Stand Firm and Hold Fast
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In today's first reading from 2 Thessalonians 2, St. Paul says, "Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by...
You Hypocrite
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St. Paul was big on prayer and thanksgiving. We see this today in our first reading from 2 Thessalonians 1. “We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and...
Time to Decide
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For the past three Sundays, we have been reading from John 6, the Bread of Life discourse. John 6 begins with Jesus feeding the multitude. Then it moves to Capernaum,...
Whoever Humbles Himself...
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In the first reading today, Ezekiel is led by an angel to the temple, where he sees the glory of God. He hears the voice of God say to him,...
Ridding Ourselves of Duplicity
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Bartholomew. Bartholomew is listed among the Twelve. He was brought to Jesus by the Apostle Philip. Tradition tells us that he preached...
Not Willing to Change
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God is the changer of hearts. We see this clearly today in our beautiful first reading from Ezekiel 36. “I will give you a new heart and place a new...
The Bad Shepherds
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In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 20, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. After hiring men at different times of the day, the landowner pays each...
Of Camels and Needles
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In the first reading today, we hear about the dangers of accumulating wealth. Now, being wealthy is not of itself a bad thing. It is what can happen spiritually that becomes...
What Do I Still Lack?
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We have a very sad first reading today from Ezekiel 24. The LORD tells Ezekiel that he is going to take away the delight of your eyes, and that Ezekiel...
Not a Symbol
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Today’s Gospel reading is John 6:51-58. While much of the Bread of Life discourse up to now has sounded somewhat metaphoric, Jesus gets to the meat of the matter today....
Leading our Children
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 19, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”...
Holy Matrimony
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In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew 19, we see Jesus’ teaching about marriage. From this teaching of Jesus we can better understand the teachings of the Church in matters concerning...
How Many Times?
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In today's first reading from Ezekiel 12, the Lord tells the prophet to do something unusual. He would be a sign for the people. In our Gospel reading, Peter asks...
Mary's Assumption into Heaven
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is one of those days that is greatly misunderstood by many. So let’s talk about...
Feasting On the Word
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 18, Jesus asks a question about a man who has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray. Jesus says, “Will he...
Free to Give
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Today’s first reading is from the opening chapter of the Book of Ezekiel. In it Ezekiel sees a vision of heaven. It is truly an awesome sight. In the Gospel...
Strengthened by that Food
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In the Gospel reading today, we continue in John 6 - the Bread of Life discourse. Jesus says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats...
Faith Moves Mountains
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In the first reading today, God tells the prophet Habakkuk to write down a vision. Then He encourages the people to wait for the vision to be fulfilled. “If it...
Deacon Lawrence
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence. St. Lawrence was a deacon and a martyr. Our prayers go out today and every day to all the faithful deacons of...
Christ's Church will Prevail
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 16, we see the famous exchange between Peter and Jesus. It is one that Catholics especially should be familiar with, since it helps us...
Reward for Persistence
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God is always ready to give His people another chance. When His people turned their backs on Him, He allowed them to suffer the consequences. But in today’s first reading...
Keep Your Eyes Fixed
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In our first reading today from Jeremiah 30, God reiterates his covenant with the people. "You shall be my people, and I will be your God." In the Gospel from...
Listen to Him
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Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. In the first reading from Daniel 7, Daniel sees in a vision “One like a Son of man coming…his kingship...
Prophetic Pain
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In both of our readings today, we see and hear that prophets get “dissed.” In Jeremiah 26, our first reading, we see Jeremiah saying everything that God tells him to...
In the Hands of the Potter
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Today we see what I hope is a familiar story in Jeremiah 18. Though you may not know the chapter and verse, it is the story of Jeremiah going to...
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...