But Lord, I'm too Young (or Old or...)
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Today in the first reading, we begin a journey through the book of the prophet Jeremiah. At the opening of the book, we read about the call of Jeremiah. Our...
The Ocean of 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...
A Woman who Loved Jesus
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Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. There are different options for the first reading, so I’ll let you read them and mull them over yourself. You can choose...
The Lord is my Shepherd
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Sheep and shepherds pop up throughout the readings today. In the first reading from Jeremiah 23, the Lord says, "Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my...
Evil Plans = Destruction
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In our first reading today from Micah 2, we see once again what God has planned for those who plan iniquity. The Responsorial Psalm mirrors this. In our Gospel reading,...
Prayer and Healing
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Studies have shown that people who pray generally are happier and tend to live longer. Those are nice byproducts of prayer, but not why we pray. We pray because Jesus told...
Meek and Humble
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In today’s first reading from Isaiah 26, the prophet talks about how physical death is not the end for us. In fact, he talks about the resurrection of the dead....
It's Really God
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Assyria was a powerful nation. They ran roughshod over anyone and everyone they wanted to. In today's first reading from Isaiah 10, we see that they had a bit of...
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...
Cease Doing Evil
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus continues His words to the Apostles as He sends them out. He talks about He would be (and still is) a source...
Being Sent
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In today's first reading from Amos 7, we see Amos being sent out by the LORD. But he starts with his lack of bona fides or experience. "I was no...
Be Like Isaiah
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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...
Thoughts from a Stumbler
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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...
Without Cost
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Today in Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus sending out the Twelve saying, “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.” Sometimes it is easy for us to...
The Lost Sheep
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More on sowing and reaping from Hosea in our first reading today. "Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety." In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 10, Jesus...
Sowing and Reaping
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In today's first reading from Hosea 8, we read this: "When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind." Perhaps you've heard the old expression, "You reap what you...
A Match Made in Heaven
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For our first reading today, we are in the book of Hosea. If you’re not familiar with Hosea’s story, take a few moments to read the book. This was one...
His Grace is Sufficient
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In the second reading today from 2 Corinthians 12, St. Paul says that he has been given “a thorn in the flesh.” Now, he never says what exactly that is....
Of Cloaks and Wineskins
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 9, Jesus tells a parable. “No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from...
In Need of a Physician?
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 9, we read about the call of Matthew. Matthew (his Jewish name was Levi) was a tax collector. They were hated by the...
Words from a Catholic American
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I want to deviate from my regular Scripture reflection today, the day that America celebrates Independence Day. Of course, you can click on “Today’s Readings” and find the readings for...
Taking it on Faith
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. In the first reading from Ephesians 2, St. Paul tells us that the household of God, the Church, is...
Are You Prepared?
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Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 8 is the story of Jesus calming the storm on the sea. Our first reading is from Amos 3 and 4. The Lord told his...
Let the Dead Bury Their Dead
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The first reading today from Amos 2 has to do with crime and punishment. God lets it be known that acts of wickedness will not go unpunished. He issues a...
Bringing Our Kids to Jesus
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Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 5 tells the story of two healings. A synagogue official named Jairus asks Jesus to come to his home and cure his young daughter, who...
On the Shoulders of Giants
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Interesting, isn’t it? You would think that, given the importance of each, they would both have their own feast...
Into Exile
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In today's first reading from 2 Kings 25, we see one of the saddest moments in the history of God's chosen people - the beginning of the Babylonian exile. For...
Words We Never Want to Hear
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7, Jesus says, "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of...
Ravenous Wolves
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Today we have a very interesting first reading from 2 Kings. The book of the law had been lost, and was found. The king summoned all the people and the...
Living the Golden Rule
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The Gospel reading today is from Matthew 7. It includes what we know as The Golden Rule – “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” I suspect...
Making Christ Increase
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Today the Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist. In the first reading today from Isaiah 49, we see the messianic prophesies, all of which certainly could be attributed...
Jesus, Don't You Care?
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In our Gospel reading from Mark 4, the disciples are in a boat with Jesus, who is sleeping. Suddenly, a big storm comes up and the boat is getting tossed...
Let Go and Let God
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In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus talks about worry, and how we need to live for today. Have you ever met a worry-wart? Someone who worries about everything? They seem to...
Using Our Eyes
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus talks about the eye. "The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be...
Forgiving Transgressions
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. He teaches them the prayer we all know as the Our Father. It is probably...
Performing Good Deeds
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In today's first reading from 2 Kings 2, Elijah's protege and successor, Elisha, asks Elijah for "a double portion of your spirit." His request is granted as Elijah is taken...
Practicing for Perfection
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Actions have consequences. And God will not be mocked. Yesterday we read about the evil Jezebel and her wimpy (and equally evil) husband Ahab. Today we see the consequences of...
An Evil Woman
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Today's first reading from 1 Kings 21 is the story of an evil woman; perhaps the most evil woman in Scripture - Jezebel. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 5,...
We Know Not How
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In the Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus tells a couple of parables about the Kingdom of God. The first is about the mysterious way that God works. “It is...
No More Spin
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In our Gospel reading today from Matthew 5, Jesus talks about swearing oaths. In fact, He says we should not swear oaths at all. Why? Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes’...
How God Speaks
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Our first reading from 1 Kings 19 is so poignant for us in today’s world. We read the story of Elijah hearing the voice of God…though not in the way...
Hurt People Hurt People
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Today is the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. St. Anthony is known as the patron of lost items. We ask for his intercession when we have lost something and...
God vs. gods
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More from the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel reading today. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have...
Son of Encouragement
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Barnabas. There are two optional Gospel readings for today. The reading for the feast day is from Matthew 10 where Jesus sends out...
Our Help is From the Lord
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In today's first reading from 1 Kings, we read the story of Elijah and how he got by during the terrible drought. Our Gospel reading is from Matthew 5, the...
Who is My Mother?
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In today's Gospel reading from Mark 3, Jesus is teaching in a crowded house when His family requests Him. "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking...
The Heart of our Mother
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Yesterday was the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is appropriate that we celebrate the heart...
The Very Heart of God
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Today is the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the first reading from Hosea 11, we get a glimpse into the heart of Jesus before He was...
Truth is Like Medicine
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In 2 Timothy 2 today, St. Paul continues to exhort Timothy, reminding him to preach and teach in a way befitting the office he has accepted. In today’s Gospel, Jesus...
Not God of the Dead
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In the first reading today from 2 Timothy 1, St. Paul says “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control....