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 […]
January 19, 2024
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles…. Today’s passage gives us the first listing of the Twelve that Jesus chose with a special responsibility to carry on his message. He summoned “those whom he wanted.” They were “to be with him” as disciples and friends, then “to be sent out to proclaim the message.” […]
January 18, 2024
In the Gospel reading for today, we learn about Jesus withdrawing from a pressing crowd – a crowd growing in numbers and merging in several different directions. He had cured many diseases and unclean spirits, and his popularity grew. However, with that popularity came expectations and demands from the many who sought him only for […]
January 17, 2024
There are a few passages in the Gospels describing Jesus as angry. Today’s passage from Mark is one of them. Jesus knew that the Pharisees were out to get him. Theirs was a strict observance of the Law with all its minutiae governing every aspect of the life of a Jew. The scene is set […]
January 16, 2024
We see in the gospel reading how the will of God also trumps man’s law. When Jesus’ disciples were going through the field picking the heads of the grain, the Pharisees questioned Jesus why he did not stop them from doing what was—according to their interpretation—unlawful. Jesus reminded the Pharisees of the story of David, […]
January 15, 2024
Old and New Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions, determined to replace a habit, or begin a new practice? The second reading today tells us about changes that affected old and new ways or reasons for doing things. The old habit of fasting, once a ceremonial law, would have a new purpose in the […]