Pearl of Great Price
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In Jeremiah 15 today, God speaks of the need for repentance. “Thus the Lord answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand.”...
Questions, Questions, Questions
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Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus...
Yeast and the Kingdom
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What an interesting story in our first reading from Jeremiah 13. It is about a loincloth – we would think of it in terms of underwear today. The root of...
The Hand of the Lord Feeds Us
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In today’s readings, we see the theme of God feeding His people. In the first reading from 2 Kings 4, a man gives the prophet Elisha twenty barley loaves. Elisha...
"Wheat!" "Weed!"
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Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 13 is the parable of the weeds and the wheat. A bad guy comes and sows weed seeds into a man’s wheat field. When the...
Many Types of Soil
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The prophets all had a common message. We see the crux of it at the beginning of today’s first reading from Jeremiah 3. “Return, rebellious children, says the Lord, for...
Just a Story Teller?
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Happy Grandparents' Day! I say that because today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. Tradition tells us they were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary...
The Way of St. James
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. James. This James is the son of Zebedee and the brother of St. John the Apostle. He is often known as James “The...
The Brothers of the Lord
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Today’s reflection will actually be a bit more than 60 seconds. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 12, the “brothers of the Lord” are mentioned. Many will use this passage...
Three Things
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Ask people the question: What does God require of you? I’m sure you’ll get plenty of answers. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel reading today from Matthew...
The Importance of 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...
He Cured Them All
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From today's Gospel reading from Matthew 12: "Many people followed him, and he cured them all..." Notice it doesn't say he cured some of them, or most of them, or...
Where to Err
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 38, King Hezekiah is on his death bed. He cries and prays, and the LORD answers his prayer and the prophet Isaiah informs...
Meekness is Weakness?
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In today’s first reading from Isaiah 26, the prophet talks about how physical death is not the end for us. In fact, he talks about the resurrection of the dead....
It's Really God
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Assyria was a powerful nation. They ran roughshod over anyone and everyone they wanted to. In today's first reading from Isaiah 10, we see that they had a bit of...
Spiritual Blindness
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In today's first reading from Isaiah 7, there is an attack on Jerusalem. The LORD sends Isaiah to tell the king of Judah to man up - God will not...
Selfishness and Losing
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God made it clear again and again that sacrifices and offerings were worthless to him if they were not backed up by living out his commands. Want more? Just read...
Blame the Church!
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In the Gospel reading from Mark 6, we see Jesus sending out the Twelve. He tells them what they need to do. So what do they do? “So they went...
Having the Attitude of Isaiah
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Our first reading today is from Isaiah 6. It is one that you will often hear from Vocation Directors. And rightfully so. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading...
The Nonsensicality of Following Christ
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While reading today’s first reading and responsorial, you may feel like you’re in the midst of Lent. The reading from Hosea 14 is one that we see during Lent, and...
Your Peace
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God doesn't think like men. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that men don't think like God. Israel deserved to feel God's wrath. But it was not to...
Going After the Lost Sheep
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"Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety." That's from our first reading today from Hosea 10. It reinforces the universal principle that you reap what you sow. So,...
Pray for Vocations
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We read more about the disobedience of the Israelites in today's first reading from Hosea 8. The people had gone astray, and punishment awaited. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew...
A Match Made in Heaven
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For our first reading today, we are in the book of Hosea. If you’re not familiar with Hosea’s story, take a few moments to read the book. This was one...
No one Special?
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In the Gospel reading from Mark 6, Jesus goes back to his native place. The people there had seen and heard of his mighty deeds and his teachings. But they...
The New Wine of the Holy Spirit
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In today’s first reading, the Lord tells of the restoration of Israel that He will bring about. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 9, Jesus talks about putting new wine...
A Famine for Hearing the Word
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In today's first reading from Amos 8, the prophet foretells of a famine. "Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD."...
Unpopular
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Amos was an unlikely prophet. Take a look at the first reading today and you’ll see what I mean. He was, like most all the prophets, quite unpopular, too. More...
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...