January 29, 2024
The evangelist, Mark, paints a dramatic picture of Jesus and the possessed man in today’s gospel. I think this kind of description can assist us in our meditation and reflection today. In our imaginations, let us look at the picture that Mark places before us. First, allow us to begin with the possessed man who, […]
January 28, 2024
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time My grandmother lived with us for nine months of the year when I was growing up. She was a disciplinarian, always seeing that we behaved, did our chores, and corrected us when needed. She was also loving, merciful, and a woman of faith, encouraging us to sing hymns and pray. […]
January 27, 2024
All the readings today can apply to us somehow, but the Alleluia contains the most quoted verse in all Scripture: John 3:16. Most of you know it by heart. There are several action words in this verse, but the one that requires movement on our part is the verb “believes.” In the Gospel of John, […]
January 26, 2024
Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops At each Eucharist, we are invited to participate in two key actions: to be enveloped in a communion of fellow Christians around the table of the Lord and, nourished by the body and blood of Christ, “go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” Community. Evangelization. In listening […]
January 25, 2024
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul “Who are you, Sir? What would you have me to do?” For several reasons, the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul is one of my favorites. I summarize it for myself with the expression: “New beginnings!” Saint Paul, who liked to boast about his Jewishness, education, zeal, […]
January 24, 2024
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church One of the first to be called God’s prophet, Nathan, was given a very unenviable task: be the ‘go-between” for the God of Israel and the King of Israel. 2nd Samuel details two things Nathan must relay to King David: what God wants […]
January 23, 2024
Memorial of Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Vincent, deacon and martyr – a late third-century saint and patron of vinegar, wine, brickmakers, and sailors. Deacon Vincent witnessed Christ through a death caused by the refusal to renounce the Christian faith and burn incense to the Roman gods. The […]
January 22, 2024
Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of Unborn Children In today’s Gospel, Jesus confronts scribes from Jerusalem who claim that the devil possesses Our Lord and casts out demons in the name of Beelzebul. On this 49th Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, we might reflect on Jesus’ famous response to […]
January 21, 2024
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time What a moment! It was time to gather an army to start planning a war strategy. The Romans were going home. But something else happened, something unexpected. The man from Galilee began a walk along the seaside, asking fishermen to follow him. What was surprising was that they followed him! […]
January 20, 2024
Why do you want to do this? Do you know what it entails? Are you crazy? I got these questions from clergy members when I first entertained the idea of the permanent diaconate. He’s crazy; his train jumped the tracks, and the wheels fell off his wagon—phrases used to describe people’s thoughts on my pursuing […]