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14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CIsaiah 66:10-14cPsalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 (1)Galatians 6:14-18Luke 10:1-12, 17-20July 3, 2022 We are called to be a missionary church. This means we are to share the gospel and God’s mercy with others.…
Read MoreIn its Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision released last week (June 24, 2022), the United States Supreme Court did what prolife advocates were hoping for. They overturned Roe vs. Wade. I found my heart heavy with the news.…
Read More13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 (see 5a)Galatians 5:1, 13-18Luke 9:51-62June 26, 2022 Today’s gospel passage begins a new section in Luke’s gospel that will continue until the time for Jesus’…
Read MoreThis is my sixth and final article offering reflections based on my reading of Judith Valente’s book, How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing. 2018). You can see…
Read More“In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine” to Abram (who would become known as Abraham). This was ordinary bread and wine. One day Jesus will offer something far greater than ordinary bread and wine. As…
Read MoreThis is my fifth article offering reflections based on my reading of Judith Valente’s book, How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing. 2018). You can see the four…
Read MoreThe Most Holy Trinity, Year CProvers 8:22-31 Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (2a) Romans 5:1-5John 16:12-15 June 12, 2022 Our Easter season is over and we have resumed Ordinary Time. Today we celebrate a special solemnity, The Most Holy Trinity. You…
Read MoreThis is my fourth article offering some reflections based on my reading of Judith Valente’s book, How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing. 2018). You can see the…
Read MoreToday we draw our Easter season to a close with our celebration of Pentecost. As our first reading begins, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, there were all in one place together.” For the Jews, it was the time…
Read MoreAs I continue my series of articles offering some reflections based on my reading of Judith Valente’s book, How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing. 2018) (See my…
Read More7th Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 7:55-60 Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 (1a, 9a)Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20John 17:20-26 May 29, 2022 Jesus knew He was about to be arrested, tried, and crucified. The Gospel of John presents in chapters 14-17 Jesus’…
Read MoreLast week I started a new series of articles reflecting on Judith Valente’s book How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing. 2018) with my article, “Being Spiritual in…
Read More6th Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 15:1-2, 22-29 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (4) Revelation 21:10-14a, 22-23John 14:23-29 May 22, 2022 Some of the people had been upset by teachings they heard. It has disturbed their peace of mind. This…
Read More“This is a book about living. Not about surviving, but living a balanced, meaningful, and attentive life” (1). These are Judith Valente’s opening words in her book How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness,…
Read More5th Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 14:21-27 Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 Revelation 21:1-5aJohn 13:31-33a, 34-35May 15, 2022 Paul and Barnabas continued to proclaim “the good news.” Through their ministry and God’s grace, “a considerable number of disciples” were made. God…
Read MoreThose of you who are long-time readers of my blog know that from time to time, I like to write about the importance of following the news. As Christians we are called to pray for the needs of our brothers…
Read MoreAs we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter in Year C, our first reading continues to come from the Acts of the Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the early church. In chapter 2 the disciples…
Read MoreToday a letter I wrote, with comments and suggestions from staff, will be going out to all our parishioners in the two parishes I serve. While it is with St. Mary’s of the Lake and St. Benedict’s in mind, I…
Read More3rd Sunday of Easter, Year CActs 5:27-32; 40b-41 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 (2a) Revelation 5:11-14John 21:1-19 May 1, 2022 Last week we heard how the disciples gathered in the locked room for fear of the Jews. This happened…
Read MorePrompted by some other recent reading, I just finished reading Five Books on Consideration Advice to a Pope written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (translated by John D. Anderson and Elizabeth T. Kennan. Athens, OH: Cistercian Publications. 1976, Third Printing…
Read MoreDivine Mercy Sunday (2nd Second of Easter), Year CActs 5:12-16Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1) Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19John 20:19-31April 24, 2022 It is not always easy to follow God. We see this with the prophets in the Old Testament. For…
Read MoreEaster Sunday, Year CActs of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)Colossians 3:1-4John 20:1-9April 17, 2022 Early, “while it was still dark,” Mary of Magdala came to the tomb on the first day of the week. Whose tomb? Why…
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 16, 2022 “In the beginning…the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss.” From the formless, God created order. From the darkness, God brought light, not just light…
Read MoreToday is Holy Thursday. At the Last Supper Jesus instituted both the Eucharist and the Priesthood. He instituted the Eucharist as He celebrated the Passover, taking that and transforming it into the Eucharist. The Passover was set by God (see…
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