Mortal Sin and Venial Sin
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In Catholic theology, we talk of venial sin and mortal sin. Many will say, “Sin is sin! There is no such thing as mortal sin and venial sin.” Oh, really?...
Belief and Victory
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Today's Gospel reading from Luke 5 is the story a leper approaching Jesus and asking to be healed. He says, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." He...
I'm a Liar
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There are an awful lot of challenging things in the Scriptures. Today's words from St. John in our first reading are right near the top. More on that in a sec....
Fearless Lovers
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Fear is a funny thing. Not funny ha-ha, but funny odd. It does funny things, has a funny effect on people. Fear can be a great motivator; some say the...
Do It Yourselves
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What is love? Here's what St. John says in today's first reading from 1 John 4: In this is love: not that we have loved God, but the he loved...
You Belong to God
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For many today is “back to reality day.” Lots of folks have been off since Christmas Eve. If that includes you, welcome back! Hopefully we can hit the ground running...
The Journey to Jesus
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Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 2 we see the story of the magi coming to visit the baby Jesus. We often...
Mary, Mother of God
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Happy New Year! Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. Because the feast falls on a Saturday this year, it not a Holy Day of...
The Message of Christmas
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For today’s first reading, we are back in 1 John 2. Today St. John writes about the antichrist. Very interesting stuff, especially for those hard core “end-timers.” Those are the...
When We Love "The World"
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In today’s first reading, we get some great advice from St. John. More on that in a moment. The Gospel reading today is from Luke 2. Today we read about...
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...
Today's 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...
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...
Jesus, Mary and Joseph
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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...
Merry Christmas!
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Advent is finally over! Now begins the real celebration. Merry Christmas! I’ll pause today from the regular Scripture reflection and just share some random thoughts. A baby in a manger....
The Canticle of Zechariah
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It's Christmas Eve! Tomorrow and for the next couple of weeks we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior. Today's Gospel reading is the Canticle of Zechariah. If you ever...
What Will this Child Be?
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The prophets were God's messengers. And John the Baptist, "the new Elijah," was the greatest of the prophets. In today's first reading from Malachi 3, we read the prophecy of...
My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord
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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...
The Lord in Your Midst
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In the first reading today from Zephaniah 3, we read, "The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. The LORD, your...
The Virgin Birth
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As the Christmas story continues to unfold in the liturgy, we reflect today on the virgin birth. The Gospel reading is the story of the Annunciation. There is quite a...
The Fruit of Her Womb
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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...
Dream, Dream, Dream
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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...
Skeletons in the Closet
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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...
Words to Hang Onto
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 7, Jesus reveals the truth about John the Baptist. “This is the one about whom Scripture says: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead...
Just Deeds and Power
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In today's first reading from Isaiah 45, the LORD says, "To me every knee shall bend; by me every tongue shall swear, Saying, "Only in the LORD are just deeds...
Saying and Doing
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In the first reading today from Zephaniah 3, we read about “a remnant…a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord…They shall do no...
Submitting to Jesus' Authority
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In today’s first reading from Numbers 24, we meet an interesting character named Balaam. Balaam utters a prophecy. “A star shall advance from Jacob, and staff shall rise from Israel.”...
The Humility of John
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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...
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...
The Way of Wisdom
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 48, God says, “I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should...
John is 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...
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...
The People is the Grass
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In today’s first reading from Isaiah 40, Isaiah is told, “Cry out!” He answers to the voice, “What shall I cry out?” We’ll talk about it in a moment. In...
We Have Seen 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 Luke 3, we read about the ministry of John the Baptist. He is the one about whom the...
More Than a Teacher
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As you read today’s first reading from Isaiah 30, I hope your mind is immediately drawn to Jesus. We see these prophesies so perfectly fulfilled in Jesus. More on that...
The Blind Shall See
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 29, the LORD GOD says, “On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness,...
Jesus' Construction Lesson
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Our first reading from Isaiah 26 includes this: "For the LORD is an eternal Rock. Jesus continues this theme of rock in our Gospel reading from Matthew 7. Today Jesus...
Behold Our God!
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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...
Beautiful Feet
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Andrew. Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, whom he introduced to Jesus. Tradition says he died on an "X" shaped cross...
Faith and the Banquet
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Faith is key. Jesus spoke often about the importance of faith, and commended those who had faith, be they Jew or Gentile. In today's first reading from Isaiah 2, the...
A Scary Moment Awaits
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Today is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year. Advent precedes Christmas because we reflect on the coming of the Lord. While Christmas celebrates His...
Drowsy Hearts
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In the Liturgical year, this might be considered New Year’s Eve. The new Church year starts tomorrow with the First Sunday of Advent. The theme of the Advent readings is...
Son of Man
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In today’s first reading from Daniel 7, we see the term “son of man” first used. This is the phrase that Jesus used more than any other to refer to...
Catholicism and Thanksgiving
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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. These are optional readings for Thanksgiving Day. But...
The Writing on the Wall
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I think that many people are unaware that many common expressions actually originated in the Bible. Today is another example of that. We’ll talk about it in a sec. For...
The Last Days
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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...
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
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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...
Not God of the Dead
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The first reading today from 2 Maccabees is an amazing story of courage in the face of terrible persecution. Read it for yourself, because it ties directly in with today’s...