Reflections on the Sunday readings from the Catholic Lectionary for Mass. Includes homilies, sermons, and other thoughts.
This year, Valentine’s Day happens to coincide with Ash Wednesday and beginning of the penitential season of Lent. For most Catholics, this meant transferring the more festive celebration of the …
At the time of Jesus, leprosy carried a two-fold stigma. First, it was a terribly painful and debilitating disease which left the person suffering with sores and rotting flesh. As …
Today’s homily was given to the archdiocesan candidates for the diaconate at the conclusion of their weekend of formation. In the second reading, St. Paul tells us about the need …
In today’s gospel, Jesus gets up to teach in the synagogue and we are told that the people were “astonished” at what they heard. They say that Jesus teaches “with …
The word “vocation” comes the Latin word vocare, meaning “to call.” A vocation is a calling. When we hear the word vocation in the Church, we often think of religious vocations, …
Peace be with you! Or, as we would say in Latin, Pax vobiscum! Pax is the Latin word for peace. On this Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the …
Today’s gospel is one of the most well-known in all of Scripture. “God so loved the world that he gave his only son.” You often see people making reference to …
We often think of the Holy Spirit being made known by powerful deeds and miracles, like at Pentecost. However, there is another important experience of the Spirit that I consider …
It seems like today would have been such a sad day in the life of the Apostles. After 3 years of being with Jesus every day and 40 days with …
As we read about the spread of the gospel in the Acts of the Apostles, it’s easy to forget that the impetus that first caused this going forth was a …
In today’s Gospel, St. Philip the Apostle gets his moment to shine. When he gets the chance to ask Jesus for the thing he most wants, he says that he …
Jesus is the good shepherd. When he left this earth, he desired that we his sheep would still be able to hear his voice. Actually, to be compared to sheep …
Jesus is back! What great news. We all naturally accept the resurrection as the best news the world has ever known, but would it have automatically been this way for …
“You know what has happened!” So Peter tells us in the first reading. Jesus has been raised from the dead. We’ve heard the reports. Peter and John both saw the empty …
Tonight we read the stories of how God has orchestrated this elaborate plan of salvation. Beginning with the creation of the world and the great covenants of the Old Testament, …
The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus was crucified on the “Preparation Day” for the Passover. Since no work could be done on the Sabbath, Friday was always a …
In the Jewish ritual of Passover, a boy asks the father leading the meal a famous question, “Why is this night different from every other night?” The father is to reply …
Today’s liturgy seems to move so quickly. We move from our joyful entrance with shouts of Hosanna to Jesus been crucified and dead in the tomb all in just about …
“For as true man he wept for Lazarus his friend, and as eternal God raised him from the tomb.” – from the Mass of the 5th Sunday of Lent One …
In today’s gospel Jesus works a great miracle. He gives sight to a man born blind. Yet when we read this story, it seems that the actual miracle only makes …
This week, I visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City to view a special exhibit of photography. The pictures displayed were all of people, but not your typical …
I love the view from the top of a mountain. You can see everything so much more clearly. In today’s gospel, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to the top …
For the beginning of Lent, the Church takes us back in today’s first reading to “The Beginning” as we hear from the Book of Genesis. We remember the sad turn …
In today’s Gospel Jesus asks his disciples to pay attention to what they see in creation. “Look at the birds in the sky,” he says. “Learn from the way the …
People often wonder what a celibate priest could know about marriage. On the surface, it seems like a fair question. But when you really think about it, a priest has …
As a Boy Scout of 30 years now, I readily admit that I love camping. One of the things I most enjoy is seeing all the stars at night. When …
Have you ever had the experience of standing up for some true but difficult teaching of Jesus, only to have someone call you a hypocrite because of your own failures? …
In today’s second reading, St. Paul is dealing with a particularly troubling problem in Corinth. The members of the Church have broken down into factions and are choosing sides. Sound …
Today we celebrate the Epiphany, or “manifestation,” of Jesus. Represented symbolically by the arrival of the gentile magi, Jesus is now made known to all the world. A tradition on …
Today’s celebration is actually the confluence of several events. On the secular side, it’s New Year’s Day, a chance to flip the calendar and start over. In the Church, today …