Saying “Yes” to God like St. Joseph (Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72; Mt 1:18-24) ************************************ Two small boys, having a sleep-over at their grandparents, were saying their night prayers. One was praying out loud with all his might that God would get him a bike for Christmas. The other told him he didn’t have to pray […]

Living the Mystery  (Judges 13:2-25; Ps 71; Lk 1:5-25) *************************************** Perhaps you have heard the saying, “Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved.” Today, as we approach the end of the Advent season, we are invited to live that mystery with humble faith, trust and prayer. The readings today […]

On Being Grateful Pilgrims (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28) **************************************************************** Some years ago, Gustavo Gutierrez, considered the father of Liberation Theology, spoke at Newman Theological College as part of the Bishop Anthony Jordan series of lectures. That event and his message ties in with this third Sunday of Advent […]

Being Elijah for Others (Sirach 48:1-11; Ps 80; Mt 17:10-13) ************************************** Do you see yourself as a prophet? The readings today invite us to be Elijah and John the Baptist for others. Both the first reading from Sirach and the gospel focus on Elijah. Elijah was the great prophet of the Old Testament, well deserving […]

Tee Pee Spirituality Healing (Is 35:1-10; Ps 85; Lk 5:17-26) ************************************ A man told a psychiatrist that he suffered from nightmares – sometimes he dreamt he was a tee pee, other times he was a wigwam. When he asked what his problem was, the psychiatrist replied simply that he was too tense! Did you know […]

Repentance – Key to the Kingdom (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 85; 2 Peter 3:6-15; Mark 1:1-8) **************************************************************** A dishonest painter thinned the paint with water and painted a church. As long as it didn’t rain right away he would be okay, he thought. That night there was a big storm. He ran to the Church […]

Modern Day Isaiah’s Offering Hope and Healing (Is 30:19-26; Ps 147; Mt 9:35 – 10:8) ************************************************ Are you shocked at the number of drug-related deaths due to the opioid crisis in our society today? Could that be an indication of a deeper spiritual malaise, a lost-ness of the soul? Jesus, in the readings today, mandates […]

Balancing Devotion with Imitation (Gen 3:9-20; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-12; Lk 1:26-38) ********************************************************** A husband asked his wife why she had purchased an expensive dress after she had told him she was only going window shopping. She replied that she did go window shopping and that when she saw that beautiful dress in the window, […]

Doing the Will of God – Memorial, St Ambrose (Isaiah 26:1-6; Ps 118; Mt 7:21, 24-27) *************************************************** “Only the ones who do the will of my Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus could not be clearer or more direct than this teaching: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will […]

Walking in the Ways of the Lord (Is 2:1-5; Ps 122; Mt 8:5-13) *************************************** Walk a new path is the title of a book I wrote on addictions awareness and the 12 Step program. It connects with the message from Isaiah today, encouraging us to go up to the mountain of the Lord, that God […]