After setting up for Mass this morning, I glanced at a Catholic news headline that said, “Dublin archbishop responds to stabbing of 3 children that sparked violent riots”. Ugh! Stabbing children? Why? Why? I clicked on the headline. Reading the article, I thought what possible reason could there be to stab little children, including a …
Today we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving. It is a secular holiday but the practice of giving thanks is very much in keeping with our faith. In fact, the word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving. We give thanks to God for what we celebrate in the Eucharist. The origins of this national holiday go back to …
Psalm 128 begins, “Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.” Today’s gospel speaks of the third servant who acts out of fear of his Lord. Are these two passages in conflict? The psalm speaks of “fear of the Lord” as a good thing. The gospel passage indicates the third servant …
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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AWisdom 6:12-16Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (2b)1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Matthew 25:1-13November 12, 2023 Jesus presents us with this parable of “ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.” Are you wise in the ways of the …
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Jesus says, “Call no one on earth your father.” His words are pure, simple, and clear. So, why do Catholics call priests “father”? Doesn’t this go against what Jesus said? Taken at face value, it would. We need to look at the context in which Jesus speaks. This gospel passage begins, “The scribes and the …
Mass of RemembranceWisdom 3:1-9Psalm 23Romans 6:3-9John 6:37-40November 2, 2023 Tonight we gather to offer this Mass of Remembrance for our loved ones who died in the last year. Some died as the result of an accident. Some died of old age. Some died of long-term illness. Some died of a short-term illness The constant in …
All SaintsRevelation 7:2-4, 9-14Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-61 John 3:1-3Matthew 5:1-12aNovember 1, 2023 Do you want to be a saint? The first saints were all martyrs. They sacrificed their earthly lives for their faith. The martyrs become powerful witnesses to the faith. They serve as inspiration for us. Their faith was publicly known and we venerate …
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AExodus 22:20-26Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 (2)1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10Matthew 22:34-40October 29, 2023 “Thus says the LORD: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.” The topic of immigration is a controversial one. Opinions range from closing our borders …
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The number of Christian disciples in many parts of the world is shrinking. Fewer people identify as Christians. Some because they formally reject God while others have not been taught that God exists and loves them. Add to this the people who might identify as Christian but do not practice their faith. Who does this …
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 25:6-10aPsalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, (6cd)Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20Matthew 22:1-14October 15, 2023 We say we are disciples of Christ but what does this mean? In secular terms a disciple is a student of a master. Jesus is the teacher we are his students. As disciples of Christ, we place …
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