General
Reflection on the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings are full of sound advice. The same way we wait until the pot comes out of the kiln, we listen to the whole speech. Don’t rush to judgment.…
Read MoreReflection on the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sam.26:7-23/Cor.16:45-49/Luke 6:27-38 A drawing in the Missalette for this Sunday has Jesus speaking to the disciples. Jesus has his hand raised pointing at them as if to say, “I have…
Read MoreReflection on the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
The first reading is a timely reminder that in tough times we still have what we need, just like a deeply rooted tree planted near water, and we can effectively…
Read MoreReflection on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 5:1-11 Today’s readings — the Isaiah reading and the section from Luke’s Gospel — present us with two people, Isaiah and Peter, at the very beginning of…
Read MoreReflection on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Mary and Joseph stand before Simeon who holds and blesses their infant son. Then he turns to Mary and tells her that her heart will be pierced with a sword…
Read MoreReflection on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Nehemiah 8:2-10 Corinthians 12:12-30 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Today’s liturgical readings might best be read in the opposite order. The third reading, the Gospel, poses a question which…
Read MoreReflection on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
About 15 years ago, my cousin married for the second time. She was 65, and the groom was 67. It was his first marriage. The wedding was relatively small —…
Read MoreReflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Good morning, everyone! Before I get into the heart of today’s Gospel, I want to share something lighthearted I heard many years ago. It goes like this: In recent years…
Read MoreReflection on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
Back when I was a fairly serious gardener, my overwhelming experience of spring was promise. The apricot tree would wait to bud until after the last hard freeze; the strawberries…
Read MoreReflection on the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21 We just heard in the first reading about God telling Moses to instruct Aaron and his children just how to bless the people. A…
Read MoreReflection on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
1 Samuel 1:20-28 1 John 3:1-24 Luke 2:41-52 The focus of this Sunday in Christmas week is family. We celebrate the…
Read MoreReflection on the Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord
This evening, we begin our celebration of the incarnation, God’s choice to live in our midst in the person of Jesus. What a wonderful gift to us. But I would…
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