The Joy of the Ascension
Posted on
The Ascension may be the most under-celebrated feast of the Church year. But the Ascension is vital to our faith. Why? Well, first let me quote Pope Benedict XVI. He...
Groping for God
Posted on
St. Paul must have been one of the greatest public speakers of all time. Today in our first reading from Acts 17, we see Paul giving one of his great...
Suicide Interrupted
Posted on
I'm going to talk about a very touchy subject in today's reflection: suicide. The reason is that we see a man about to commit suicide in our first reading from...
A Memorial Day Reflection
Posted on
1 comment
A bit of a deviation from our normal format today. I’ve still got the link for today’s readings at the bottom of this post. And, of course, I encourage you...
Peace I Leave with You
Posted on
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...
Haters Gonna Hate
Posted on
More action and adventure today in the first reading from Acts 16. Paul has a vision in which a Macedonian says to him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”...
No Greater Love
Posted on
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...
Jesus. Others. You.
Posted on
In today’s first reading from Acts 15, we see that the early Church was hierarchical. There was a dispute about whether the Gentiles needed to be circumcised and follow the...
The Nick of Sin
Posted on
In our first reading today from Acts 15, we see more controversy in the early Church about whether or not new believers needed to be circumcised. To settle the matter,...
Hardships and Peace
Posted on
We see in Acts today the further adventures of Paul and Barnabas. These guys never had a dull moment! They went around to the different cities saying, “It is necessary...
American Idols
Posted on
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...
A New Commandment
Posted on
In the Gospel reading today from John 13, Judas has just left the upper room. Jesus says to the Eleven, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As...
You Still Do Not Know Me?
Posted on
In today's Gospel reading from John 14, Philip has a request for Jesus. "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus' reply must have stung...
Do Not Let Your Hearts be Troubled
Posted on
In the first reading from Acts 13 today, Paul continues his message of salvation through Jesus in the temple at Antioch. In the Gospel reading today, we’re in John 14,...
A Word of Exhortation
Posted on
Paul is in the synagogue in Antioch in today’s first reading. The synagogue officials ask if anyone has a word of exhortation for the people. Paul accepts the invitation. In the...
Set Apart
Posted on
1 comment
In our first reading today from Acts, we see Barnabas and Saul being “set apart” by the Holy Spirit and sent out to proclaim the Word of God. In the...
The Bold Claim of the Catholic Church
Posted on
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...
Hindering God
Posted on
In today’s Gospel reading from John 10, we hear Jesus say, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” What is the abundant life about...
Hearing the Shepherd's Voice
Posted on
1 comment
In today’s Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Many of us today, if not the vast majority,...
You Have the Words of Eternal Life
Posted on
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...
Literally, Literally
Posted on
1 comment
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 New Manna
Posted on
In today's first reading from Acts 8, we see the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The Holy Spirit sent Philip to interpret the Scriptures for this man, and...
Never Hunger Again
Posted on
In today's first reading from Acts 8, we read about Saul persecuting the Church. In the Gospel from John 6, we continue in the Bread of Life discourse. Jesus said,...
Give Us This Bread Always
Posted on
1 comment
In today's first reading, we read about the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Our Gospel reading continues in John 6 with what is known as the Bread of Life discourse. This...
Will Work for Food
Posted on
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 Primacy of Peter
Posted on
The second half of today’s Gospel reading from John 21 is, I think, one of the the most moving scenes in the New Testament. After the resurrection, Jesus and Simon...
The Deacon
Posted on
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...
Show Them the Father
Posted on
1 comment
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...
Obedience
Posted on
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
Posted on
1 comment
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...
A Communist Church?
Posted on
Today's Gospel reading is a continuation of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus from John 3. Our first reading is from Acts 4."The community of believers was of one heart...
Born Again Catholics
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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 Fishing Lesson
Posted on
In today's Gospel reading from John 21, Jesus gives the disciples a fishing lesson. Well, maybe not so much a fishing lesson as a lesson in obedience. Simon and Andrew,...
People of the Word
Posted on
1 comment
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies. Again and again he said, “So that the Scriptures may be fulfilled…” In today’s first reading from Acts 3, St. Peter...
Give What You Have
Posted on
1 comment
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...
He Calls You by Name
Posted on
In today’s first reading from Acts 2, we hear more of what happened on the day of Pentecost. Peter tells the people, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you,...
The Tomb Test
Posted on
Happy Easter Monday! Liturgically, the Easter season will be around for quite some time. How appropriate! We have forty days of Lent, but fifty days of Easter. So up until...
Celebrating the Resurrection
Posted on
2 comments
He is risen! Alleluia! (Boy, it seems like a long time since we’ver heard that word!) Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. This is the greatest...
Holy Saturday
Posted on
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...
Were You There?
Posted on
1 comment
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
Posted on
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...
Be Mindful of Me, Lord
Posted on
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...
Peter and Me
Posted on
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...
You Always Have the Poor
Posted on
2 comments
During Holy Week, we will be reading the Suffering Servant prophecies from Isaiah for our first readings. They are some of the most moving readings ever. Today is the first oracle...
Remembering the Lord's Passion
Posted on
Today is one of the most well-attended Mass days of the year. Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday. Outside of Christmas and Easter, more people come to Palm Sunday Mass than...
One Dying for the Many
Posted on
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...
Belief Through Works
Posted on
Jeremiah’s friends abandoned him. In fact, they became his foes. He says, “All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine.” How often this...
Covenant Thinking
Posted on
In today’s first reading from Genesis 17, we see a watershed moment in salvation history. Abram has his name changed to Abraham, and God makes a covenant with him. And...