August 12, 2023
Today we hear Moses’ proclamation of the first commandment upon which all commandments are rooted. If we adhere to this commandment, disobeying others would not seem possible. Can we truly love God with all our being if we disobey the remainder of the commandments? Indeed, it is the essence of this unconditional love of God […]
August 11, 2023
Memorial of Saint Clare of Assisi “Ya gotta be all in!” We hear that a lot. Basketball and other coaches urge their players to be focused and to leave it on the field. To be all in. Outstanding leaders urge their followers: “The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing.” Make […]
August 10, 2023
Lost keys. It happens. A lot of things get lost. Now to lose your life that’s another serious piece of business. If we speak literally of someone who has lost a life, we may open wounds that have been healing for years. Losing a life is a human experience—such a painful moment. The one loss […]
August 9, 2023
Memorial of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Fear – a very real emotion. Faith – a virtue that helps us overcome fear. A message I have posted on the front of my refrigerator reminds me daily, The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you. In […]
August 8, 2023
Take courage! After a very long day, after healing and preaching, Jesus has to send the multitudes away so he can be by himself and pray. He needs to commune with his Father, but have you ever thought of what Jesus was praying about? He was probably praying for the people he had just recently […]
August 7, 2023
I cannot carry all these people on my own; the weight is too much for me. God provided manna to our ancestors as sustenance for their journey through the desert to the Promised Land. While in the desert, they ground the manna and cooked it into cakes but hungered for meat and wept openly. The […]
August 6, 2023
Transfiguration of the Lord This is my beloved Son, with whom I am pleased; listen to him. (Matthew 17:1-9) The Apostles, Peter, John, and James, see the transfiguring of Jesus on the mountain. Moses and Elijah appear with him on the mountain and speak with them. Perhaps, they spoke about his Passover, which was not far […]
August 5, 2023
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10) The Gospel acclamation for today makes me ponder… What is righteousness? How do we judge what’s right and just? A helpful gage is to ask ourselves, whom do we fear? Now Herod had arrested John, […]
August 4, 2023
Memorial of Saint John Vianney …And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. Are we shocked by the refusal of Jesus’ neighbors to accept him? They had grown up with him and thought they knew everything about him. They were so sure they knew him, but they asked […]
August 3, 2023
…every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old. (Matthew 13:52) Jesus tells his disciples that because they understood the old and the new, they are scribes and teachers and can discern good from evil, […]