Do You Still Not Understand?
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We see some tough questions from Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. More in a moment. For our first reading, we’re in Genesis 6 and 7, reading about Noah. Everyone else...
Am I My Brother's Keeper?
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We have a very short Gospel reading today from Mark 8. The Pharisees are looking for a sign from Jesus. But Jesus tells them that “no sign will be given...
Blessed are You/Woe to You
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In the Gospel today from Luke 6, we begin the Sermon on the Plain. Luke 6 records the same sermon that, in Matthew’s Gospel is called the Sermon on the...
The Devil Made Me Do It!
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 8, we read about a miracle. Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. And after everyone had eaten their...
Satan's Trickery
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In the Gospel reading today from Mark 7, Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment. “And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and...
A Valentine Marriage Message
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Did you know that there are two creation accounts in Genesis? We saw the first part of the second story of creation yesterday. Today we see the more complete version...
What Defiles
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In the first creation account (our first reading today) from Genesis 2, God makes man and sets him in the Garden of Eden. Our Gospel reading today from Mark 7...
Created in God's Image
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In the first reading today from Genesis 1, we see the rest of the story of creation. In the Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus talks about tradition. He says,...
God of Creation
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Today for our first reading, we begin at the beginning. Genesis 1. “In the beginning…” We’ll be in the book of Genesis for the next couple of weeks. Today we...
Depart From Me, Lord
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In the Gospel reading from Luke 5, we see a miraculous catch of fish. After fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus has the disciples go back out and fish...
Come Away and Rest
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In the Gospel reading today from Mark 6, the Apostles return from their mission trip that Jesus had sent them on. They “reported all they had done and taught.” Jesus...
The Importance of Hospitality
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Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 6 is the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. Sad and tragic, yes, but a great story for us about standing up for...
Going Out
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In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6, Jesus sends out the Twelve two by two and gives them authority over unclean spirits. He first gives them instructions. "He instructed them...
Discipline
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Today we’re going to talk about discipline. Not a fun topic, I know. If you clicked over to another web site right now, I wouldn’t blame you! But in today’s...
Bringing Our Children Back
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The first verse of today's first reading, Hebrews 12:1, says that "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses." Who are these folks? The Communion of Saints! In...
Battling Our Demons
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In today’s first reading from Hebrews 11, the sacred author talks about some of the great figures of the Old Testament. They did not live to see the promise of...
Hometown Prophet
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In today’s Gospel from Luke 4, the people in Jesus' hometown, Nazareth, challenge to do some of the mighty deeds He did in Capernaum. He tells the people, “Amen, I...
The Presentation of the Lord
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Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Also known as Candlemas, this is the day when candles will be blessed. There will be three readings today. In...
Heaven Ain't For Quitters
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus tells a couple of parables, both of an agrarian nature. In the first He talks about how a seed grows, yet we...
Evangelization Advice
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I love today’s reading from Hebrews 10. The Sacred Author gives us some great advice. More on that in a moment. We get some scary words from Jesus today in...
Johnny Wordseed
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We read more about the one sacrifice of Christ in our first reading today from Hebrews 10. In the Gospel reading today from Mark 4, Jesus tells the parable of...
I Come To Do Your Will
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“I come to do your will.” This is a line that we hear over and over again in the liturgy today. It appears twice in the first reading from Hebrews...
The Importance of Strength
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In today's first reading from Hebrews 9 we hear more about the once for all sacrifice of Christ. In the Gospel reading from Mark 3, Jesus is accused of being...
Ready to Fulfill Your Call?
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Today’s Gospel reading from Luke has two beginnings. The first part of the reading is the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, where he tells his friend Theophilus that he (Luke) has...
Cowards Need Not Apply
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Today is the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus. Both men were collaborators with St. Paul and received letters from him that we find in the New Testament. Timothy became...
Converting Our Hearts
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Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. We see the story of Saul’s (Paul’s birth name) conversion in two places in Acts of the Apostles. In chapter...
The Sacrifice of the Mass
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In the first reading today from Hebrews 7 & 8, the sacred author talks about the once for all sacrifice of Christ. “He has no need, as did the high...
Melchizedek
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The author of Hebrews was big on Melchizedek, and his “relationship” to Jesus. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mark 3, Jesus heals a man...
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
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Today in the United States is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It falls on the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision...
The Priest
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Today in Hebrews 5, we see a theme that we touched on last week; that Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered. The author of Hebrews was big on this...
Do Whatever He Tells You
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Do you know what the first sign was that Jesus gave to the world? It was, as told in John’s Gospel, changing water into wine. It happens at a wedding...
Sharper Than Any Sword
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In our first reading from Hebrews 4, the author of Hebrews tells us about the word of God. More on that in a moment. The Gospel reading from Mark 2...
Entering His Rest
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In the first reading today from Hebrews 4, we read about entering into God’s rest. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mark 2, we see...
What Are You Waiting For?
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Today’s Gospel story is from Mark 1, about a leper that comes to Jesus seeking to be healed. Jesus heals him and tells him not to tell anyone. The guy...
He Knows Your Pain
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Back in Hebrews 2 today, we see more about the suffering of Jesus and how that plays to our advantage. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mark...
Subject to Christ
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Jesus was given all authority in heaven and on earth by the Father. In the Gospel reading today from Mark 1, the people recognized this about Jesus. After He had...
Come After Me
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Welcome back to Ordinary Time! I hope that we will not take the name of this liturgical season literally. What I mean by that is that I hope that we...
Jesus' Baptism
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Today the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord. We see that moment in Luke’s Gospel where John the Baptist has just baptized Jesus when a voice came from the...
Our Decrease
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Catholics believe in different “kinds” of sin. Mortal sin and venial sin. Venial sins are still sins, but not as serious as mortal sins. Mortal sins are those sins that...
Victory is Ours!
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Have you ever felt like you can conquer the world? If not, why not? St. John gives us some good insight into that in our first reading today. More in...
The Truth About a Lie
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Do you ever feel like Scripture is speaking directly to you? I do. In fact, St. John is speaking directly to me today! He even has the nerve to call...
FEAR
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Strong words from St. John today in our first reading from 1 John 4. St. John talks about fear. More on that in a moment. We see fear, too, come...
You Do It
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What is love? Here's what St. John says in today's first reading from 1 John 4: In this is love: not that we have loved God, but the he loved...
The One Who is in You
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How did Jesus begin His public ministry? Listen to what He says in our Gospel reading today from Matthew 4: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Daily repentance...
Daily Epiphany
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Today is the Feast of Epiphany. We celebrate the time when the three Wise Men, a.k.a Three Kings or Magi, appeared to offer gifts to Jesus. Such an interesting story...
But I'm a Good Person!
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In the Gospel reading today from John 1, we see an encounter between Jesus and Nathanael. Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew, says to Jesus, “Rabbi, you are the Son of...
To Whom Do You Belong?
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Today's reflection is about a topic that doesn't seem to get covered much these days: sin. St. John covers a lot of ground on this in our first reading from...
Children of a Loving Father
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Good Day, Child of God! Are you comfortable with that “title?” I certainly hope so, because that is what you are! So says St. John in our first reading from...
My Scriptural New Year's Resolution
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I know it's January 2, but I want to share with you something I've been doing for many years, and encourage you to try it. Each year I make what...
Mother of God
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Happy New Year! Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. In honor of that, I want to share with you a chapter from A Minute...