General

Today’s first reading and the Gospel are about temptation. They speak for themselves. But Psalm 30, stuck in between,  is a prayer of forgiveness. Here’s the third stanza: “ Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my…

These readings remind us of the freedom we have, the freedom to choose and to make right choices and be in right relationship with God, others and with creation. In the first reading we see some things laid out in…

A few years ago, I led a Bible study. It was for people who did not know much about the Bible, and it was simply an attempt to help them see what an extraordinary book it is — a series…

The Beatitudes offer words of comfort. It’s reassuring to know that God is with us in our grief and that suffering won’t have the last word. But what if Jesus wasn’t only providing personal comfort but also articulating a vision…

Isaiah 8:23-9:3            1 Corinthians 1:10-17             Matthew 4:12-23 This is the third time, the third Sunday, that the Gospel invites us to walk with Jesus at the very beginning of his public life. First we witnessed him on the banks…

Is. 49:3, 5-6; John 1:29-34 When I first read the Scripture texts for today, I thought it’s the baptism of Jesus all over again: one of Isaiah’s servant songs and the words about the dove and about baptizing and about…

Isaiah describes one sent by God who doesn’t cause an uproar in the streets, doesn’t even break a bruised reed along the river. This one speaks quietly but clearly and his voice is heard. He doesn’t carry a big stick.…

We recently celebrated Christmasm and now we celebrate the Epiphany.  We know those events took place in the Middle East. The only white people in this story were probably from the Roman Empire of Italic descent, and they were a…

When I think of Mary, the first image to pop into my head is still that of a lovely white young woman in white and blue clothing with hands together in prayer. That’s the image. It never occurred to me…

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family who fled for their lives into a foreign land, much like the journey of so many others who are displaced in our current world.  We know the story in Matthew’s Gospel…

Isaiah 7:10-14 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24 Put on your reading glasses and take another look at the Scriptures for today. You will see how early in content they are in the various books of Scripture. Isaiah, Paul and Matthew’s words…

The theme this third Sunday of Advent, like all of Advent itself, is about expectations. Those of you who have heard me talk before will expect a short explanation of the root of the word “expectation.” And you will not…