October 11, 2023
Memorial of Saint Pope John XXIII Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples. Eleven simple words spoken by an un-named disciple. In reflecting on that moment, I’m in awe of how that casual request gave us a prayer, the Our Father, which is prayed daily by millions in hundreds of languages […]
October 10, 2023
Martha or Mary? I remember asking God why he brought me to a contemplative Congregation in the early years of my religious formation. I’m very active, so I told God that perhaps I could serve him better if he would bring me to a Congregation with orphanages or homes for the aged or those who […]
October 9, 2023
We grew up learning from others: family and friends, teachers, siblings, and classmates. Like all children, we learned rules, had meltdowns, and wanted to play. We grew up like Jonah, wanting “my” plan—not God’s. When Jesus asked the priest who was a neighbor to the Samaritan, we picture his annoyance as Jesus said, “Go and […]
October 8, 2023
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time There are a variety of optical illusion personality tests. Two interpretations of the same picture can easily be made. If you see this first, then you are this personality. This came to mind reading Isaiah and John’s parable of the vineyard. What do we see first in the story? The […]
October 7, 2023
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, a “feast instituted by Pope Pius V to celebrate the anniversary of the defeat of the Turkish fleet at the battle of Lepanto.” In making this connection, the Church reminds us, her children, of how powerful […]
October 6, 2023
Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. All three synoptic gospels tell us about Jesus sending out the Twelve on mission. Luke is the only one to note that he sent out seventy-two of his disciples out likewise, with the […]
October 5, 2023
Our Lord Christ always sent out his disciples two by two. This was done on purpose, for Jesus knew that one disciple, by himself, would lack the support needed on the way. We know well that most roads, whether well-tread or new, bring with them challenges, difficulties, and hardships. Such is the journey, still to […]
October 4, 2023
Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi Opening of the Synod on Synodality Today four hundred delegates will enter Saint Peter’s Basilica to pray to the Holy Spirit for this historic Synod on Solidarity. These women and men represent the people of every nation. They are charged with studying, praying, talking, and walking together as they […]
October 3, 2023
God is with us! Emmanuel! We tend to remember this word and phrase only during Christmas time, but the prophet Zephaniah and the people joining the witnesses of faith remind us again of the great gift of God in our midst. Christ Eucharistic is there to guide and strengthen us in our faith – all […]
October 2, 2023
Jesus states, Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. In our “grown-up” worlds of ego, self-reliance, and “I am in control attitudes,” we can easily lose the ability […]