General

Exodus 17:3-7             Romans 5:1-8             John 4:5-42 When speaking of the Scriptures, there is always a choice to be…

In all three cycles of Lenten readings the first Sunday is always the temptation in the desert, and the second Sunday is always the Transfiguration. They are like bookends: the…

The readings for this first Sunday of Lent are much too familiar to us. We have heard them over and over again throughout our lives. This is true especially of…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 —…

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…

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…