Stumbling Sinners
Posted on
The end of today's first reading from Hosea 14 says this: "Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths...
Banished Words
Posted on
2 comments
In the Gospel reading today from Luke 11 Jesus is accused by some people of driving out demons by the prince of demons. Jesus talks about what a ridiculous notion...
Obey and Teach
Posted on
1 comment
So many people look at Christianity, and especially Catholicism, as a religion of rules and regulations. You know, Thou Shalt Not this and that. Like it or not, God has...
"Feeling" Forgiveness
Posted on
Our first reading today is one of the most beautiful prayers in all of Scripture. It is the prayer of Azariah in the fiery furnace from Daniel 3. He says...
Not Part of the Club
Posted on
1 comment
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...
Follow the Money
Posted on
In the Gospel reading from John 2, we see Jesus throwing the merchants out of the temple area. Needless to say, this didn't sit well with the folks who had approved...
The Merciful Father
Posted on
1 comment
In the Gospel reading from Luke 15, we see the story of the prodigal son. Interestingly, the story of the prodigal son could just as properly be called the story...
Envy Kills
Posted on
Today’s readings feature two stories of envy, one real, the other a parable. In the first reading from Genesis 27 we see the story of Joseph. His father, Israel “loved...
Lessons from Lazarus
Posted on
In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 16, Jesus tells the Pharisees the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus is a poor beggar who waits by the rich man’s...
The Fate of a Disciple
Posted on
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...
Preaching by Practicing
Posted on
God is always ready to make things right. We are the ones who mess up, who walk away from God. Yet God is always waiting to welcome us back with...
Be Merciful
Posted on
We know that the Lord is merciful. In our first reading today from Daniel 9, we read, "But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness." In the Gospel...
Lenten Transfiguration
Posted on
Today’s Gospel reading is Mark’s version of the Transfiguration. This is when Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the top of the mountain (the very same mountain that...
Doing the Undoable
Posted on
1 comment
Jesus’ message was all about love. And today in our Gospel reading from Matthew 5, He takes his teaching to the extreme. “But I say to you, love your enemies...
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...
Asking for Help
Posted on
It’s common knowledge that men don’t like to ask for directions. I guess in the age of the GPS, that problem has been all but eliminated. Asking for help, for...
Ignoring the Sign
Posted on
Most people know the story of Jonah. At least, they know part of it; they know the part where he gets swallowed by a big fish. But what about the...
The Purpose of God's Word
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....
Of Chairs and Popes
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...
Into the Desert
Posted on
Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 1 tells us that, before the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus went into the desert for forty days, where he was tempted by Satan....
Follow Like Levi
Posted on
1 comment
Today's Gospel reading from Luke 5 is about the call of Levi. Not sure who Levi is? We know him better as Matthew. He was a tax collector. Jesus sees Levi...
Fasting
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...
Daily Cross Carrying
Posted on
Choose Life. Some folks may think that that is a marketing phrase made up by the pro-life community. Actually, it originated MUCH earlier than Roe v. Wade. Many millenia earlier....
Perpetual Lent
Posted on
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. If you haven't yet figured out what your Lenten penances/sacrifices will be, now is the time. We have all been dealing with...
Slow on the Uptake
Posted on
In today’s first reading from Genesis, God instructs Noah what he needs to do to save himself, his family and all the animals from the flood. Man had become so...
The Lurking Demon
Posted on
In today’s first reading, we see the story of the world’s first murder. Cain killed his brother Abel because God looked favorably on Abel’s offering and Cain became resentful and...
Leprosy and COVID
Posted on
1 comment
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 1, Jesus heals a leper. The man comes and begs Jesus to heal him. Jesus says, "Be made clean." The man is instantly cured....
Assigning Blame
Posted on
In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 8, we read about a miracle. Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. And after everyone had eaten their...
The Oldest Trick in the Book
Posted on
1 comment
In the Gospel reading today from Mark 7, Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment. “And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and...
Jesus and Our Children
Posted on
In today's first reading from Genesis 2, we read about the creation of Eve. God took a rib from Adam and fashioned Eve. Adam says, "This one, at last, is...
What Comes Out
Posted on
In the creation story from Genesis 1, we don’t get details about how God made man. But in today’s first reading from Genesis 2, we see that “the Lord God...
The Image of God
Posted on
1 comment
In the first reading today from Genesis 1, we see the rest of the story of creation. In the Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus talks about tradition. He says,...
In the Beginning
Posted on
Today for our first reading, we begin at the beginning. Genesis 1. “In the beginning…” We’ll be in the book of Genesis for the next couple of weeks. Today we...
An Obligation to Preach
Posted on
Preaching is a dirty word for some. After all, no one wants to be thought of as being preachy. But preaching is essential. In today's second reading from 1 Corinthians...
Obey Your Leaders
Posted on
1 comment
In today's first reading from Hebrews 13, the sacred author says this: "Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give...
Yesterday, Today and Forever
Posted on
Hebrews 13:1-8, today’s first reading, offers us a primer on living the Christian life. Read it again and again, and strive to live out the message. More in a sec....
Of Heads and Walls and Dust
Posted on
1 comment
If we could see with perfect spiritual vision, what would the Mass look like? I think it would look much like what is described in today's first reading from Hebrews...
The Trade-Off of Discipline
Posted on
1 comment
Today we’re going to talk about discipline. Not a fun topic, I know. If you turned and ran away right now, I wouldn’t blame you! But in today’s first reading...
Always Faithful
Posted on
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Also known as Candlemas, this is the day when candles will be blessed. There will be three readings today. In...
Legion and Screwtape and Jesus
Posted on
1 comment
In today's first reading from Hebrews 11, we read about some heroes of the Old Testament - both named and unnamed. Even though they were heroes, they "did not receive...
The New Moses
Posted on
1 comment
Jesus is often referred to as "the new Moses." The similarities between the two are striking. In today's first reading from Deuteronomy 18, Moses says, "A prophet like me will...
What is Faith?
Posted on
What is faith? In our first reading today from Hebrews 11:1 it says, "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen." The Catechism...
A Matter of Life and Death
Posted on
1 comment
In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus tells a couple of parables, both of an agrarian nature. In the first He talks about how a seed grows, yet we...
Absolute Trust
Posted on
Today’s first reading from Hebrews 10 is so chock full of great stuff! We’ll discuss in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus tells His disciples something...
Sowing Seeds of Grace
Posted on
1 comment
Today's Gospel reading is the parable of the sower from Mark 4. Jesus tells a story of a man who goes out and sows seeds all over. The seeds fall...
Burn, Baby, Burn
Posted on
2 comments
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Timothy and Titus. It is a special day for my parish, as I attend St. Timothy Parish. Because it is a shared...
Be Converted
Posted on
Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. We see the story of Saul’s (Paul’s birth name) conversion in two places in Acts of the Apostles. In chapter...
Following Jesus
Posted on
In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 1, we read about the call of the first disciples. Jesus sees Simon and Andrew and says to them, “Come after me, and I...
Out of My Mind
Posted on
1 comment
The Gospel reading today from Mark 3 is very short; just two verses. Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them...
Defending Life
Posted on
1 comment
Today in the United States is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It falls on the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision...