Dying for Many - and One
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In the first reading today from Ezekiel 37, the LORD says through the prophet: “My servant David shall be prince over them, and there shall be one shepherd for them...
See the Works, Believe the 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...
Covenant Thinking
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In today’s first reading from Genesis 17, we see a watershed moment in salvation history. Abram has his name changed to Abraham, and God makes a covenant with him. And...
Trial by Fire
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In today’s first reading from Daniel 3, we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego getting thrown into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith. Faith enough...
The Scandal of I AM
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As we approach Holy Week, the readings from John's Gospel reflect the increasing pressure that was put upon Jesus by the elders, scribes and Pharisees. They were marking His every...
A New Beginning
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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...
The Shortest Verse
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Today's Gospel reading for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, is one of the longest of the Church year. Yet it contains...
The "Yes" that Changed the World
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Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord. Our first reading today contains the prophecy from Isaiah 7: "The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him...
The Hidden Counsels of God
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God is a God of surprises. In the Gospel reading from John 7, the people of Jerusalem grumble about Jesus because they knew "where he is from." But Jesus replies,...
Praise and Motivation
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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...
An Unbreakable Bond
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In the Gospel reading today from John 5, Jesus begins to reveal more clearly who He truly is. He says, “My Father is at work until now, so I am...
Healing Water
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Water is very important. It is the stuff of life. Water also is important in healing. And water "runs through" the readings today. In the first reading from Ezekiel 47,...
St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is often referred to as the foster father or earthly father of Jesus. The...
Vision
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Today's readings have to do with vision. In the first reading from 1 Samuel 16, the LORD says to Samuel: "Not as man sees does God see, because man sees...
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
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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...
St. Patrick's Breastplate
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Since today is a Friday in Lent, many bishops have given a dispensation to the faithful in their diocese from abstaining from meat. Enjoy some corned beef...
Hearing His Voice
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In today's first reading from Jeremiah 7, we read: "Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God...
Our Christian Duty
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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...
The Process of Forgiveness
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Today's first reading is a beautiful prayer from a guy standing in a fiery furnace - the prayer of Azariah. Read about his trust in God's providence. Our Gospel reading...
Put Away Your Pride
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Our first reading today is from 2 Kings 5. It is a story about a man named Naaman. Naaman was not a child of Israel. He was a commander in...
He Knows You...And Still Loves You!
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Today at Mass we hear the Gospel reading from John 4 – the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus is in Samaria and stops at Jacob’s...
The Older Son
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Today's Gospel reading from Luke 15 is probably a familiar story - we call it The Prodigal Son. And rightly so. But it is really a story of two sons...
Kill the Messenger
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In the first reading today from Genesis 37, we see some of the story of Joseph. He was Israel’s favorite son, and his brothers didn’t like that so much. So...
Better Listen Now
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You’ll see lots of similarities between today’s first reading from Jeremiah 17 and our Responsorial Psalm from Psalm 1. In fact, they look nearly identical. Needless to say, both contain...
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...
Let Us Set Things Right
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I don’t know about you, but I find that, more often than not, something is not quite right in my relationship with God. It is always my fault, this I...
My Mercy Problem
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Our first reading today is a beautiful prayer from Daniel 9. Here Daniel confesses to the Lord for the entire people of their wickedness and sinfulness. In our Gospel reading...
Becoming
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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....
Practice Makes Perfect
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus gives us more difficult fare. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” As if...
It's About Relationships
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When we sin, when we do evil, we open ourselves up to punishment. That seems fair, right? Apparently, not everyone thinks so. Check out today’s first reading from Ezekiel 18...
Power for the Powerless
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Our first reading today is from the Book of Esther. Esther had the weight, and fate, of a nation on her shoulders. She knew that she was the last hope...
Turning From Evil
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In today's readings we hear about Jonah. In fact, the first reading is from the Book of Jonah, where the Ninevites listen to Jonah and "they turned from their evil...
Seeds of Grace
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Today's first reading is Isaiah 55:10-11. This is a passage that has been on my heart a lot lately as I have been talking about Seeds of Grace. Here's the...
Sheep or Goat?
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In the first reading today from Leviticus 19, Moses gives the people instructions from God on how to conduct their lives. It sounds very similar to the Ten Commandments. It...
Withstanding Temptation
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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...
The Importance of Going to the Doctor
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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...
A Different Kind of Fasting
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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...
How to Choose Life
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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,...
Holy Land 2023
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We're excited to announce our 2023 pilgrimage to the Holy Land! I'm billing it as Christmas in the Holy Land, but you'll be home for Christmas! Join Michelle and I...
To Dust You Shall Return
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Blessed Ash Wednesday! Today we begin our Lenten journey for 2023. Whatever you have chosen to do or give up (or a combination thereof), I pray that this will be...
You Who Fear the LORD
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Today's first reading from Sirach 2 is so filled with wisdom it would behoove us to read it again and again. It speaks again and again of fear of the...
My Unbelief
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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...
Of Retaliation and Retribution
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We have another controversial Gospel reading today from Matthew 5. Jesus talks about offering no resistance to the one who is evil; about turning the other cheek. The old law...
Noah's Faith
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Today's Gospel reading is the story of the Transfiguration from Mark 9. The first reading is from Hebrews 11, which talks about faith. "By faith Noah, warned about what was...
Lessons from a Tower
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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...
Thinking As God Does
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Whenever you see a rainbow, it should remind you of God. Why? Check out today’s first reading from Genesis 9 to find out. In the Gospel reading from Mark 8,...
Incremental Healing
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Did you know that Noah was over 600 years old at the time of the Great Flood? We see this in today’s first reading from Genesis 8. After the flood,...
Understanding
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We see some tough questions from Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. More in a moment. For our first reading, we’re in Genesis 6 and 7, reading about Noah. Everyone else...
My Brother's Keeper
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We have a very short Gospel reading today from Mark 8. The Pharisees are looking for a sign from Jesus. But Jesus tells them that “no sign will be given...
No License to Sin
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"If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you...""No one does he (God) command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin." These two...