October 2, 2024
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels The character of Job, in a sense, represents all of us. Job was a righteous man before God and a very successful man wealthy in land and familial relationships. In a dialogue in which God brags to the Devil about Job, the Devil presents God with a challenge. He […]
October 1, 2024
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church Suffering truly tests our faith. It can change us and our mood or lifestyle rapidly if we enter into despair and feel we have no hope. Thérèse grew up with various obstacles but felt called to throw her pain into a […]
September 30, 2024
Today, the Church asks us to remember Saint Jerome in her liturgical calendar. We invite Saint Jerome to journey with us during this Eucharistic celebration. Saint Jerome comes to us from his study someplace in Bethlehem, in the Holy Land. The Bible, the Word of God, was his life. He became a true specialist in […]
September 29, 2024
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp. Moses says, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets? In the Gospel reading, the apostles express the same concern about someone who is not in their group casting out demons in the name of […]
September 28, 2024
Today, I would like us to focus on the theme of the responsorial psalm. “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.” Everyone’s life is different, but every life has its trials, crises, upsets, and hard times. Take five minutes or more and review your life and see how true this verse in […]
September 27, 2024
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest Jesus announced early in his public ministry, “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” Emmanuel, “God with us,” is present in Jesus in every moment: at Mass, in our prayer, walking in the woods, in the eyes of a poor person, in the cry of a child in […]
September 26, 2024
Poor Quoheleth, he was so bored. After reading these verses, we are tempted to join him in his depression. He makes life sound useless and futile, a merry-go-round that doesn’t go anywhere. Conceivably, one could observe these very same facts and be thrilled by them, break into praise toward the Creator, as we find elsewhere […]
September 25, 2024
“God will provide for all that we need.” This line from Isaiah (also heard in several of our liturgical songs) summarizes today’s words from Proverbs (first reading) and Luke’s Gospel. The author of Proverbs 30 is explicit in asking God to ”give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need.” […]
September 24, 2024
OPENING OUR EARS TO THE POOR The first reading comes from the book of Proverbs. I invite you to reflect, especially on the last phrase of the text, which calls our attention to the poor. He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry shall himself plead and not be heard. (Proverbs 21:13) Last […]
September 23, 2024
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest The readings for Mass on Monday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time seem deliberately chosen for this commemoration of Padre Pio. It is possible to imagine Padre Pio writing words in the Book of Proverbs: “Say not to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come again; tomorrow I will […]