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...
In and Into the World
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Today will be a different liturgy for folks in different parts of the US. For most it will be the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. For others, it...
Using Your Gifts
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In today's first reading from Acts 18, we meet Apollos. Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria. He became a famous teacher and evangelist for Christ. Apollos was "an authority on...
Faith and Childbirth
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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. In most dioceses around the country, today is not a Holy Day of obligation. For most, this feast will be celebrated...
God is Always Near
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Today in our first reading from Acts 17, we see Paul giving one of his great speeches, this time to the Greeks in the Areopagus. More on his message in...
Conviction Notice
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Another jailbreak in our first reading today from Acts 16. Today God uses a mighty earthquake to break the chains of Paul and Silas. And the happenings after the jailbreak...
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...
Haters Gonna Hate
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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.”...
What a Friend We Have
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You may remember or have sung or still sing the old hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." While that's not a direct quote from Scripture, today's Gospel reading...
Show Them the Father
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Today is the Feast of Saints Philip and James. Philip and James were two the the Apostles. The first reading today is from 1 Corinthians 15, where St. Paul mentions...
Of Vines and Branches
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Today's Gospel reading from John 15 is really about life in Christ - or, as Christians think of it, life. Jesus talks about vines and branches. "Just as a branch...
Yet Another Paradox of Faith
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Today in our readings, we see one of the great paradoxes of our faith. In the first reading, we hear Paul and Barnabas telling the people, “It is necessary for...
American Idol(s)
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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...
Of Vines, Branches and Hell
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In today's Gospel reading from John 15, we get a bit of a horticulture lesson from Jesus. He says, "I am the vine, you are the branches." He talks of...
Filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit
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I often think of "persecution." So many of us today have no idea what that really means. To get a clue, we need only look to the Acts of the...
Do Not Let Your Hearts be Troubled
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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
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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...
Saint Mark
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Today is the Feast of St. Mark, the author of one of the Gospel accounts. The first reading is from 1 Peter 5, where St. Peter mentions “Mark, my son.”...
Knowing the Shepherd's Voice
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Barnabas was given that name by the Apostles because it means "Son of Encouragement." We see how apt that name was in today's first reading. In today’s Gospel reading from...
The Abundant Life
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Another awesome day in the Scriptures! In the first reading from Acts 11, Peter has a vision. He is then visited by some men who were sent to him by...
Good Sheep
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In today’s Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” He continues with the analogy of referring to his followers as sheep. Many of us today,...
The Big Question
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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...
A Verse to Remember
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Sometimes we can be so thick-headed that God needs to use a (metaphoric) 2x4 over the head to get our attention. Such was the case with Saul of Tarsus, aka...
Interpreting the Scriptures
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Back in Acts 8 for our first reading today. We see a very interesting story about an Ethiopian eunuch who has an encounter with Philip. More on that in a...
I Will Raise Him Up
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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...
What Sign?
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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." There's...
The Food that Endures
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In today's first reading, we read about the persecution of Stephen, one of the first deacons. This leads to his stoning, about which we will read tomorrow. In the Gospel...
Witnesses
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In today's Gospel reading from Luke 24, Jesus appears to some of His disciples after the resurrection. He explains to them how all of the Scriptures pointed to Him as...
Our First Deacons
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For today’s Gospel reading, we’re back in John 6. The disciples are out on a boat when they see Jesus walking toward them on the water. It was dark and...
If It Is of God...
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For the next week, our Gospel readings will be from John 6. It starts off today with Jesus feeding 5000 with just five loaves and two fish. In the first...
Obedience to God
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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...
Jailbird Evangelists
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In today's first reading from Acts 5, we see one of numerous stories of jailbreaks in the Book of Acts. The Gospel reading today begins with perhaps the most recognized...
A Community in Unity
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In today’s first reading from Acts 4, we get a glimpse of the first Christian community. We’ll talk more about that in a sec. In the Gospel reading from John...
Our "Yes"
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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Traditionally celebrated on March 25 (9 months before Christmas), when that date falls during Holy Week, the feast is...
Divine Mercy Sunday
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Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. For today's reflection, I want to share some of the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska. O Lord, I want to be completely transformed into your...
Using Your Gifts for the Gospel
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Today in Acts 4, the Sanhedrin comes to the conclusion that something astonishing happened through Peter and John. But just to be safe, they tell them not to ever again...
A Ridiculous Request?
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Our salvation has a name. That name is Jesus. In today’s first reading from Acts 4, St. Peter makes that message very clear to the authorities who were questioning him....
Understanding Scripture
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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...
He Made Himself Known
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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...
Jesus in the Gardener
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We’re back in Acts 2 for our first reading today, hearing more of Peter’s great speech at Pentecost. The people ask Peter what they must do to be saved. Peter...
Fearful Yet Overjoyed
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Happy Easter Monday! I hope your Easter was filled with blessings. For the next fifty days, our first reading will be from Acts of the Apostles. Today we hear part...
Happy Easter!
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Jesus is risen! Alleluia! Happy Easter! The long season of Lent has come to a close. Now it's time to celebrate! While Lent is forty days long, the season of...
Holy Saturday
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There is no Mass during the day on Holy Saturday. The Church waits at the Lord's tomb in prayer and fasting, awaiting His resurrection. Tonight will be the great Easter...
You Can't Get to the Resurrection...
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Good Friday. Today is the only day of the year when there is no Mass. Though there is no Mass, I’m sure that your parish will be having at least...
Holy Thursday
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Lent is over today. Now, that doesn’t mean that you stop with your Lenten penances and practices. Those should continue into Saturday evening. Tonight we begin the Sacred Triduum. It...
Like Judas
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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...
Two Sides of Peter
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It's Tuesday of Holy Week. Today's first reading is the Second oracle of the Servant of the Lord from Isaiah 49. In the Gospel reading, we focus on Peter from...
Gifts to the Lord
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Today is Monday of Holy Week. Our first reading is from Isaiah 42 – the beginning of the Servant of the Lord prophesies. “Here is my servant whom I uphold,...
Palm Sunday
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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...