Last Friday I read a news article, “Shooting at funeral home in Ecuador leaves four dead,” (by Diego Lopez Marina, Catholic News Agency, 5/19/23. Available online at https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254364/shooting-at-funeral-home-in-ecuador-leaves-four-dead). It is not the first time I have heard of a shooting at a funeral. Reading the news, I asked myself, “Is nothing sacred?” Even among the …
5th Sunday of Easter, Year AActs 6:1-7Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 (22)1 Peter 2:4-9John 14:1-12May 7, 2023 The first half of today’s gospel reading is probably the gospel reading most selected at funerals. It makes sense. Jesus tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” The death of a loved one is a difficult time …
Have you ever not gone to something and wondered if anyone noticed you weren’t there? Maybe you were sick or stuck at work. No one calls to see if you are okay. You wonder if they even noticed you weren’t there. Does anyone care? I recently received an email from one parishioner letting me know …
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3rd Sunday of Easter, Year AActs 2:14, 22-33Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 (11a)1 Peter 1:17-21Luke 24:13-35April 23, 2023 When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied him three times. The other disciples fled. Now, Peter stands up and proclaims Jesus. He speaks of Jesus’ mighty deeds. He speaks of Jesus as the one they had killed. …
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would like to talk about something I have spoken about before. Why do we go to Mass? I write this in the midst of Holy Week. In the events we celebrate this week, we see what the Mass offers us. For some people, attendance at …
3rd Sunday of Lent, Year AExodus 17:3-7Psalm 95:1-2, 607, 8-9 (8)Romans 5:1-2, 5-8John 4:5-42March 12, 2023 Jesus is making his way through Samaria. “Tired from his journey,” He pauses to rest at the well. While He is sitting at the well, “a woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her “Give me …
I recently wrote “More on Fortune Telling and Reiki in the Bible”, followed by an article on “Crystals, Exorcisms, and New Age.” Today, I would like to complete what I began to say about New Age spirituality and conclude with some challenges of understanding “mindfulness.” In my last article, I introduced you to the Vatican …
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year ALeviticus 19:1-2, 17-18Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 (8a)1 Corinthians 3:16-23February 19, 2023 Today is our last Sunday before we begin Lent. The readings are picked for Ordinary Time but they give us some good “food for thought” as we prepare to begin Lent. In Leviticus we hear the …
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Last week I wrote an article, “More on Fortune Telling and Reiki in the Bible”, as a direct follow-up to comments I made about fortune telling and Reiki in my homily on the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today I would like to expand out on related topics. I will begin by citing what the …
Our first reading from Sirach speaks of the choice we have. It is our choice whether to follow God’s commandments or not. God gives us free will to make our choice. However, we must realize our choices have consequences. If we choose to keep the commandments, “if you trust in God, you too shall live.” …
