Friendship and Intimacy with Jesus
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Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 24 is very Advent-ish. It begins with Jesus saying, “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” For our...
He Sees You
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Bartholomew. Bartholomew is referred to in the Gospel of John as Nathanael. This is the Gospel reading for today from John 1. When...
Hold Fast to the Traditions
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In today's first reading from 2 Thessalonians 2, St. Paul says, "Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by...
Our Heavenly Queen
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You won’t hear special readings for this feast, though the prayers in the Mass reference this....
Strength to Enter
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In today's Gospel reading, someone asks Jesus, “Will only a few be saved?” Jesus responds, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter...
Lead by Example
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Jesus often warned against haughtiness and hypocrisy. We hear it very clearly in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 23. In referring to the scribes and the Pharisees, He said, “Do...
The Spirit Gives Life
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The toe bone connected to the foot bone. The foot bone connected to the ankle bone. Ever heard of dem bry bones? (It’s an old spiritual tune.) That song was...
A Change of Heart
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In today’s first reading from Ezekiel 36, God tells the people that He is going to take some corrective measures. We also hear the renewal of the covenant…”You shall be...
God's Generosity
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The first reading today from Ezekiel 34 speaks of bad shepherds. This should be a reminder to us to pray for our bishops. They are men, and it may seem...
Who Can be Saved?
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In the first reading today, we hear about the dangers of accumulating wealth. Now, being wealthy is not of itself a bad thing. It is what can happen spiritually that becomes...
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because it falls on a Monday, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation in the USA. There...
Hearts Afire
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I just love the Gospel reading for today from Luke 12. Jesus explains to the disciples that He has come not to establish peace, but division. He goes on to...
Leading by Example
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 19, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”...
One Flesh
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Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 19 is Jesus' teaching on marriage. This is the passage on which the Church bases her teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. It is unchangeable...
You are a Sign
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Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18 is the story of Peter asking Jesus how many times he must forgive. Do you know how many? In the first reading from Ezekiel...
St. Lawrence
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence. St. Lawrence was a deacon and a martyr. Our prayers go out today and every day to all the faithful deacons of...
Feast on the Word
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 18, Jesus asks a question about a man who has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray. Jesus says, “Will he...
The Temple Tax
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Today’s first reading is from the opening chapter of the Book of Ezekiel. In it Ezekiel sees a vision of heaven. It is truly an awesome sight. In the Gospel...
A Checklist for His Return
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In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus talks about being prepared. Prepared for what? His return. Jesus said, "Be sure of this: if the master of the house had...
A Moment with Jesus
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Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. In the second reading from 2 Peter, St. Peter recounts that moment on the mountain. In the Gospel reading from Luke...
On Profit
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus asks a couple of questions. “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or...
Written on Your Heart
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In the first reading from Jeremiah 31, we see the covenant between God and the people. The LORD says, "I will place my law within them, and write upon their...
Not-so-Instant Gratification
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 15, we see a model of persistence. A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus and asks Him to heal her daughter. Jesus ignores her. After...
Why Did You Doubt?
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At the end of today's first reading from Jeremiah 30, we see the renewal of the covenant between God and his people. "You shall be my people and I will...
Have I Told You...?
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I'm going to go outside the lines a bit today and not talk about the Scripture passages in the Mass. You can read them by clicking on the link below....
A Dead End Street
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In the Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus says, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” He...
Sent by the Lord
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In today's readings, we hear two stories of men who were sent by the Lord. In the first reading from Jeremiah 26, Jeremiah says, "It was the LORD who sent...
A Holy Family
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Today is the Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In times past, this was the Feast of St. Martha, but the Church has added her siblings to the feast....
Malleable
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In our Gospel reading today from Matthew 13, we hear the last of Jesus' parables from this chapter. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the LORD tells Jeremiah to go...
Better Than a Lottery Win
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In today’s Gospel reading, we hear two parables in Matthew 13. They both have to do with getting rich. Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure...
Happy Grandparents' Day!
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Happy Grandparents’ Day! Now I know that Hallmark doesn’t declare this today, but today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. The Protoevangelium of James (c. 150) tells...
Drinking the Chalice of Christ
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Today is the Feast of St. James. There were two Apostles named James. They’re referred to as James the Greater and James the Lesser. The only reason is that James...
Good Morning Child of God!
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Good Morning Child of God! That message has become a great blessing to so many. In fact, that phrase is the one thing people remember about Seize the Day. It's...
Negotiating with God
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In our first reading today from Genesis 18, we see an amazing story of Abraham negotiating with God. In the Gospel reading, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. God...
Wheat and Weeds
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds. A man sows wheat seeds in a field. At night, an enemy comes...
A New Creation
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Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. There are different options for the first reading. In an optional reading for the feast day from 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, St. Paul...
Why Parables?
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Today's Gospel reading is from Matthew 13. This is often referred to as the parable chapter. In today's reading Jesus is asked by His disciples why He speaks to the...
Prophesying is Scary
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Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13 is the parable of the sower. Jesus tells a story about a guy who goes out to sow seeds, and where all the seeds...
The Ocean of God's Mercy
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 12, Jesus is told that his mother and his brothers are outside the house wanting to speak to Him. Jesus says, “Whoever does...
Three Requirements
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Ask people the question: What does God require of you? I’m sure you’ll get plenty of answers. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel reading today from Matthew...
Anxious and Worried
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Today's Gospel reading from Luke 10 is the familiar story of Martha and Mary. Jesus came to their home to dine. Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping...
"Woe"
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Today's first reading from Micah 2 starts with this: "Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches..." The word "woe" is used in many instances...
Err on the Side of Mercy
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 38, King Hezekiah is on his death bed. He cries and prays, and the LORD answers his prayer and the prophet Isaiah informs...
Finding Rest in Jesus
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Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead. This is an ancient belief that we see referenced in our first reading today from Isaiah 26. Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew...
Be An Instrument
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it is important for us in our Christian walk to be childlike. Jesus speaks of why this is important in our Gospel reading from Matthew 11. In the first reading...
Unless Your Faith is Firm...
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In today's first reading from Isaiah 7, Ahaz, king of Judah, is told by the Lord through Isaiah that the attack on Judah would not be successful; the Lord would...
Jesus: Source of Division
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One of the titles of Jesus is Prince of Peace. Yet in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus says just the opposite. “Do not think that I have come...
God and Do Likewise
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Our Gospel reading today is from Luke 10. It is the story of the Good Samaritan. Most people are familiar with the term “Good Samaritan,” if not the Bible story...
Whom Shall I Send?
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Our first reading today is from Isaiah 6. It is one that you will often hear from Vocation Directors. And rightfully so. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading...
Enduring through Hate
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In today's first reading from Hosea 14, we read some of the most tender words give by the LORD. "I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love...