November 22, 2024
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr Over the last several weeks, we have been following Saint Luke’s story of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. We have heard challenging sayings (getting through the narrow door), healings (the ten lepers in Samaria), parables (the lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son), dining with the despised tax […]
November 21, 2024
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Today, we celebrate the memorial of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin at the age of three by her parents, Ann and Joachim, in the Temple of Jerusalem. Her consecration reflects the most perfect sacrifice that can be offered. It is the surrendering of one’s whole […]
November 20, 2024
Our first reading proclaims the glory of God, who created all that is. God is the master of Creation, and all are called to praise the omnipotent God. Our second reading reminds us that each of us is responsible for being stewards of that gift in our own way. Yesterday, we celebrated the Memorial of […]
November 19, 2024
You would expect a child to climb a tree to see what was happening. But for a full-grown man of business to act like a child and climb a tree, why would he act so childishly? He could have had secondhand accounts from his taller friends, but he wanted much more. He wanted to see […]
November 18, 2024
A famous saying is that nothing in life is guaranteed except death and taxes. Giving this some thought, I remembered there are many warranties on some tools, cookware, and tires. Zippo lighters and Craftsman’s tools came with lifetime promises to repair or replace their items. Today’s Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 1, gives us another sure thing, […]
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 […]