Prayer
From October 22nd – 30th, the parishes I serve (St. Mary’s of the Lake and St. Benedict’s) prayed the Respect Life Novena from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) after daily Masses. Generally, some parishioners lead it but the leaders were not present one day. In their absence, they…
Read MoreOur federal government remains in partial shutdown since October 1st because of the inability of our elected representatives to agree on a budget. At times I want to write to Congress and the President to express my dissatisfaction with them. Members of each political party blame the…
Read More30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 35:12-14, 16-1Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 (7a)2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18Luke 18:9-14October 26, 2025 How do you approach Jesus in prayer? How do you look at yourself? Are you convinced of your own righteousness? …
Read More29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CExodus 17:8-13Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (see 2)2 Timothy 3:14-4:2Luke 18:1-8October 19, 2025 The Israelites were attacked by Amalek. The Israelites did not start the war. Their response was a defensive action and it…
Read More27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CHabakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10October 5, 2025 The prophet Habakkuk is lamenting the way things are for the Israelites. He has good reason to lament as they are…
Read More25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CAmos 8:4-7Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 (see 1a, 7b)1 Timothy 2:1-8Luke 16:1-13September 21, 2025 There were those “who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor.” They were more interested in selling grain than practicing…
Read More17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CGenesis 18:20-32Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7. 7-8 (3a)Colossians 2:12-14Luke 11:1-13July 27, 2025 Jesus teaches us how to pray. When we pray, what do we ask for? Jesus says, “What father among you would hand his…
Read MoreWe live in a very busy world. For some people work fills their entire lives as much as twelve hours a day or more, five…six…even seven days a week. What good does this bring them? Some people are busy with…
Read MorePeace…It is missing in the world. What is needed to bring peace to this world? We live in a world torn by war, division, and hatred. What is needed to change this? My heart aches when I heard news stories…
Read MoreNo matter how much we know about our faith, there is always room for growth. This is evident for me in the celebration of the Feast of the Archangels on September 29th. This year the feast fell on Sunday so…
Read MoreWe dare to say… As we end the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass with the great amen and prepare to say the Lord’s Prayer, the priest says, “At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say.” It…
Read More“After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem.” There, “they went to the upper room” (first reading for this 7th Sunday of Easter) The upper room is where they had gathered with Jesus after his…
Read MoreThis is the third article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. The first article was “What Does It Mean to be Devout?” followed by “Purification in the…
Read More30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 35:12-14, 16-18Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 (7a)2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18Luke 18:9-14October 23, 2022 Once again Jesus tells a parable, this time “to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone…
Read MoreAs I write this, I am almost done with some time off. When I write “time off” I suspect the word “vacation” probably comes to mind for many of you. What is the purpose of a vacation? When I think…
Read MoreIt is necessary for us “to pray always without become weary.” Today Jesus tells a parable of a woman who persists in her request. She is awaiting a decision from a judge. The judge, “who neither feared God nor respected…
Read More28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C2 Kings 5:14-17Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 (see 2b)2 Timothy 2:8-13Luke 17:11-19October 9, 2022 Naaman was a great soldier, serving as commander in his king’s army. He was also a leper. He had sought a…
Read MoreLast Sunday, we heard of Abraham’s hospitality to the Lord. At that point, Abraham did not know it was the Lord. Now (17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C) the Lord says to Abraham, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah…
Read MoreAfter 3 1/2 months without doing a webinar/presentation, I am happy to announce that I have scheduled a webinar for Thursday, August 25th, at 6:30 pm. called “Praying the Rosary From the Heart.” Here is a description of what I…
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 MoreLast week I wrote an article about new year’s resolutions (“A New Beginning”). Today I will share some thoughts about what we might be looking forward to in 2022. I think the thing most obvious thing that we would all…
Read MoreLast night I offered the third and final webinar in my series, Giving Our Hearts to God: What It Means to Pray. You can view the recording of this webinar and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prayer2021partIII. The recording is 1…
Read More