Becoming Like the Just Judge
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Advent is a great time to be (or become) a fan of the Old Testament. So many have the mistaken notion that the Old Testament is passe, or no longer...
The Fishing Brother
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew. Andrew was an Apostle, the brother of Simon Peter. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” In the first reading today...
Watch!
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Today we begin a new year in the Church. Happy Advent! The world wants us to think that this is the Christmas season. But the Christmas season actually STARTS with...
The Anxieties of Daily Life
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Today is the last day of the Church year. Tomorrow begins a brand new liturgical year with the season of Advent. In the first reading from the end of the...
The Book of Life
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In today's first reading from Revelation 20 and 21, in John's vision of heaven, "Then another scroll was opened, the book of life." And then we read this: "Anyone whose...
Be Thankful
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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. But rather than comment on the readings, I...
You Will Be Hated
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More of John’s vision of heaven today from Revelation 15 in our first reading. Today we see “those who had won victory over the beast…” Jesus continues to address the...
Time is Running Out
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In the Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus is talking about the end times and what signs there will be that the end is near. “Nation will rise against nation,...
Generosity and Trust
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In today’s first reading from Revelation 14, we see once again the figure of the Lamb. He has with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who have his name and...
Christ the King
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Today the Church celebrates the end of the liturgical year. Fittingly enough, it is the Feast of Christ the King. All of the readings today point to the kingship of...
Marriage and the Resurrection
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The first reading today from Revelation 11 is filled with imagery of martyrs, prophets of old, Rome and more. I encourage you to read a bit of background on what...
The Sweet and Sour of God's Word
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In the Gospel reading today from Luke 19, we see Jesus cleansing the temple area of those who are selling things. He says, “It is written, My house shall be...
Recognizing Our Visitation
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In today's first reading from Revelation 5, we see Jesus being referred to as a lion and a lamb - the lion of the tribe of Judah, and "a Lamb...
Revelation, Scripture and the Mass
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In today's first reading from Revelation 4, we read about John's vision of heaven and some things that would certainly seem odd to us: Flaming torches, a sea of glass,...
The Danger of Lukewarm-ness
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Our Gospel reading today is the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19. It is a great story of repentance and redemption. In the first reading today from Revelation 3, we...
You've Lost That Loving Feeling
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For the next couple of weeks the first reading at Mass will come from the Book of Revelation. That’s because we’re nearing the end of the liturgical year. The first...
Using Your Talents
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In the Gospel from Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a man going on a trip and giving his servants some talents (money). When the master returns, he wants...
Lessons from the Unjust Judge
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In today's Gospel reading from Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable about an unjust judge. A widow comes to him seeking a judgment, but he refuses. The widow, however, kept...
Helping Others get to Heaven
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Our first reading today is from 2 John. This is the shortest book in the Bible, just 13 verses. But what a power-packed 13 verses! St. John writes, “For this...
Chasing the Shiny Thing
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 17, the Pharisees ask Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. What they didn’t realize was that they were standing in it. Jesus...
The Faithful Tithe
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What a great first reading today from Titus 3. St. Paul reminds us that we are saved “through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” An obvious...
Trained by Grace
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In today's Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus says, "When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged...
Zealous
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of he Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. This Basilica, constructed by the Emperor Constantine, is called the mother church of Christendom. The readings today...
Think Long Term
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about 10 virgins getting ready to go to a wedding feast. Five were wise - they brought extra oil...
The Best Policy
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St. Paul went through a lot in his life. Early on, he had it all. He was well off, well educated, well liked. But later he was beaten, thrown in...
Our True Citizenship
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Today's first reading from Philippians 3 is so appropriate for Americans, given our recent election. St. Paul starts out by talking about people who "conduct themselves as enemies of the...
Much Rejoicing
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As Christians, we know that our confidence can be found in God alone. When we have confidence in our flesh, we are in big trouble. Because the flesh will always...
It Costs Everything
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In the first reading today from Philippians 2, St. Paul writes, “Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in...
Where is Your Priority?
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“At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” That’s...
Praying for the Dead
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Today we celebrate All Souls' Day. On this feast (and throughout the month of November) we pray for the souls of the faithful departed. To many non-Catholic Christians, this seems...
All Saints Day
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Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. For the past 20 years, whenever this day falls on a weekday, I have a tradition of calling everyone with whom I speak...
Seeking the Lowest Place
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In the first reading from Philippians 1, St. Paul struggles with whether he would rather stick around on earth or go home to be with the Lord. Not a true...
A Work in Progress
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In today’s Gospel reading, we see another case of Jesus taking on the controversial topic of “working” on the sabbath. Is it okay to do good on the sabbath, to...
The Armor of God
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In today’s first reading from Ephesians 6, St. Paul tells us to “put on the armor of God.” He goes on to explain just what that is. More in a...
Help for the Hopeless
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Today is the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles. The readings are the same as the feast days of other Apostles – Ephesians 2:19-22, which I recently wrote about,...
Be Subordinate
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 13, Jesus tells two short parables about the Kingdom of God. The first compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed, the other to yeast....
People First
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Today’s reflection may be a stretch, but stay with me. I want to make a connection between the first reading and the Gospel reading, something we can do most every...
A Spiritual Two-fer
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus is asked, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” His answer may have surprised some. When Jesus is asked about...
How to Perish - Or Not
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 13, some people tell Jesus about some Jews who had been killed by Pilate. Jesus’ response is telling. “Do you think that because these...
The Forest for the Trees
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In our first reading today from Ephesians 4, St. Paul urges his readers to “live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness,...
Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
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Is your heart on fire for Jesus? It should be! That is Jesus' wish. Read about it in our Gospel reading from Luke 12. Next question: Do you believe that...
Great Expectations
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In the Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus tells a parable of two servants, one faithful, the other unfaithful. Have you ever wondered what God expects of you? Dumb question,...
Members of the Household
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We’re back in Ephesians 2 for our first reading today. St. Paul addresses the people as “you who once were far off,” and “you who were far off.” Notice that...
Love is What Matters
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By what are you saved? St. Paul gives us the answer in today’s first reading from Ephesians 2:1-10. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is...
It All Belongs to God
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus is asked by some Pharisees and Herodians about paying taxes. They try to trip Him up by asking, “Is it lawful to...
Denying Jesus
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In the first reading today from Ephesians 1:15-23, St. Paul prays that “the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to...
What You're Worth
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The old existential question persists – Why are we here? Actually, St. Paul gives the answer to that question in our first reading from Ephesians 1. “…so that we might...
Chosen to be Holy
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In the first reading today, we begin reading St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This will be a very rich couple of weeks as we go through the book of...
Bad News/Good News
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Jesus was never one to mince words. We see this again today in the Gospel reading from Luke 11, where He is pronouncing woes on the Pharisees. When a scholar...
Internal and External
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God doesn’t care about anyone’s background. You don’t have to have any kind of “pedigree” to give your life to Christ. St. Paul puts it like this in today’s first...