, we see that first step in the […]
We Become What We Receive
Posted on
Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew’s version of the Transfiguration. This is when Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the top of the mountain and reveals His heavenly glory. Moses and Elijah appear with him. And a voice comes from a cloud that says, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; […]
The Example of Fatherhood
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph. In our first reading from 2 Samuel, God says that his Son would spring from the line of David. “I will make his royal throne firm forever.” Joseph, though not Jesus’ biological father, was from the line of David. There are two options for a Gospel […]
Be Reconciled
Posted on
It is imperative that we not only believe in Christ, but that we live out His words. In the first reading today from Ezekiel 18, we see the truth of this. “But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he […]
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Posted on
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I’m going to go a bit out of the normal today and not do a reflection on the daily readings. In honor of St. Patrick, I want to share with you the beautiful St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Many people may know a small part of this beautiful prayer (specifically the next-to-last stanza), […]
Changing God’s Mind
Posted on
Today’s readings are about Jonah. Most people know the story from when they were kids. Or at least part of the story. If you were to ask 100 people about the story of Jonah, my guess is that the vast majority would only know one fact. He was the guy that got swallowed up by […]
The Word of God
Posted on
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 […]
These Least Ones
Posted on
In the first reading today from Leviticus 19, the Lord tells Moses to tell the people how to conduct themselves. Though not the Ten Commandments, this reading sounds similar. It ends with the great commandment, the one that Jesus spoke of when asked which is the greatest of the commandments…”You shall love your neighbor as […]
Satan’s Tricks
Posted on
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, thought fully God, […]
Our Spiritual Doctor
Posted on
We hear more today about things that are pleasing to God in our first reading from Isaiah 58. The Lord also talks about how we should conduct ourselves on the sabbath. “If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice – Then you shall delight in the […]
An Acceptable Fast
Posted on
In our first reading today from Isaiah 58, we hear what is truly an acceptable form of fasting. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading, the Pharisees ask Jesus why His disciples don’t fast. Jesus replies, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will […]
Daily Choices
Posted on
In our first reading today from Deuteronomy, Moses tells the people what they must do in order to enter the promised land. Obey the commandments of the Lord, love Him, walk in his ways. “Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding his voice, and holding […]
The Angel Effort
Posted on
This year for Lent, I propose what I call the Angel Effort. Each day during Lent, I want to do something positive. You may think of them as “random acts of kindness.” Only they won’t be random. They will be planned and thought out. So I’m looking for suggestions for simple little things that we […]
The Fast Before the Feast
Posted on
Lent is here! Happy Ash Wednesday! I know that may seem like an odd thing to say. After all, Lent is a time of penance; a time to put on sackcloth and ashes. A time to give stuff up, to do without, to suffer. Yeah? So? Why shouldn’t that be an occasion for joy? After […]
My True Character
Posted on
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 […]
Be Like Tobit
Posted on
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 Paradox of Works
Posted on
We see what seems to be an interesting quandry in today’s readings. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, we see that God offers “a blessing for obeying the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin on you today; a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord, your God…” OK, […]
The Authority of Jesus
Posted on
In the Gospel reading from Mark 11, Jesus is asked about His authority. “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authorityto do them?” Now usually, the chief priests and the elders were the ones who came up with trick questions for Jesus. But this time Jesus turns the tables […]
The Mountain Into the Sea
Posted on
Living a virtuous life is not only a nice thing to do, it can have eternal consequences. In the first reading today from Sirach 44, Sirach says that sinful men are forgotten. “And they are as though they had not lived, they and their children after them.” But he praises godly men who lived lives […]
Bartimaeus’ Prayer
Posted on
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 […]
Serving
Posted on
Today’s first reading from Sirach 36 is a beautiful prayer. Don’t miss it! In the Gospel reading today from Mark 10, James and John come to Jesus and ask that they be able to sit at his right and his left in his glory. After a bit of bickering, Jesus tells the Apostles, “Whoever wishes to […]
WII FM
Posted on
The golden thread that runs through today’s readings could probably be summed up in this phrase: God will not be outdone in generosity. In the first reading from Sirach 35, we read “Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. For the Lord is one who always […]
Can God Handle It?
Posted on
In the first reading today from Sirach 17, we read “To the penitent God provides a way back.” Notice that it is a two-way street. We must first be penitent for God to provide the way back. Today’s Gospel reading is the Markan version of the rich young man. You know the story. Young guy […]
Needless Worry
Posted on
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus talks about worry, and how we need to live for today. Have you ever met a worry-wart? Someone who worries about everything? They seem to go through life with a feeling of dread, as though nothing is ever going to go right. The worst-case scenario is their best friend. Jesus […]
Let the Children Come
Posted on
In the first reading today from Sirach 17, we get kind of a short history of man. We see that God “put the fear of himself upon their hearts.” In essence, God has set into our DNA the knowledge that there is a God, and that we ain’t Him. Unfortunately, that message seems to get […]
A Faithful Friend
Posted on
In the Gospel reading today from Mark 10, Jesus teaches about marriage. The Catholic Church has always held fast to these teachings. Sure, they are difficult. But they come from Christ Jesus Himself. I hope that you will join me in praying for marriages daily. Marriage is under attack on so many fronts. Pray that […]
Convert Today!
Posted on
In the Gospel reading today from Mark 9, Jesus lets us know how dangerous it is to lead others into sin. “It would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” While we must strive for our own holiness, it is also incumbent […]
Wisdom Doesn’t Come Easy
Posted on
In our Gospel reading today from Mark 9, someone is driving out demons in Jesus’ name. But this puts off the disciples, since this guy wasn’t one of them. So they ask Jesus about it. Jesus tells them, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” In the first reading today from Sirach 4, we […]
Chair of St. Peter
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Some might look at that and say, “Boy, you Catholics are really strange! Imagine celebrating a piece of furniture!” That’s not what the feast day is about. Today we celebrate the office of the Papacy. Peter was the first Pope, the Vicar of […]
Help My Unbelief
Posted on
Today’s first reading is from the Book of Sirach. This is one of the books that you will find in a Catholic Bible, but not a Protestant one. I think it is one of the most beautiful books in all of Scripture. At the beginning of the book of Sirach, we read about Wisdom. There […]
Perfectly Merciful
Posted on
In the first reading today from Leviticus 19, the Lord says, “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 5, Jesus says to his disciples, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Wow. That’s […]
The Transfiguration
Posted on
Our first reading for today is from Hebrews 11. Here we receive the definition of faith. We talked about this last month when we were reading from the book of Hebrews. “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Our Gospel reading today is from Mark 9, the […]
Tower of Babel
Posted on
In our Gospel reading today from Mark 8, Jesus asks the question, “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” So many today are striving for riches, potentially at the cost of their souls. Sure doesn’t sound like a fair trade-off to me. If you do a cost/benefit […]
Thinking Like God
Posted on
In the first reading today from Genesis 9, God establishes a covenant with Noah and his family. Remember, they were the only humans on the planet at this point. He will never again destroy all living things with a flood. And as a sign of the covenant, God set his bow in the clouds. Every […]