November 17, 2024
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time When I was in grade school, 1954-62, I feared this time of the year. I dreaded listening to the apocalyptic readings because they scared me. At Mass, the priest would reinforce the imagery by speaking of the signs of the times. They were even more frightening than the prophecies – […]
November 16, 2024
When I was reading today’s gospel, I found the last line most thought-provoking and disturbing. John’s letter commends the brethren for their support and hospitality to the itinerant missionaries who were spreading the good news, but the last sentence in the gospel asks the question we each can ask ourselves: “But when the Son of […]
November 15, 2024
I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. This is the only reading we have from John’s second letter. It focuses on the one commandment Jesus said he was leaving us at the Last Supper: loving one […]
November 14, 2024
WAITING IS TOO EASY Waiting for the mail carrier, waiting for the truth to be told, waiting for peace to take the throne, waiting for winter snow, waiting for spring, waiting for churches to be filled to capacity, and just waiting. The present demands to know what’s next. We move forward and stand still, waiting […]
November 13, 2024
Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin In today’s first reading, Paul addresses Titus, a close friend and his “true son in the faith” (Titus 1:4). Paul mentions our dark human side and then explains that despite our faults, God’s mercy, kindness, and generous love are richly poured out for each of us. The Holy […]
November 12, 2024
Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do. The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading have always made me squirm a bit. Perhaps this is because we live in a society that expects recognition for what we do. At times, we expect […]
November 11, 2024
Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop The scriptures today present the early church as a beacon of courage, persecuted for daring to challenge the status quo. This was a world where ‘the haves’ subjugated ‘the have-nots, stripping them of their humanity, and ‘the haves’ became bullies to impose control. In Luke, Jesus condemns this injustice. Inspired […]
November 10, 2024
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry. The simple request of Elijah for a small cupful of water and a bit of bread led the widow to a great act of trust. Instead of using her last bit of resources for her […]
November 9, 2024
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome Today’s scripture directs our thoughts to how blessed we are to have our church and to be church – a member of God’s familial community. We also commemorate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The Lateran Basilica is the cathedral […]
November 8, 2024
Imagine Jesus asking you: prepare a full account of your stewardship (Cf. Luke 16:2). What would appear on your “spreadsheet”? What would you say? Well, if you are like me, you might ask, what do you mean by the word “stewardship”? And of what? Let me further ask: what has been entrusted to you — […]