In our first reading today Isaiah writes of his friend who “had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hew out a wine press.” He did all the right things from choosing the land and the choicest …
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AEzekiel 18:25-28Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (6a)Philippians 2:1-11Matthew 21:28-32October 1, 2023 – Respect Life Sunday Through the prophet Ezekiel the Lord is speaking with his people. They say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” They are in exile in Babylon. They feel they are being punished for the sins of …
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In today’s parable Jesus talks about “how much” the landowner pays his servants. As the sun rises he “went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.” He agreed to pay the “usual daily wage.” All is as it should be. At nine o’clock the landowner hired more laborers. Since the work day had …
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year ASirach 27:30-28:7Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 (8)Romans 14:7-9Matthew 18:21-35September 17, 2023 Last week we heard Jesus give us instructions on what to do when our brother sins against us. Deacon Tom talked about our need to forgive others. Our readings today continue on the theme of forgiveness. Why is …
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In the Lord’s Prayer we pray, “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” In the Act of Contrition we “firmly resolve to sin no more and to avoid whatever leads us to sin.” Avoiding temptation is not easy. We need God’s help. We need to avoid temptation and we are called to …
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AJeremiah 20:7-9Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (2b)Romans 12:1-2Matthew 16:21-27September 3, 2023 Last week we heard Peter proclaim to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter got that right. Jesus knows Peter’s proclamation is based on revelation from God to Peter. Jesus then makes Peter …
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God is the ultimate source of authority. During the days of Isaiah in our first reading, Shebna had been authority as “master of the palace.” He did not use his authority well, He became prideful and brought shame to the king. So, the Lord declared to Shebna, “I will thrust you from your office and …
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 56:1, 6-7Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (4)Romans 11:13-15, 29-32Matthew 15:21-28August 20, 2023 Jesus entered the land of Tyre and Sidon. There He encountered a Canaanite woman. As a Canaanite, she would not have been a Jew. She has heard of the miracles Jesus has been doing. She has …
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Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary. We give our praise and worship to God alone. We venerate (honor) Mary but we do not worship her. Our gospel reading today is the story of the Visitation of Mary. When Mary learned that she had been chosen to be mother of Jesus, the angel Gabriel also …
After Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fed the vast crowd, He “made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side.” So begins today’s gospel. As He made his disciples leave in the boat, He would have known that a storm was coming. Yet, He sent them anyways. It will …
