Mercy

Finding Forgiveness

By Fr. Jeff | 03/15/2022

Following 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…

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Video – “Finding Peace and Healing in a Troubled World, Part I”

By Fr. Jeff | 03/11/2022

I 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…

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God’s Gift of Mercy

By Fr. Jeff | 12/18/2021

I just finished reading Understanding Divine Mercy by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC (Stockbridge:MA. Marian Press. 2021). He writes as a member of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception from the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA. Fr.…

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Reflecting on the Act of Contrition

By Fr. Jeff | 04/22/2021

After we confessing our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receiving a penance, we say an Act of Contrition. This expresses our sorrow for our sins. We say the Act of Contrition as part of the ritual of the…

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2nd Sunday of Easter, Year B – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/11/2021

2nd Sunday of Easter, Year BActs 4:32-35Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)1 John 5:1-6John 20:19-31April 11, 2021 On this Second Sunday of Easter we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  In today’s gospel Jesus gives the power to forgive sins to the disciples…

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Good Friday – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 04/02/2021

Good Friday:  Celebration of the Lord’s PassionIsaiah 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 2, 2021 I begin with two questions.  First, who is responsible for the death of Jesus?  Secondly, why was He put…

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Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/28/2021

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the LordGospel at the Procession – Mark 11:1-10Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Mark 14:1-15:47March 28, 2021 Our gospel for the blessing of the palms began, “When Jesus and his disciples drew near…

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Lenten Penance Service Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 03/24/2021

Penance Service for LentGenesis 3:1-11Psalm 51Matthew 27:27-31March 24, 2021 Next week we celebrate Holy Week.  On Sunday we will bless the palms and hear the story of Jesus’ Passion as told in Mark’s Gospel.  On Holy Thursday we celebrate the…

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Our Weapons Against Evil

By Fr. Jeff | 03/01/2021

In two recent blog articles (“Does Evil Exist?” and “The People of the Lie”), I reflected upon Fr. Dwight Longenecker’s Immortal Combat: Confronting the Heart of Darkness (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press. 2020) and what he says about our battle against…

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“The People of the Lie”

By Fr. Jeff | 02/26/2021

On Tuesday, I posted an article, “Does Evil Exist?” based on my thoughts from reading Immortal Combat: Confronting the Heart of Darkness by Fr. Dwight Longenecker (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press. 2020).  As I ended that article I referenced Fr. Longenecker’s…

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Does Evil Exist?

By Fr. Jeff | 02/23/2021

Does “evil” exist? There should be no question that bad things happen. One does not need to watch the news for long to hear` of violence and wars. There is theft and division. Yet, if one listens to the relativists…

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Does Hell Really Exist?

By Fr. Jeff | 01/19/2021

I recently wrote an article, “Is Heaven a Crowded Place?”, regarding who gets into Heaven and how we know Satan exists. This followed articles I wrote last summer, “What Will Heaven Be Like?” and “Purgatory as a Gift That Gets…

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Is Heaven a Crowded Place?

By Fr. Jeff | 01/08/2021

Is Heaven a crowded place? I ask the question with mixed feelings. I am an introvert and do not like crowded places. On the other hand, as a Christian and knowing how great a place Heaven is, I desire that…

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What About Accountability?

By Fr. Jeff | 12/07/2020

My recent blog articles on forgiveness as well as my article, “Remembering the Past and Building a Better Future,” have led to discussions with people on the subject of accountability. The question at hand is “does forgiving someone mean they…

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/22/2020

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year AEzekiel 34:11-12, 15-17Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 (1)1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28Matthew 25:31-46November 22, 2020 Ezekiel opens today with the Lord assuring his people, “I myself will look after and tend my sheep.” …

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My Fourth and Final Article on “Fratelli Tutti”

By Fr. Jeff | 11/20/2020

I have finished my fourth and final article in my series, Our Relationships With Others, reflecting on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti.  As I complete this series, please note that the four articles do not cover the entirety of the…

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Can Failing to Do Something Be a Sin?

By Fr. Jeff | 11/05/2020

Earlier this week, I wrote an article, “Why Do We Choose to Sin”. Following that article, a person asked me to write about “sins of omission.” Most often, when we talk about sin, we talk about what we have done…

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Why Do We Choose to Sin?

By Fr. Jeff | 11/03/2020

When we confess our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive a penance, and say an “Act of Contrition.” As part of the “Act of Contrition,” we firmly resolve to sin no more. Yet, our struggle with sin often…

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Do People Understand What Jesus Does for Us?

By Fr. Jeff | 10/22/2020

With fewer and fewer people coming to church even before the Coronavirus, one asks the question, “Why don’t more people come to Jesus?” Jesus offers us something wonderful. Do people understand what Jesus offers us, namely, salvation? I just finished…

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Trust: Both Necessary and Difficult

By Fr. Jeff | 10/01/2020

The Eighth Commandment is “You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor.” How is society to function if we cannot trust others to tell the truth? Likewise, we need to be able to trust others not to steal, commit…

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26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/27/2020

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AEzekiel 18:25-28Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (6a)Philippians 2:1-11Matthew 21:28-32September 27, 2020 Today Jesus poses a question to the chief priests and the elders.  They have been asking him questions.  They often asked Jesus questions to…

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Never Forget the Cross

By Fr. Jeff | 09/25/2020

As I have begun to write articles explicitly on morality, I acknowledge that discussion on the morality of specific behaviors can be difficult. I pray that nothing I will write be interpreted as judgment on anyone. My goal is always…

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24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/13/2020

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year ASirach 27:30-28:7Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 (8)Romans 14:7-9Matthew 18:21-35September 13, 2020 It can be hard to forgive.  It can be even harder to forgive the same person over and over for the same thing. …

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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 09/06/2020

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AEzekiel 33:7-9Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)Romans 13:8-10Matthew 18:15-20September 6, 2020 Today we hear about how God calls us to respond to sin.  The first reading is sometimes known as the Parable of the Watchman. …

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Receiving a Penance

By Fr. Jeff | 09/01/2020

After we have confessed our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive a “penance.” We are not just “given” or “assigned” a penance as punishment for our sins. We must receive the penance. By “receive” I mean we willing…

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