Plunge into the Flowing Waters of God’s Grace (Ezk 47:1-9, 12; Ps 46; Jn 5:1-6) *********************************************** Four times a week, I do aquacize in a swimming pool. That practice not only provides health benefits for me, but also deepens my appreciation for the blessings of water. Today’s readings invite us to plunge into the flowing […]

New Creation through Faith and Love (Isaiah 65:17-21; Ps 30; Jn 4:43-54) ******************************************** How strong is your faith? How deep is your love? Important questions, these, because today’s liturgy invites us to be part of God’s new creation through faith in Jesus and love for one another In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies that God […]

Back to the Future (2 Chronicles 36:14-17; 19-23; Ps 137; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3:14-21) ***************************************************************** In the not too recent past, a movie came out called Back to the Future, in which the main character experiences a time warp into another period of history. The readings today come together to form a kind of time […]

Harden not Your Hearts (Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95; Lk 11:14-23) *********************************** Healed people heal people; unwell people wound people. Sin and sinfulness; stubbornness and disobedience seem to sum up the readings today, inviting us to be just the opposite – a people who are grounded in Jesus’ wellness and able to share that wellness with […]

Forgiveness and the Furnace of Resentment (Dan 3:25-43; Ps 25; Mt 18:21-35) ************************************** A lady confessed to a priest during reconciliation that she was guilty of the sin of narcissism, of vanity. She claimed she was so beautiful that she was wasting countless hours admiring herself in the mirror, putting on make-up, neglecting her marriage […]

Temples of the Holy Spirit (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 18; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25; John 2:13-25) ************************************************************ Have you ever struggled with low self-worth? Today’s readings invite us to celebrate our dignity as temples of God; believe it and live it. The first reading provides a background to this message. Mt. Sinai is actually in Egypt. […]

  Resisting Repentance (Gen 37:3-28; Ps 105; Mt 21:33-46) *******************************************   The poet, Robert Frost, wrote these memorable words: “Something there is that does not love a wall; that sends the groundswell under it.” In a similar way, there is something in human nature that does not love goodness; that resists it and seeks to […]

Suffering and Service (Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31; Mt 20:17-28) ************************************* Activist Daniel Berrigan once stated that before deciding to follow Jesus, we should consider how good we look on wood! The message from today’s readings is simple and straightforward: following Jesus will involve suffering and service. This is not your usual promo for a career. […]

Giving and Receiving – Gospel Karma (Dan 9:3-10; Ps 79; Lk 6:36-38) ******************************************* The last line of today’s gospel (the measure we give is the measure we get) seems like a throw-away line, but in his homily for today, Ron Rolheiser pointed out the importance of this line. Every world religion has either a law […]

Lent, A Journey of Transformation (Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18; Psalm 116; Romans 8:31b-35, 37; Mark 9:2-10) **************************************************************** A couple married for 25 years were also celebrating their 60th birthday.  During the celebration a fairy appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple all those years, she would give them one wish […]