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I recently read Monsignor Charles Pope’s new book, The Hell There Is (Gastonia, NC: TAN Books. 2025). If you believe that Hell does exist but that hardly anyone ends up there, you should read this book. If you believe there…
Read MoreFifth Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 14:21-27Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 (see 1)Revelation 21:1-5aJohn 13:31-33a, 34-35May 18, 2025 Paul and Barnabas go out to proclaim the good news. Led by the Holy Spirit, they had “made a considerable number of disciples.” …
Read MoreThere are people who say if you want to be a good Christian, you need to belong to a good bible-based church. I agree with them. That’s why I am grateful that I belong to the Catholic Church because it…
Read More4th Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 13:14, 43-52Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5 (3c)Revelation 7:9, 14b-17John 10:27-30May 11, 2025 The Catholic Church has been in all the news this week. It reminds me of how, in the first reading, we hear that…
Read MoreOn April 21st, the date after Easter Sunday, I awoke to the news that Pope Francis had passed away. May he rest in peace. When I got up this morning at 5:00 am (Eastern Time, USA) I immediately checked on…
Read MoreLast week the Diocese of Rochester held its annual priest/parish administrator convocation. Among the topics covered by the speakers was the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the lack of full understanding of the Sacrament. From that and my own further reflection…
Read MoreThird Sunday of Easter, Year CActs of the Apostles 5:27-32, 40b-41Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 (2a)Revelation 5:11-14John 21:1-19May 4, 2025 Jesus had been crucified and laid in the tomb. Jesus did not remain in the tomb. God has power…
Read MoreI’m happy to say that after a year without doing a formal presentation, I have one scheduled now for June 5th! You can sign up for the Zoom webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Cqgf3AH9RfW2GAPD-bVRew Peace, Fr. Jeff
Read MoreThis is the fourth and final article in a series of articles on the use of music at Mass. The first article, “Why We Sing at Mass”, discussed why we sing at Mass, including its biblical basis. My second article,…
Read More2nd Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy, Year CActs 5:12-16Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19John 20:19-31April 27, 2025 After the Crucifixion of Jesus, his disciples gathered in a locked room “for fear of the Jews.” Knowing their fear,…
Read MoreThis article is the third article in a series on music at Mass. The first article, “Why We Sing at Mass”, discussed the reasons there is music at Mass. My second article, “Who Sings at Mass”, discussed how we are…
Read MoreEaster Sunday of the Resurrection of the LordActs 10:34a, 37-43Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)Colossians 3:1-4John 20:1-9April 20, 2025 Mary of Magdala went to the tomb, “early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed.” What…
Read MoreEaster Vigil Year CGenesis 1:1-2:2Genesis 22:1-18Exodus 14:15-15:1Isaiah 55:1-11Romans 6:3-11Luke 24:1-12April 19, 2025 “The earth was a formless wasteland and darkness covered the abyss. So it began. There was no order. There was no form to any material thing. God existed…
Read MoreJesus is the Good Guy (Good Friday 2025)Isaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1-19:42April 18, 2025 Who are you like in the story of Jesus’ Passion? Are you like Jesus who is honest and…
Read MoreEvening Mass of the Lord’s SupperExodus 12:1-8, 11-14Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-181 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-15April 17, 2025 Tonight we begin something incredible. We begin the Easter Triduum. The word “triduum” means three days. We celebrate over three days but it is…
Read MoreA few days ago, I began a short series of articles on the use of music at Mass. The first article, “Why We Sing at Mass”, addressed why we sing at Mass. Now, I turn to the question of who…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year CLuke 19:28-40Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Luke 22:14-23:56April 13, 2025 Jesus’ hour had come and so He “took his place.” It was time to celebrate the Passover but this…
Read MoreIn my last article, “Using What You Have Been Given”, I mentioned that the parishes I serve have been undergoing a process to plan for the future. Included in this process were two listening sessions. In parish life, when comments…
Read More5th Sunday of Lent, Year C – ReflectionIsaiah 43:16-21Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)Philippians 3:8-14John 8:1-11April 6, 2025 Once again, we hear that Jesus is teaching. Teaching for him is not simply lecture. He uses the situations that come before…
Read MoreIn the Office of Readings for last Friday (3rd Week of Lent) the first reading was Exodus 35:30 – 36:1, 37:1-9. These verses help form the core of God’s instructions to build the Ark and the Tabernacle. It struck me…
Read More4th Sunday of Lent, Year CJoshua 5:9a, 10-12Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (9a)2 Corinthians 5:17-21Luke 15:1-3, 11-32March 30, 2025 “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth.” These are the words of the…
Read MorePlease note that while this article can be read on its own, its deepest meaning is found when it is read in conjunction with two previous articles, “What Is Need in the World” and “A Heart for Love,” These articles…
Read More3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C – ReflectionExodus 3:1-8a,13-15Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 607, 8, 11 (8a)1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12Luke 13:1-9March 23, 2025 Last week we heard the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration. In my homily, I spoke of ways in which we…
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