A Prayerful Parting
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In the first reading today from Acts 20, we hear the conclusion of Paul’s farewell address to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus. What a stirring and moving speech....
No Shrinking Violet
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In today's Gospel reading from John 17, we listen in on Jesus prayer to the Father at the Last Supper. In our first reading from Acts 20, we hear the...
Sharing Your Story
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St. Paul was a very persuasive guy. Time and again he persuaded people about Jesus being the Christ of God. They weren’t persuaded by St. Paul, but in today’s Gospel...
You are a Gift
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Today I'll reflect on the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, though most folks will be celebrating the Feast of the Ascension. I did a reflection on those readings...
A Lesson From Elizabeth
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Today is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We remember that time when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The first reading can be taken...
Of Pain and Faith
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In today's first reading from Acts 18, Jesus comes to Paul in a vision and tells him, "Go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you."...
The Importance of the Ascension
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. In most dioceses in the US, today is not a Holy Day of obligation. For most, this feast...
Ignorance and Repentance
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In today's Gospel reading from John 16 tells His disciples, "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." This is why we believe...
Earth Shaking Grace
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Today's first reading from Acts 16 is the story of another jailbreak. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from John 16, Jesus tells His disciples that He will...
Pay Attention
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In the Gospel reading today from John 15 and 16, Jesus talks about the Advocate, the Spirit of truth. He also tells the disciples that “the hour is coming when...
God Dwelling with You
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In today's Gospel reading from John 14, Jesus tells His disciples, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him...
The World Hates You
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A comforting headline today, huh? Jesus spoke often about love. It’s kind of what He was all about. But today we hear Him speak of hate. And not just generically,...
No Greater Love
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In the first reading today from Acts 15, the Apostles and presbyters choose Barsabbas and Silas to travel with Paul and Barnabas to take a message clarifying the position of...
The Council of Jerusalem
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In our Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus speaks about joy. "I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete."...
Pruning Pains
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The early Church had lots of controversy. One of the hot topics of the day was circumcision. Did believers need to be circumcised like the Jews? In the first reading...
The Peace of Christ
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I’m sure you’ve found that, even when you’re walking closely with Christ, you undergo hardships. It is part of the human condition, and just because we profess faith in Christ...
American Idols
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Paul and Barnabas run into a very interesting situation in today's first reading from Acts 14. After facilitating a healing for a man, the crowds began to worship them as...
Making All Things New
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During this Easter season, our second readings have been from the Book of Revelation. These are the visions of St. John. There's so much symbolism in Revelation. I encourage you...
Ask Anything
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In the Gospel reading today from John 14, Jesus has an exchange with Thomas, then with Philip. Jesus says some astonishing things. “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes...
The Way to Where?
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In the first reading today from Acts 13, we hear more of Paul's speech in the synagogue in Antioch. He continues to tell the Jews there about the plan of...
Receiving the Ones Jesus Sends
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In our first reading today from Acts 13, St. Paul gives a history lesson to those gathered in the synagogue in Antioch. In the Gospel reading from John 13, Jesus...
The Bold Claim of the Catholic Church
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthias. The two readings are ones that we have already had during the Easter season. The Gospel is from John 15, where...
Being Called Christian
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In Acts 11 today, we see the story of a growing Church. People in great numbers are turning to the Lord. Barnabas brings Saul with him to Antioch, and they...
Recognizing the Shepherd's Voice
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In the Gospel reading from John 10, we hear Jesus speaking again about sheep and shepherds. He says, "When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of...
On Being a Good Sheep
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Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. Our Gospel reading is from John 10 and begins with Jesus saying, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me." It's...
Are You Convinced?
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In today's first reading from Acts 9, Peter raises a woman from the dead. It's reminiscent of the scene from Jairus' daughter's room. Powerful! In John 6, we finish the...
He Meant It
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Today’s Gospel reading is John 6:52-59. While much of the Bread of Life discourse up to now has sounded somewhat metaphoric, Jesus gets to the meat of the matter today....
Of Bread and Flesh
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A very interesting story in our first reading today from Acts 8. The Holy Spirit sends Philip, one of the newly ordained deacons, to interpret the Scriptures for an Ethiopian...
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...
The Greatest Sign Ever
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In today's first reading from Acts 7, we read about the martyrdom of St. Stephen. The last line of today's reading says, "Now Saul was consenting to his execution." We...
Accomplishing the Works of God
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Today in Acts 6, we begin reading about St. Stephen. This was a very bold guy who was about to find himself in some real trouble. But even in the...
The Big Question
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Our Gospel reading is from John 21, one of the most moving stories in all of Scripture. Jesus had just finished having breakfast with the disciples on the beach, after...
Show Us the Father
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Today is the Feast of Saints Philip and James. Philip and James were two of the Apostles. The first reading today is from 1 Corinthians 15, where St. Paul mentions...
Fighting Against God
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In our Gospel reading today, we begin a journey through John 6. Later in the chapter we will be reading and reflecting on the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus’ principle...
Obey God or Men?
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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...
The Gospel in a Nutshell
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In today’s first reading from Acts 5, we see the first of numerous jail breaks in the Acts of the Apostles. Seems that the authorities wanted to keep the Apostles...
The Church and Socialism
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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...
Born Again Catholics
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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...
On Divine Mercy
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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...
Impossible for Us Not to Speak
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In today's first reading from Acts 4, Peter and John are before the Sanhedrin after healing the crippled man in the temple. The elders have them leave the room as...
A Great Fish Story
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In today’s reading from Acts 4, Peter and John spend the night in the clink and the next day they proclaim Jesus to the powers that be. The Scripture tells...
Ignorance and Conversion
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You’ve heard the old expression “Ignorance is bliss.” I suppose that’s true in a sense. In the first reading today from Acts 3, St. Peter refers to the people’s ignorance....
If You Have Ears to Hear
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The Gospel reading today is the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus from Luke 24. Please take the time to read it. As Catholics, we believe that...
God's Promise to You
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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...
Fear and Evangelization
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Happy Easter Monday! Today we begin a journey (an apt phrase) through the Acts of the Apostles for our first readings. In this Octave of Easter we'll be reading the...
Celebrate the Resurrection
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He is risen! Alleluia! (Boy, it seems like a long time since we’ve heard that word!) Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. This is the greatest...
You Were There
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Today is the one day of the year when there is no Mass celebrated. The commemoration of Good Friday is the most solemn day of the year. The readings for...
Washing Feet
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Lent is over today. We begin tonight the Sacred Triduum. It is one long liturgical celebration that encompasses Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I hope you will make...
I Am the Betrayer
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When we think of the brutality that Jesus suffered for us, we can see that this was all foretold in today’s first reading from Isaiah 50. “I gave my back...
"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...