St. Joseph the Worker
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Today is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. It was instituted in 1955 by Pope Pius XII in part to combat communist ideology. My wife, Michelle, and I recently...
The Way
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After the resurrection and ascension of the Lord, in the earliest days of the Christian faith, followers of Jesus were known as followers of The Way. We hear why in...
Exhortation and Evangelization
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Paul is in the synagogue in Antioch in today’s first reading from Acts 13. The synagogue officials ask if he has a word of exhortation for the people. In the...
Remaining in Darkness
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Everyone has a job to do in the Kingdom of God. In today's first reading from Acts 12 and 13, the Holy Spirit says, "Set apart for me Barnabas and...
Keep the Faith!
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In the Gospel reading today from John 10, Jesus says, “The Father and I are one.” Though we accept this idea as a tenet of faith, these words were surely...
Recognizing Jesus' Voice
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Jesus declared all foods clean. But apparently Peter didn't get that message. In today's first reading from Acts 11, Peter has a vision which confirms Jesus' message. In the Gospel...
On Being a Sheep
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Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. Our Gospel reading is from John 10 and begins with Jesus saying, "I am the good shepherd." It's often pointed out that sheep are not...
Do You Also Want to Leave?
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In the first reading today from Acts 9, we see a blossoming Church. It is growing rapidly, even with the great persecution she was suffering. Peter raises a woman from...
Taking Jesus Literally
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Today’s first reading from Acts 9 tells us about the conversion of St. Paul. It’s a story that is always worth reading and reflecting on. Today I want to reflect on...
The Flesh of Christ
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Today's first reading is the fascinating story of the deacon Philip and his encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch. Read about how the Holy Spirit began and ended this encounter. We're...
Raised on the Last Day
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In the first reading from Acts 8 today, we read about Saul persecuting the Church. Because of the persecution happening in Jerusalem, all but the Apostles left there. We read...
Bread from the Father
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Today's first reading gives us the story of the stoning of St. Stephen from Acts 7. In our Gospel reading from John 6, we hear Jesus say for the first...
The Food that Endures
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In today's first reading, we read about the persecution of Stephen, one of the first deacons. This leads to his stoning, about which we will read tomorrow. In the Gospel...
Understanding the Scriptures
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 24, Jesus appears to the disciples and “he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” St. Jerome said ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ....
Men of Service
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In today’s first reading from Acts 6, we read about the ordination of our first deacons. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from John 6, Jesus...
An Attitude Adjustment
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Another uber-cool reading from Acts of the Apostles today. Be sure to read what Gamaliel, a famous rabbi, says about this new “Jesus movement.” (My words, not the Scripture.) We...
The Right Thing to Do
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There is a theme today in the readings: obedience. We hear Peter and the Apostles talk about it in the first reading from Acts 5. And in the Gospel reading...
Darkness and Light
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What a cool story today from Acts 5. The Apostles once again get thrown into the hoosegow when, in the middle of the night, an angel comes and opens the...
A Socialist Church?
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I'll start today's reflection with a warning. Some folks may find this reflection "political." I'm going to reflect on socialism, because some use today's first reading to imply that the...
Being Born Again
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Another awesome first reading today from Acts 4. After Peter and John were released, the disciples all got together and prayed, “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and...
Divine Mercy Sunday
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Today, the second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. So, rather than do a reflection on the daily Scriptures, I thought we could take just a moment to reflect...
Proclaim the Gospel
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Today in Acts 4, the Sanhedrin comes to the conclusion that something astonishing happened through Peter and John. But just to be safe, they tell them not to ever again...
Salvation Only Through Jesus
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In Acts 4 today, we pick up the story of Peter and John right after the healing of the crippled beggar. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel...
Peace Be With You
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I love Peter's boldness of speech after Pentecost. Read what he has to say to the people today in the first reading from Acts 3. In the Gospel passage from...
The Most I Can Do for You
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Another great story from Acts 3 for our first reading today. We’ll talk about that in a moment. The Gospel reading from Luke 24 is one of the most interesting...
The Promise
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We’re back in Acts 2 for our first reading today, hearing more of Peter’s great speech at Pentecost. In the Gospel reading from John 20, Mary Magdalene has two amazing...
God Raised Him Up
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Today is Easter Monday. During the Easter season, our first readings will all be from the Acts of the Apostles. In today's first reading, we hear part of Peter's speech...
Happy Easter!
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Jesus is risen! Alleluia! Happy Easter! The long season of Lent has come to a close. Now it's time to celebrate! While Lent is forty days long, the season of...
Holy Saturday
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Holy Saturday is an interesting day. It reminds me of waiting in the doctor’s office waiting room after you have had some tests run. You’re kind of in a state...
Going Through the Cross
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Good Friday. Today is the only day of the year when there is no Mass. Though there is no Mass, I’m sure that your parish will be having at least...
The New Passover
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Each year on Holy Thursday, the first reading for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is taken from Exodus 11-12. That same reading is today’s first reading. In the Gospel...
The Betrayal Game
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Want to know what Jesus is all about and what he did for you? Check out today’s first reading from Isaiah 50. It really says it all. On Wednesday of...
"I Will Lay Down My Life for You"
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Our first reading today is from Isaiah 49, more from the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation...
Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks
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Monday of Holy Week. For the next few days, our first readings will be from Isaiah, the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. We’ll talk about today’s reading in...
Beware Honor
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Today is Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. It marks the start of Holy Week. Today’s Gospel reading is the longest of the year. Today we hear (and even participate in)...
On Dying for Others
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As we approach Palm Sunday, the story of the final week of Jesus’ life unfolds. In the first reading from Ezekiel 37, the prophet speaks of the return of the...
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...
Mary's Fiat
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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. It is exactly nine months before Christmas. Let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas this year! In the...
Walking Into the Fire
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In today’s Gospel reading from John 8, we hear Jesus tell the Jews who believed in Him, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That...
Look Up and Live
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Today’s first reading from Numbers 21 tells us the story of God sending saraph serpents among the people of Israel, who had become terrible whiners. God then commands Moses to...
God of Second Chances
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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...
Dying to Produce Fruit
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In our Gospel reading today from John 12, Jesus teaches us about wheat. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,...
No Tracks in God's Kingdom
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The people were plotting to kill Jeremiah. He was unaware of these plans. After the LORD reveals this to him, Jeremiah cries out for vengeance. “Let me witness the vengeance...
Great St. Joseph
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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...
Praise and Approval
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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...
I Will Never Forget You
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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...
A Rhetorical Question?
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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...
Bringing Others to Jesus
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Ever wonder what things will be like after Jesus returns. That is, after all, a basic tenet of our faith; that Christ will come again. Well, wonder no more! The...
The Good News
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Today’s Gospel reading includes John 3:16. This is probably the most well-known verse in the Bible. Most people know it, and if they don’t, they surely know of it. Always reminds...
The Tax Collector and the Pharisee
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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...