I find myself having gone a week without posting an article here (except for the normal reflection on the Sunday readings). I haven’t written for two reasons. First, I find myself without definitive thoughts to write about. Sometimes an idea comes into my head but doesn’t coalesce into something I can write an article on …
Our liturgical year in the church is drawing to a close. In two weeks we will begin a new year with the First Sunday of Advent. As we draw this year to a close, our readings turn to the end times when Jesus will come for the second time. Jesus describes the end by saying, …
In my homily this weekend, I spoke about Purgatory and praying for the dead. Purgatory is an important part of our Catholic faith and understanding of what happens to us after earthly death. Unfortunately, it is not talked about much. If you know me, you know the fact that people don’t know much about Purgatory …
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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B1 Kings 17:10-16Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)Hebrews 9:24-28Mark 12:38-44November 7, 2021 Today we hear of people who contributed to the temple treasury. There are the rich people who put in large sums from their surplus wealth. There is also the poor widow that contributed from all that she had. …
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Mass of Remembrance for Those Who Died in the Last YearWisdom 3:1-91 Thessalonians 4:13-18Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6aNovember 2, 2021 Each person that we pray for by name tonight died in the last year. It may have been a year ago or a month ago. Each person who is here tonight, even two people who …
Our gospel reading and the first reading for this 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) speak of God’s commandments. We think in terms of 10 commandments. The Jews list 613 commandments with the 10 being the most important and applying to everyone. With so many commandments, where does one begin? I think this is …
I just uploaded the recording of the first webinar in my new series on prayer, Giving Our Hearts to God: What It Means to Pray. You can view the view and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prayer2021partI. Here’s a description for this webinar – “How do you pray? Do you pray the rosary? What about the …
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If you are reading this blog article, it would seem likely that your faith means something to you. It likely means faith is more for you than just going to church on Sunday for one hour. The time spent at Mass is essential. It leads us to live out our faith beyond the hour. You …
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJeremiah 31:7-9Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Hebrews 5:1-6Mark 10:46-52October 24, 2021 As Jesus leaves Jericho, “Bartimaeus, a blind man,” is sitting by the roadside begging. When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is there, he begins to “cry out.” He may be physically blind but the words he cries …
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In previous articles like, “What’s in the News,” I have written about why I think it is important to follow the news. Watching the news we typically hear more discouraging news than uplifting news. Recently, I have begun trying to use news headlines as the source of material for prayer. I still advocate to follow …
