August 25, 2025
Optional Memorials of Saint Louis of France and Saint Joseph Calasanz Both of today’s saints illustrate the importance of focusing our Christian lives on love of God and neighbor. Saint Louis was king of France in the 13th Century, the only French monarch to be declared a saint. His life demonstrates his intense focus, from childhood […]
August 24, 2025
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time The words of Scripture can comfort, cause us to squirm, and challenge us. Today’s readings do all three. We draw comfort from Isaiah knowing the broad expanse of God’s love and acceptance of all. Boundaries give way to God’s abundant desire to welcome all, including us. Jesus does not answer […]
August 23, 2025
“See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.” To fear the Lord is not to be terrified of him but to recognize who the Lord is: God almighty, a holy God, sovereign over all creation, an all-loving God. So, we surrender our lives to him in love, obedience, and trust, living accordingly to the […]
August 22, 2025
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Bible is rich with examples of faith, and more often than not, that faith begins when someone encounters an evangelizer—someone who proclaims the Word of God. The story of Ruth offers a particularly beautiful and unusual example. Ruth came to know God through her mother-in-law, […]
August 21, 2025
Once again, our just God utilizes a parable to instruct us how we ought to be, and how we ought not to be. In the Parable of the Wedding Feast, we learn that many who have been invited to a kingly feast reject the invitation. The king then continues to invite others who also refuse […]
August 20, 2025
Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church …On receiving [their wages, those who had worked longer] grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.” Many times, as a priest, people have told […]
August 19, 2025
What a wonderful story we read today from the book of Judges. Is it not each of our own stories? Gideon is ”volun-told” by the Angel of the Lord to go “save Israel.” But Gideon protests that he is the most “insignificant” one in his, the “lowliest” family in Manasseh. In the end, Gideon realizes […]
August 18, 2025
Choices, Choices, Choices Our lives are full of choices. We can be unbelievers, heathens, some degree of faithful, or true followers of Jesus Christ. If we want advice on car repair, we consult a mechanic. To prepare a feast for friends, we open our favorite cookbook. The young man in today’s Gospel asked Jesus about […]
August 17, 2025
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time My grandson asked me the other day if God loved him. My response was yes; God loves everyone. He then asked if God loved him when he did something wrong. Again, my response was God loves us unconditionally, however, when we do something wrong, we create a self-inflicted separation from […]
August 16, 2025
Memorial of Saint Tarsicius, martyr We commemorate a Eucharistic saint today – Saint Tarsicius, a 3rd-century martyr known for protecting the Eucharist when he was attacked. Today’s Gospel is both simple and powerful. On Sunday, we gather as children of God, drawn together by faith and the desire to deepen our relationship with Him. The […]