Meditation and Questions for Refelction and Group Discussion (Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40) The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, A Pointer to the Cross … and you yourself a sword will pierce. (Luke 2:35) Did you know that this day has several celebrations associated with it, including one that involves […]
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A lawyer, a cop, and a journalist enter Blessed John XXIII Seminary together. The lawyer ends up leaving to resume his practice but the cop and the journalist get ordained. Two out of three isn’t bad. You can take the man out of the law but you can’t […]
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A Flick on the television, turn to the news, and notice how hopeless it all looks. Terrorists kill hundreds and intimidate millions. Government debt in the US and Europe balloons out of control and whole countries need to be bailed out. Things did not appear much better in first […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 8:23–9:3; Psalm 27:1,4,13-14; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17; Matthew 4:12-23) The Power of Forgivness in Healing Divisions I urge … that you be united. (1 Corinthians 1:10) The Corinthian church was out of control. Some members were visiting prostitutes. One was even having an affair with his stepmother! […]
John the Baptist stood waist deep in the Jordan River. Thousands of faith-seekers came to be baptized by John for the forgiveness of sins. John believed that baptizing was his calling in life, the reason that he was born; indeed it was. Then one day Jesus arrived and the life and mission of the Baptist took on a […]
The Protestant Church is all about the Bible; the Catholic Church is all about the Sacraments. Right? Not exactly. When it comes to personal Bible reading, Protestants often put Catholics to shame. But as far as Sunday worship goes, it is hard to find a more biblical service than the Mass. The readings are awesome […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 49:3,5-6; Psalm 40:2,4,7-10; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34) Seeing Jesus More Clearly, a Work of the Holy Spirit I did not know him. (John 1:33) When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin […]
“We’re on a mission from God.” In the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers, outlaw musicians Jake and Elwood Blues receive a divine commission to save the orphanage where they grew up by playing a one-night-only charity concert. Though Jake and Elwood could “use some churching up,” they are convinced that their plan will succeed because they saw […]
At first glance, the scene makes little sense. John’s strident call to repentance provokes an overwhelming response. People of all shapes and sizes flock to him in the wilderness. They are baptized in the Jordan as a sign of repentance and cleansing. Suddenly, out of the crowd steps John’s cousin, Jesus. Wait a minute. What’s […]
The Baptism of the Lord Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Psalm 29:1-4,9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17) View NAB Reading at USCCB.org At Jesus’ Baptism, The Sinless One is One With Us esus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan. (Matthew 3:13) It’s a big day! After thirty hidden years […]
Up until now, all has been quite humble. A donkey-ride to a dusty town south of Jerusalem. Hotel rooms all booked up. Giving birth in a stable and laying the baby in an animal’s feed trough instead of a cozy cradle. Into this scene of obscure poverty suddenly bursts an exotic entourage from a far-off […]
Feast of the Holy Family Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15,19-23) View NAB Reading at USCCB.org What it Means to “Put on Love” Put on then, as God’s chosen ones … love. (Colossians 3:12, 14) You are about to head out the door for a family […]
In the drama of the incarnation, Jesus is, of course, the star. That’s the way it is at every birth. All eyes are on the baby. The co-star, though, is definitely mom. Without her love and labor, the event could not have happened. In this case, without mom’s faith it couldn’t have happened either. According […]
Fourth Sunday of Advent Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24) View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Sharing With Others the New Life We Have in Christ She was found with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18) For the first two months of a woman’s pregnancy, […]
Saint James the Just, one of Christianity’s early leaders, counsels readers across the ages to be patient but productive while waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises. The canonical epistle composed by James (or by his community of disciples) urges his audience—“The Twelve Tribes of the Dispersion”—to be patient and to continue to live holy […]
Third Sunday of Advent Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 35:1-6,10; Psalm 146:6-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11) View NAB Reading at USCCB.org Allowing the Eucharist to Transform Us They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. (Isaiah 35:2) Thinking about the Eucharist always brings certain Scripture passages […]
The season of Advent is about hope. That is the message to be taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans. His message of hope in Christ speaks to Christians throughout the millennia as it did to the Church at Rome c. AD 57. Back then the Roman Christians experienced persecution at the […]
Second Sunday of Advent Meditation and Questions for Reflection/Group Discussion (Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2,7-8, 12-13,17; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12) Growing in Godly Patience and Love Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you. (Romans 15:7) Jesus sure has a lot of patience, doesn’t he? Day in and day out, he puts up with our erratic […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Malachi 3:19-20; Psalm 98:5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19) Joining All Creation in Praising the Lord Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 98:4) Rivers “clapping their hands.” Mountains “shouting for joy.” What extraordinary images these poetic descriptions of nature evoke for us! These […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-3:5; Luke 20:27-38) Living in “this age” while awaiting “the Coming Age” He is not God of the dead, but of the living. (Luke 20:38) The Gospels are filled with accounts of how Jesus’ enemies tried to trap him […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Wisdom 11:22–12:2; Psalm 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2; Luke 19:1-10) Loving Others as Jesus Has Loved You He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner. (Luke 19:7) When Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, he made it clear that it […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Sirach 35:12-14,16-18; Psalm 34:2-3,17-19,23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18; Luke 18:9-14) Living a Life Grounded in Godly Humility The one who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:14) Self-confidence is a virtue in business, in our families, and in our parishes. Think about St. Paul. He was very confident […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Luke 18:1-8) Saying Yes to God’s Plan and Mission for Your Life … so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:17) Imagine that you wake up one morning to find […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19) Allowing Jesus to Heal us of Spiritual Leprosy Jesus, Master! Have pity on us! (Luke 17:13) Until recently, a diagnosis of leprosy was a death sentence—a long, slow sentence marked by physical deformity, social isolation, poverty, and […]
