March 24, 2024
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion I recently rewatched Steel Magnolias. The graveside scene resonated with me. Shelby’s mother, M’Lynn, recounts the moment when life support ended. Shelby’s husband and father could not take it and left while M’Lynn stayed until Shelby took her last breath. M’Lynn received the gift of presence when her daughter […]
March 23, 2024
In the Gospel reading today, the Jews planned to kill Jesus over their concern for their land and their nation. Passover was approaching, and the Jews were wondering whether Jesus would come to the feast or not so they might arrest him. I was single until my late 20s and did not live at home. […]
March 22, 2024
Why were people plotting to kill Jesus, have him arrested, or stone him (today’s Gospel)? Ah, let me count the ways (whys) – what we’ve heard about just this Lent. Jesus healed on the Sabbath. He stood up for the “woman caught in adultery.” He praised the prayer of the tax collector. He embraced the […]
March 21, 2024
Father Eymard’s Vow of Personality in 1865 On March 21, 1865, towards the end of his 65-day retreat in Rome, Father Peter Julian Eymard made a “vow of personality” to the Lord. We read in his notes: “One must give to God one’s personality, love God for God and not for self, becoming nothing more […]
March 20, 2024
The statement of Jesus to his apostles in today’s reading struck me, “If you remain in my word, you will be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” I grew up in the 1950s in Connecticut. Looking back at those post-World War II years, I sense a […]
March 19, 2024
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary Today’s second reading has words in it that make me wonder. Saint Paul wrote to the Romans, “It was not through the law that the promises were made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes […]
March 18, 2024
The 23rd Psalm When watching a police drama on television, you’ve heard the expression, “I’ve got your back!” It simply means one accepts responsibility for their partner’s safety and protection. This beautiful, well-known Psalm is all about God having our back. He is there to support us; he knows us. David writes so beautifully, so […]
March 17, 2024
5th Sunday of Lent Holy Week is still a week away, but we can already feel the darkness closing in on Jesus. The gospel passage we’ve read today tells us that, as Passover was drawing near, Jerusalem was filling up with pilgrims. Some were Jews of Greek origin. They were probably converts. They had heard […]
March 16, 2024
Forgiveness is a gift quickly asked for but hard to give. Jeremiah illustrates this very clearly in today’s reading. At best, he could be described as argumentative towards God and vindictive towards his adversaries. He has accepted the call to be a prophet but argues with God over almost everything he is called to do. […]
March 15, 2024
Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill him. It is just over a week to the beginning of Holy Week, with its remembrance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The readings are beginning to have a more ominous tone. Today’s gospel speaks […]