Be thou opened
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, September 5, 2021 — The Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time The Jesus of Mark’s Gospel doesn’t come to play. His mission is urgent and told at a breakneck speed. By Chapter 2, he can’t go...
Category: Scripture Reflection
The Consolations of John 6
Every three years, the Sunday Gospel readings spend a few weeks working through chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. The Year B Gospel readings mostly focus on Mark’s Gospel and so John 6 comes as a somewhat startling and...
Beyond the Breaking Point
A homily for the twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle B). Readings available from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This is the custom of the simple: they ever find fault with the more subtle doctrines and foolishly tear in...
Mary – The Ark of the New Covenant
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, August 15, 2021 — the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. When we look at Mary, we see both the image...
Avoiding spiritual junk food
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, August 8, 2021 — the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time When it comes to consuming junk food, Americans are number one. Here are some statistics I came across that prove the point: Most Americans...
God does not judge us our grumblings
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, August 1, 2021 — the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time What can we do to accomplish the works of God? (John 6:28) This question is posed by the growing crowds who have been journeying...
Why did God choose bread and wine?
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, July 25, 2021 — the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time “And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that...
Shepherds that Scatter and Shepherds who Care
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, July 18, 2021 — the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Last Tuesday, I was sitting on the steps at the South door of my church, waiting for those who might show up for an...
Don’t let holiness intimidate you
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, July 11, 2021 — the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time In my office hangs a large framed print of one of my favorite saints, Ignatius of Loyola. He’s dressed in a red chasuble and...
The calling of the prophet
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, July 4, 2021 — the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s Old Testament and Gospel readings are about prophets. If you ask the average person what a prophet is, they will likely say, “someone...
To Excel in Graciousness
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, June 27, 2021 — the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Graciousness /ˈɡreɪ.ʃəs.nəs/ (noun): the quality of having excellence of manners or social conduct. Synonyms kindness, courteousness, politeness, affability, benevolence. Perhaps you agree with me...
The God who speaks in the storm
A reflection on the readings for Sunday, June 20, 2021 — the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time There are few experiences in the world that can match the intensity, the violence, and the sheer drama of a midwestern storm. Growing up...
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