Thanksgiving DaySirach 50:22-24Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-81 Corinthians 1:3-9Luke 17:11-19November 26, 2020 Today is our national day of Thanksgiving. The custom of this holiday dates back to the first pilgrims in Massachusetts. They were thankful that God had blessed them with the harvest. The trip across the ocean and the first year were not easy. …
Dear Lord, It has been a challenging year and we still have two months to go. The challenges have come in various ways. Perhaps the one most obvious to all is the Coronavirus Pandemic. Our greatest concern is for those who have actually gotten sick. We pray for them. We pray for those who have …
In the 1930’s, Reinhold Neibuhr (1892-1971) developed the Serenity Prayer. The first four lines have become well-known. God grant me the serenityto accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. It seems harder and harder to me to find “serenity” in the world today. There is …
The first reading in yesterday’s (28th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours led me to think about where we are at as a Church with regards to the number of people who practice the faith. The reading was from Haggai 1:1-2:10. To provide the setting, it comes after …
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AJeremiah 20:7-9Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (2b)Romans 12:1-2Matthew 16:21-27August 30, 2020 Last week Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”. Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter gave a great answer. He gave the right answer. Good for him. …
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I recently read a book about Franciscan Spirituality relating to our care for the environment. I am not going to focus on that topic today but I mention the book (Care for Creation by Delio, Warner, and Word, Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press. 2008) because it included a particular quote from St. Francis that I …
It’s hard to know but it seems like I have heard of increasing numbers of acts of violence (mainly shootings). I currently serve in a parish about thirty minutes outside of Rochester, NY. Last weekend, Rochester had three separate shootings in 24 hours. I grew up in the Southern Tier area of New York State. …
The Coronavirus shutdown our Masses for three months. It continues to impact attendance as people stay home to protect themselves. For those who do come in person, attendance hovers about 30-40% of normal. There are others who continue to watch our Mass streaming on our new parish YouTube channel. From this, we can consider the …
Today, August 7th, has a couple of different options at Mass listed for saints. All are optional in the United States. The first option listed is for St. Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr and his companions. They were martyred for their faith in the third century. The second option is the one I would like …
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18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 55:1-3Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18 (16)Romans 8:35, 37-39Matthew 14:13-21August 2, 2020 All our readings today share the theme of being fed. In the first reading, the Lord invites “all who are thirsty” to “come to the water,” to “come, receive grain and eat.” All can come “without paying and …
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