Reflections on the Sunday readings from the Catholic Lectionary for Mass. Includes homilies, sermons, and other thoughts.
When we think of Christmas, we normally think of the Christmas Tree. Today’s readings give us two other trees to think about this Advent.
As Advent begins, this week’s homily considers how the ancient gesture of the priest and people facing “East” for Mass helps remind us where we are going.
We’ve spent a lot of time lately focusing on political power and who should be allowed to exercise power. In some ways, the same questions that have existed from the …
The readings this weekend remind us of the reality of heaven. There really is life after death. The brothers in our first reading are willing to lay down their lives …
Today we give thanks for the priesthood, instituted by Jesus Christ, and continuing to bring his power to the world 2000 years later. When we think of priests, we probably think …
For the past six weeks, we have been reading from the letters of St. Paul to Timothy. Today we come to the end of these letters, wherein Paul gives us …
In today’s second reading, St. Paul reminds St. Timothy about the importance of Sacred Scripture. As Catholics, we can fall into the tendency of focusing on Mass and the sacraments …
Both the first reading and the gospel today involve lepers as the star characters. Today’s homily highlights three lessons that we might learn from the figures. First, humility. It’s takes …
The first Sunday in October has been designated in the United States as “Respect Life Sunday.” While much progress has been made in this area since the passing of Roe …
In today’s second reading, St. Paul writes to St. Timothy, who he has appointed Bishop of Ephesus, to give him some advice on how to be a good bishop. St. …
One of the great story lines of all time can be summed up by the phrase “The Journey Home.” The protagonist has somehow wound up far from home and struggles …
Imagine someone you know is interested in learning what Christianity is really all about. What would you tell them? What’s the core message? Probably most of us could think of …
The scene described in today’s Gospel reminds me a lot of the political atmosphere in Washington, DC: people jockeying for positions of influence, throwing parties to make allies. It can …
In today’s First Reading from the prophet Isaiah, we hear God’s desire to “gather the nations” and to send people out “to the nations.” In this we see, even in …
I, like many people, have spent a lot of time this last week watching the Olympics and marveling at the great ability of the athletes competing. I especially like it …
In the Old Testament story of the Exodus from Egypt referred to in our First Reading today, God’s chosen people are safe from the Angel of Death. They were warned …
“Teach us to pray!” This is the request Jesus gets in today’s Gospel. When we think of learning to pray, we might call to mind learning our basic prayers when …
The famous motto of the Boy Scouts is “Be Prepared.” This admonition is deliberately vague, meaning that a scout should be prepared appropriately for anything. New scouts (and leaders) often …
Normally, when a “Scholar of the Law” is mentioned in the Scripture, he’s not held in a very favorable light, at least not by Jesus. Yet, in today’s gospel, one …
Last week at the beginning of camp at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation in Osceola, Missouri, I talked about the importance of loyalty, the ability to stick by our …
Many people today are afraid of making commitments. There seems to be a fear that if I commit to something then I’ll be missing out on something else. Many express …
One day as I was visiting the Library of Congress in Washington, I noticed an exhibit on “Thomas Jefferson’s Bible.” I was very intrigued to see this relic, looking forward …
“When there’s blood in the sky – red and blue= purple… purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your …
The readings today cause us to look back to the past. Specifically, we are to be reminded of the ways in which God has saved us in the past. It …
As we begin the season of Lent, we see Jesus go out into the desert to be tempted. There he encounters the same enemies that you and I face every …
Even with the normal crowds of half a million or more, the March for Life almost never gets much coverage from the left-leaning media. With a major snow storm predicted …
Today’s gospel recounts the story of the wedding at Cana where Jesus famously turns water into wine. St. John tells us that there were six stone water jars, each holding …
Epiphany is often seen as the completion of the Christmas story. The three kings finally arrive in Bethlehem and our Christmas manger scene is now complete with all the figures …
Today’s homily explores the 8-day period following Christmas that the Church calls the “Octave of Christmas.” Christmas is much too big of a celebration to fit into just one day, …
“Marley was dead: to being with… There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going …