Battling Demons
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What a great message the Lord gives to the people through the prophet Amos in our first reading today from Amos 5: “Seek good and not evil, that you may...
Thomas' Doubts
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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...
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...
Healings Through Faith
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In the Gospel reading today from Mark 5, we see two healings coming from Jesus today; one intentional, the other, not so much…at first, anyway. Jesus is on his way...
Lord, I am not Worthy
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Today’s first reading is from Lamentations. It is a sad, depressing read. After reading over the last few days about the diaspora and the Babylonian exile, this is a cry...
Saints Peter and Paul
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. In the first reading from Acts 12, we see how the angel of the Lord led Peter out of...
On Foundations
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Today in 2 Kings 24, we see the story of the Babylonian exile. Israel had yet another wicked king, and the time had come for them to pay the price...
Wolves Clothed Like Sheep
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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...
Of Dogs and Pearls and Swine
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For our Gospel reading, we’re back in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. What I want to reflect on today will be difficult for some to hear, and...
Making Your Bed
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7, Jesus talks about splinters and beams in eyes. This all starts with, "Stop judging, that you may not be judged." In the first...
The Humility of John the Baptist
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Today the Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist. Jesus proclaimed that John was Elijah, come to prepare the way for the Messiah. There are so many traits of...
Let Go and Let God
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Today’s first reading from 2 Chronicles is a story of what happens when we abandon God. Read the story and you’ll see that it is not good. In today’s Gospel...
Our Reward in Heaven
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Today’s first reading is one of those stories that they make movies from. A wicked queen kills off the royal family, but they secret away young Joash, the rightful heir...
Thy Will Be Done
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Over the past few days we have been reading the story of Elijah and Elisha. Today’s first reading is from Sirach 48. It is something of a recap of the...
It Never Hurts to Ask
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Today’s first reading is one that has stuck with me since the first time I ever heard it. Elijah is about to hand the office of prophet over to Elisha....
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...
On Turning the Other Cheek
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Jezebel was one of the most wicked women in all of Scripture. She may well hold the top spot. Why? Read today’s first reading from 1 Kings 21 and you’ll...
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...
Let Your 'Yes' Mean 'Yes'
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In many of his letters, St. Paul was big on the death of Christ, and our participation in that death. Our first reading today echoes this. “He indeed died for...
God Whispers
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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...
The Importance of Mending Fences
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Today's first reading from 1 Kings 18 is recounted by St. James in James 5:17-18. Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and he prayed again, "and the sky gave...
Answer Me, LORD!
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It is so important that we teach others the ways of the Lord. Jesus makes this very clear in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 5. He says, “Whoever obeys and...
God Will Provide
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In the first reading today from 1 Kings 17, we see more of the story of Elijah. More in a moment. We continue in the Sermon on the Mount for...
The Encourager
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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...
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...
A Mother's Heart
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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...
A Heart Like Jesus'
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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...
A River in Egypt?
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus is asked, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” His answer may have surprised some. He gives not a singular answer,...
On Fire for Jesus
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Today's first reading is from 2 Timothy 1. St. Paul tells Timothy, “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands....
Error of the Unprincipled
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Today’s Gospel reading contains one of the most famous sayings of Jesus. In fact, even people who are mostly unfamiliar with the Scriptures could probably finish this quote: “Repay to...
Sharing in the Divine Nature
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In our Gospel reading today from Mark 12, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard and has tenants care for it. The man sends servants to...
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is “the source and summit of our faith.” It is...
Question Less, Accept More
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In the Gospel reading today from Mark 11, the chief priests, the scribes and the elders ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things?” Jesus asks them a...
A Life Verse
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Do you have a Life Verse? Do you even know what that is? A Life Verse is a passage of Scripture that you adopt for your own. A passage that...
Opening Our Hearts and Homes to Jesus and Mary
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Today is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We recall when Mary, who was pregnant with the Lord Jesus, went to stay with her cousin, Elizabeth,...
Life as a Ransom
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In the Gospel reading today from Mark 10, James and John come to Jesus and ask that they be able to sit at His right and His left in His...
100 X
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Everybody likes a good deal, right? We always like to think that when we're buying or investing, we're going to come out the better for it. And when you think...
Faith in the Possible
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For our first reading today, we begin the first letter of St. Peter. Today we hear St. Peter reminding us that we will “suffer through various trials.” But this suffering...
Two More Sacraments in Scripture
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How about this…two sacramental reading days in a row! Yesterday we talked about the sacrament of marriage and today we read about the sacrament of the anointing of the sick...
Marriage
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Whew! What a week it has been in the Scriptures! Our first reading today from James 5 has so many lessons for us, about perseverance, judging and the compassion and...
Cutting Sin Out of Our Lives
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Scathing words to the rich today from James 5. Funny thing about wealth, isn’t it? We work so hard to accumulate it here on earth, to the point where it...
What Your Life Will be Like Tomorrow
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In today’s first reading, St. James talks about tomorrow. Something we need to think about today. So we will. In the Gospel from Mark 9, Jesus says, “For whoever is...
Asking Wrongly
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“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Those words of Jesus come to us from today’s Gospel reading from...
Godly Wisdom
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Prayer is so powerful and so important. We see this clearly in our Gospel reading today from Mark 9. Jesus’ disciples try to drive out a demon from someone but...
Pentecost
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Today is Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church. Happy Birthday! We see this reflected in the readings, especially in the first reading from Acts. I'd like to concentrate on...
What About Him?
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In Acts 28 today, we see Paul continuing in his ministry, even while in custody. Oh, that we could all have the evangelistic spirit of St. Paul! In the Gospel...
Making Amends
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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 (Other) Lord's Prayer
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In our first reading today from Acts, Paul puts himself squarely in the middle of a dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Paul, a Pharisee by birth and training,...
A Prayerful Farewell
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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....
What's Important
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Sometimes we can get our priorities a bit out of whack, wouldn’t you say? I’m sure there was a time in St. Paul’s life when that was true. But in...