Bible

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/21/2024

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – HomilyJonah 3:1-5, 10Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a)1 Corinthians 7:29-31Mark 1:14-20January 21, 2024 You can see near the end of this homily, I did something different to help people understanding the Bible shapes…

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Knowing What the Truth Is

By Fr. Jeff | 05/16/2023

Throughout the Easter season the first reading for both daily and Sunday Mass (albeit on separate cycles) comes from the Acts of the Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the early church. The Acts of the…

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More on Fortune Telling and Reiki in the Bible

By Fr. Jeff | 02/07/2023

Two weeks ago, in my homily for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, I spoke about the relevancy of the Bible today. It was the Sunday of the Word of God and I used Deuteronomy 18:10-12a as an…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/22/2023

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 8:23-9:3Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 (1a)1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17January 22, 2023 Each Sunday we gather to celebrate Mass.  We begin with the procession followed by the Sign of the Cross, a greeting, Penitential Rite,…

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Sacred Scripture and Tradition

By Fr. Jeff | 10/04/2022

I recently read Mark Shea’s By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition Revised and Expanded Edition (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2013). Shea began his Christian life in the Evangelical Church. This book tells his story of moving from sola…

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Jeremiah Today

By Fr. Jeff | 08/02/2022

Some people see the Bible as outdated. It is not. It is God’s Word and it is a living word, still relevant to us today. In recent days the first reading at daily Mass has been from the Book of…

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The Importance of God’s Word

By Fr. Jeff | 01/23/2022

God’s Word is important. God’s Word helps us know how we are called to live. Unfortunately, we don’t always listen. If we do hear it, we don’t always pay attention. This was true for the Israelites. Through revelation, the Law,…

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Why the Commandments Are Good

By Fr. Jeff | 10/31/2021

Our gospel reading and the first reading for this 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) speak of God’s commandments. We think in terms of 10 commandments. The Jews list 613 commandments with the 10 being the most important and…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/23/2021

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJonah 3:1-5, 10Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a)1 Corinthians 7:29-31Mark 1:14-20January 24, 2021 Now, as we proceed through Ordinary Time, we are reading from the Gospel of Mark in this Year B of our Sunday…

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Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura

By Fr. Jeff | 06/26/2020

Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura are two Latin terms that became popular among the Protestant Reformers. “Sola Fide” means “by faith alone.” Ultimately, we cannot save ourselves. It is God who saves us through Jesus sacrificing his life for us…

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Who Wrote the Bible?

By Fr. Jeff | 05/15/2020

Who wrote the Bible? The answer to this question depends on what one means by “wrote”. Are you referring to the person who physically wrote the stories? Or are you referring the source of the content? If the latter, do…

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Connecting the Old and New Testaments

By Fr. Jeff | 05/13/2020

In my last article, “Are All Bibles the Same?”, I began to talk about connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We need one to understand the other. Here, I think of the story of the two disciples…

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Are All Bibles the Same?

By Fr. Jeff | 05/11/2020

Last week I shared some thoughts on why it is important for us to read the Bible (see “Have You Read From the Bible Lately?”). Today I would like to offer some thoughts about which Bible we use. Which Bible?…

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Have You Read From the Bible Lately?

By Fr. Jeff | 05/09/2020

As we find ourselves in isolation from the Coronavirus, how are you doing with your faith? Are you struggling? That’s understandable since we can’t gather together for the Eucharist. Some are finding their faith stronger (see article – “Polls Show…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/26/2020

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AIsaiah 8:23 – 9:3Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 (1a)1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17Matthew 4:12-23January 26, 2020 As John is arrested, Jesus begins his public ministry.  Hearing of John’s arrest, Jesus “withdrew to Galilee” but we should…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/27/2019

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CNehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15 (see John 6:63c)1 Corinthians 12:12-30Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21January 27, 2019 Catholics have a reputation for not knowing the Bible.  In years long past, Catholics were sometimes told…

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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 10/28/2018

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Jeremiah 31:7-9 Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3) Hebrews 5:1-6 Mark 10:46-52 October 28, 2018 The Bible is the story of God’s people.  It is not just history.  It does not just tell…

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Our Ancestral Heritage

By Fr. Jeff | 06/18/2018

Today’s first reading (June 18, 2018) 1 Kings 21:1-16, begins with two people wanting the same property. The first, Naboth, is the owner of the property. The second is King Ahab. Ahab wants the property to be his “vegetable garden,…

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