Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43 2nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 Responsorial: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Gospel: John 20:1-9 He is Risen!! I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. (Psalm 118:17) Jesus, you are the risen Lord, and all creation sings […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Responsorial: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 Gospel: Matthew 26:14–27:66 (or Matthew 27:11-54) Deepening Our Faith in the Triumph of the Cross Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. (Matthew […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14 2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-11 Responsorial: Psalm 130:1-8 Gospel: John 11:1-45 Growing in Faith and Trust in the Lord So they took away the stone. (John 11:41) Raising Lazarus from the dead was one of the most amazing miracles Jesus […]
Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman draws on the following words from Scripture to preach on the need for a constant spiritual renewal: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb. x. 22. As he […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 2nd Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14 Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6 Gospel: John 9:1-41 Encountering Jesus and Responding to His Healing Love Do you believe in the Son of Man? (John 9:35) Like last Sunday’s Gospel reading about the woman at the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Exodus 17:3-7 2nd Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 Gospel: John 4:5-42 Being Filled with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit Come see a man who told me everything I have done. (John 4:29) Nobody likes admitting their sins. Whether […]
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:109 When we moved my mom into assisted living, my sister Annie and I cleaned out a […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Genesis 12:1-4 2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8-10 Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9 Glorifying the Lord through Our Lenten Exercises This is my beloved Son. (Matthew 17:5) Jesus’ Transfiguration was one of the most magnificent displays of God’s glory the world […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 2nd Reading: Romans 5:12-19 Responsorial: Psalm 51:3-6, 12-13, 17 Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 Overcoming Temptation by Turning to the Lord Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1) Today’s readings show us […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 49:14-15 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Responsorial: Psalm 62:2-3, 6-9 Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34 Knowing and Experiencing God’s Great Love and Faithfulness Even should she forget, I will never forget you. (Isaiah 49:15) What a spectacular word from God! How did Isaiah come […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Responsorial: Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13-34 Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48 Godly Perfection, Loving and Forgiving our Enemies Love your enemies. (Matthew 5:44) Can you picture getting to heaven, and the first person you meet is the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Sirach 15:15-20 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Responsorial: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37 Responding to God’s Plan for Our Lives We speak God’s wisdom . . . for our glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7) St. Paul had a special talent for […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Responsorial: Psalm 112:4-9 Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16 The Importance of Letting Your Light Shine before Others Your light must shine before others. (Matthew 5:16) Mahatma Gandhi once told a Christian friend, “I like your Christ, but I […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Responsorial: Psalm 146:6-10 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 Rejoicing in the Lord’s Great Love and Faithfulness Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. (Matthew 5:12) Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount has been […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 8:23–9:3 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Responsorial: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23 The Power of Unity and Love in Healing Divisions in Churches and Families I urge . . . that you be united. (1 Corinthians 1:10) At the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Responsorial: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10 Gospel: John 1:29-34 Seeing Jesus More Clearly, A Work of the Holy Spirit Behold, the Lamb of God. (John 1:29) Every Sunday, just before we receive the Eucharist, the priest […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 2nd Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Responsorial: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 The Importance of Listening to and Being Guided by the Holy Spirit The star that they had seen at its rising preceded them. (Matthew 2:9) The Magi certainly […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Numbers 6:22-27 2nd Reading: Galatians 4:4-7 Responsorial: Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 Gospel: Luke 2:16-21 Joining Mary in Pondering and Praising the Lord Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) On this New Year’s Day, you might say, […]
As we follow the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, let us fix our gaze on Jesus, Mary and Joseph and adore the mystery of a God who chose to be born of a woman, the Blessed Virgin, and to enter this world in the way common to all humankind. By so doing he sanctified the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10 2nd Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6 Responsorial: Psalm 98:1-6 Gospel: John 1:1-18 Seeing God’s Humility and His Plan for Us in the Birth of Jesus The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14) The date: December 1223. The place: […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 2nd Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Responsorial: Psalm 24:1-6 Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 Allowing the Coming of Emmanuel, God with Us, to Change Our Lives They shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23) “Emmanuel.” You can imagine what that […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 2nd Reading: James 5:7-10 Responsorial: Psalm 146:6-10 Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 Activating Your Spiritual Instincts They will see the glory of the Lord. (Isaiah 35:2) Do you want to see “the glory of the Lord” this Advent? Of course you do! […]
ST. NICHOLAS, the patron Saint of Russia, was born toward the end of the third century. His uncle, the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, ordained him priest, and appointed him abbot of a monastery; and on the death of the archbishop he was elected to the vacant see. Throughout his life he retained the bright […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 2nd Reading: Romans 15:4-9 Responsorial: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 Being Baptized with the Holy Spirit and Fire He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11) In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul […]
