This is the second article on the theme, “He Has Risen, Alleluia! We Have Risen With Him, Alleluia!” Isn’t this what this grace-filled Easter Season is all about? For this second article, I am using the opening words of the book, The Binding of The Strong Man, The Teachings of St. Leo the Great by […]
Sixth Sunday of Easter Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48; Psalm 98:1-4; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17) Growing in Hope and Joy during this Grace-filled Easter Season “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) It […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48; Psalm 98:1-4; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17) Growing in Hope and Joy during this Grace-filled Easter Season “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) It was one o’clock in the morning […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22:26-28,30-32; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8) Allowing Ourselves to be Pruned by God, To Bear Fruit for his Kingdom “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.” (John 15:5) How comforting it is to know that we do not walk […]
When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 118:1,8-9,21-23,26,29; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18) Knowing and Experiencing the Love of Our Heavenly Father “We are God’s children.” (1 John 3:2) What a radical statement! How awesome it is that we mere mortals are children of the eternal, almighty God! What could be […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 3:13-15,17-19; Psalm 4:2,4,7-9; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48) Opening Our Minds and Hearts to Jesus and the Scriptures “He opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:45) We all love to have our minds stretched in new directions. There is nothing more exciting than listening […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 118:2-4,13-15,22-24; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31) Opening Ourselves to Receiving God’s Divine Mercy This is the one who came through water and blood. (1 John 5:6) “Throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation […]
As we approach Easter Sunday and the beginning of the Easter Season let us take time to reflect on the extraordinary and undeserved gift we have received through Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection — our sins have been forgiven and we are now sharers of eternal life with Christ. The second reading from the Easter […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 10:34,37-43; Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9) Allowing the Resurrection of Jesus to Strengthen Our Faith They did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. (John 20:9) What a humble statement! Here is John, the beloved apostle, admitting that he […]
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:3-4,12-15; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33) Bearing Much Fruit for the Kingdom of God “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 12:24) Have you ever […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-23; Psalm 137:1-6; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3:14-21) Thanking and Praising God for his Great Love and Mercy “God, who is rich in mercy.” (Ephesians 2:4) Heavenly Father, how great is your love! I am amazed at the depth of your mercy toward me. Your love […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19:8-11; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25) Being Angry toward Injustice without Sinning “He made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple area.” (John 2:15) Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus was angry. But just a little more than a […]
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18; Psalm 116:10,15-19; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10) Knowing and Living the Gospel Message that God is for Us “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) With these ten words, Paul begins to summarize the points he has been making so far […]
This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:15) Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, “The kingdom of God is at hand for you.” (Luke 10:9) […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15) Lent, A Time to Experience Victory in our Battle Against Temptation and Sin It is … an appeal to God for a clear conscience.” (1 Peter 3:21) While St. Peter is describing the Sacrament of Baptism here, he […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25; Psalm 41:2-5, 13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Mark 2:1-12) Journeying together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5) Did you catch that? Jesus forgave this man and healed […]
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46; Psalm 32:1-2,5,11; 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1; Mark 1:40-45) Knowing and Experiencing the Healing Touch of Jesus “He remained outside in deserted places.” (Mark 1:45) This man wore no shackle or chain, yet he lived every day in solitary confinement. Afflicted with leprosy, he was bound by […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Job 7:1-4,6-7; Psalm 147:1-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23; Mark 1:29-39) Seeking the Father’s Will Each Day in Prayer “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Jesus certainly had a full day. With his first four chosen […]
The battle is not yours but God’s. (2 Chronicle 20:15) So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2,6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28) Being Alert to the Attacks of the Evil One “Quiet!” (Mark 1:25) Today’s Gospel warns us to be on guard because evil spirits are constantly at work tempting us and harassing us. This warning is even more urgent […]
