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...
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,...