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Divine 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…
Read MoreWe need God’s mercy. Our world is in need of God’s mercy and we need it as individuals. We are human beings who are not perfect. At times we fall short of doing good and we need forgiveness. As look…
Read MoreToday is Monday of Holy Week. What we celebrate at the end of Holy Week are the most solemn liturgies of the year. Today’s readings lead me to think about what God offers us this week. Today’s first reading, Isaiah…
Read MorePalm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year CLuke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (28)Philippians 2:6-11Luke 22:14-23:56April 10, 2022 Our Passion narrative today begins, “When the hour came, Jesus took his place.” What hour? What was his…
Read MoreI completed my series, Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World, with Part III last night. The slides and video are now available online at www.renewaloffaith.org/healing3. If you watch video in the next few days, you can complete an…
Read MoreI recently read a new book, Priests in Love with God and Eager to Witness to the Gospel by Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2021). He wrote the book with seminarians in mind but also for reflection…
Read MoreThere are numerous stories in the Bible. I would consider today’s (Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C) gospel of the woman caught in adultery as one that many people remember. You may remember it but how much do you reflect…
Read MoreI recently read The Fathers of the Church 3rd Edition: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers by Mike Aquilina (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division. 2013). When I saw an ad for the book, I was drawn to…
Read More4th Sunday of Lent, Year CJoshua 5:9a, 10-12Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (8a)2 Corinthians 5:17-21Luke 15:1-3, 11-32March 27, 2022 The Israelites had been through much. Now under the leadership of Joshua, they have crossed the Jordan into the land in which…
Read MoreLast night I offered Part II in my series of webinars, Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World. In this webinar the focus is on our forgiveness. We need to forgive others and we need to be forgiven. I…
Read MoreWhat do you want from Jesus? Do you come to Mass on Sunday looking for an hour of peace? Mass should bring us “peace” but not simply as an escape from everything else going on in our lives. In faith,…
Read MoreSince I am not preaching this Sunday, rather than offer a “homily” here today, I would like to offer brief thoughts on the meaning behind some of the verses in the readings today (Third Sunday of Lent Year C) ,…
Read MoreFollowing Part I in my new series of presentations, Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World, I was asked about the following. As Catholics, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to receive God’s forgiveness, Since Protestants and other religions…
Read More2nd Sunday of Lent, Year CGenesis 15:5-12, 17-18Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14 (1a)Philippians 3:17-4:1Luke 9:28b-36March 13, 2022 Peter, James, and John “saw his glory.” Imagine getting to see Jesus transfigured into glory as we will see him in Heaven. It…
Read MoreI started my new series of presentations, Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World, last night with Part I. You can find the video recording and slides on my website at www.renewaloffaith.org/healing1. If you watch the video, for the…
Read MoreWe are a full two years into the Coronavirus pandemic. Many of us have been worn out by the pandemic. We are tired of shutdowns, social distancing, and facemasks as well as the polarization over these. Presently, there is good…
Read MoreOur first reading today is taken from the Book of Deuteronomy. The Israelites were preparing to cross into the promised land. It has been a long time since Jacob brought his family to Egypt in a time of drought. They…
Read More8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 27:4-7Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 (see 2a)1 Corinthians 15:54-58Luke 6:39-45February 27, 2022 In Sirach we hear, “so in tribulation is the test of the just.” We face “tribulation” (i.e. distress) in our world today.…
Read MoreOne does not have to look far to see that we live in a troubled world. We have been dealing with the Coronavirus for two years now. Right now, the number of cases in the United States has dropped significantly…
Read MoreAs Jesus continues his Sermon on the Plain, today’s gospel begins, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.“ Are we really supposed to love our enemies?…
Read MoreI just uploaded the video and slides from my last presentation, Starting Lent Right, at www.renewaloffaith.org/startinglentright. For the next few days you may complete an evaluation of the presentation online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNg08BBe2TvL4tM6GsFmrT73ZZv-BPLlq5oS4ASNZ-ki84cw/viewform?usp=sf_link At one point in the presentation, I mention…
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