Humble Faith Expressed through Prayer and Caring (1 Tm 2:1-7; Ps 18; Lk 7:1-10) ********************************************** Can you imagine Jesus saying, “Not even in the Catholic Church have I found such faith!” Would that shock you, or would you find it thought provoking? The readings today invite us into humble faith and a life of prayer […]

Learning To Forgive (Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalm 103; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-25) ****************************************************************** What would happen if God treated us the way we think we deserve to be treated? Forgiveness is the core of following Jesus. The gospel today is a lesson on the meaning of forgiveness. Jesus’ reply can mean seventy times seven, or seventy-seven […]

Memorial: Our Lady of Sorrows (Heb 3:7-9; Ps 31; Lk 2:33-35 or Jn 19:25-27) ************************************************** A lady at a table in front of me in an airport restaurant noticed my cross and starting apologizing profusely for her coarse language. I replied that I had not heard it, but (pointing upwards) said that “he” had. She […]

Look, Love and Live (Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17) **************************************************** Do you know the origin of the symbol on a medical alert bracelet? The readings today provide the answer. A message provided by these readings is very simple and clear: Look to Jesus; love as he did, and live in the Reign […]

Renewal and Revelation – St John Chrysostom (Col 3:1-11; Ps 145; Lk 6:20-26) ******************************************** If you’re green you grow, if you’re not, you rot! That rather striking statement carries a lot of truth and actually applies to today’s readings that invite us into a life-long process of renewal and transformation. St. Paul, as usual, sets […]

Staying Rooted in Jesus Christ (Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary) (Col 2:6-16; Ps 145; Lk 6:12-19) ************************************************************ One of the many scenes of destruction that was portrayed on television during the wrath of Hurricane Irma recently was that of a homeowner watching and videoing the uprooting of a huge tree in her […]

Mining the Great Mystery – Christ in Us (Col 1:24-2:3; Ps 62; Lk 6:6-11) ***************************************** Recently I saw a wonderful movie on mining, hydro-electric development and the environment entitled “Konelïne,” directed by Nettie Wild who took an artistic neutral stance on these issues.  As a 25th anniversary of priesthood initiative in 1994, I wrote a […]

Love as Fraternal Correction, Forgiveness and Worship (Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95; Romans 13:8-10; Mt 18:15-20) ************************************************************* How would you summarize the bible in one sentence? The answer by St. Paul in the second reading is very simple, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” It is clear that our number one priority must be to […]

Secure in Faith, Reaching Out in Love (Col 1:21-23; Ps 54; Lk 6:1-5) ********************************************** Have you seen the movie, March of the Penguins? If not, I would encourage you to do so. That movie, along with the readings today, encourage us to be secure in faith and reach out in love. In that charming and […]

Trust and Transformation (Rm 8:28-30; Ps 13; Mt 1:1-23) ************************************* Have you had to make a difficult decision lately and felt very alone? Have you ever wondered where was God in a particular painful situation? The readings on this feast of the Nativity of Mary invite us to trust in how God is working in […]