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For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you are used to learning of the presentations I do and being provided a link to view the video of the presentation and handouts after the presentation is given.…
Read MoreIn our Catholic faith, we have two formal creeds, the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. However, having two creeds does not mean we profess two different faiths. The two creeds are very similar in their content (you can see…
Read More3rd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11Responsorial – Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 (Isaiah 61:10b)1 Thessalonians 5:16-24John 1:6-8, 19-28December 13, 2020 The time for the long-awaited messiah is near. To prepare the way of the Lord, “John was sent from…
Read MoreRecently a friend suggested I write an article about Advent here. Honestly, my first reaction was to think I talk about Advent regularly in my Sunday homilies that are posted on this blog. (You can find them at https://blog.renewaloffaith.org/?cat=223.) You…
Read MoreThe Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryGenesis 3:9-15, 20Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (1a)Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38December 8, 2020 God is the creator of the world, the “maker of heaven and earth.” What God created is good. God created in…
Read MoreMy 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…
Read MoreAdvent Holy Hour 2020 with Vespers (Evening Prayer II)2nd Sunday of AdventRomans 8:18-27December 6, 2020 Our reading from Romans begins with Paul speaking of “the sufferings of this present time.” How has your year been? In what ways have you…
Read More2nd Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 40:1-5, 9-11Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)2 Peter 3:8-14Mark 1:1-8December 6, 2020 Scholars divide the Book of the Prophet Isaiah into three sections. Today’s reading from chapter 40 begins the second section. God “speaks tenderly”…
Read MoreWe are called to pray. Jesus spent time in prayer. If Jesus prayed, then all the more we need to. When you read the word “prayer”, what comes to mind? Is the Rosary the first thing that comes to mind?…
Read MoreIn October I wrote two separate blog articles reflecting on The Serenity Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis. Two years ago, I shared a homily from a holy hour reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer. Today I would like to…
Read More1st Sunday of Advent, Year BIsaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (4)1 Corinthians 1:3-9Mark 13:33-37November 29, 2020 Our passage from Isaiah today comes from a time when the Babylonian Exile was ending and the Jews were returning to Jerusalem. …
Read MoreThanksgiving DaySirach 50:22-24Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-81 Corinthians 1:3-9Luke 17:11-19November 26, 2020 Today is our national day of Thanksgiving. The custom of this holiday dates back to the first pilgrims in Massachusetts. They were thankful that God had blessed them…
Read MoreIn the past, the understanding by many was that Catholics were supposed to “pray, pay, and obey” to be good Catholics. (A search on the Internet shows the order of the first two, pray and pay, are sometimes switched). The…
Read MoreOur 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.” …
Read MoreI 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…
Read MoreI just uploaded the video and slides from the third and final video in my series, Uncovering the Treasures of the Mass. You can view this third video at www.renewaloffaith.org/masspart3. Peace, Fr. Jeff
Read MoreI just completed the third article, “Seeking Real Dialogue”, in my series, “Our Relationships With Others”. In the first two articles I took an instructive approach. In this third article, I continue to seek to help readers understand what Pope…
Read More33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AProverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (1a)1 Thessalonians 5:1-6Matthew 25:14-30November 15, 2020 Proverbs speaks of the “worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.” She is praised for the good she does as…
Read MoreI just posted to my website the second article, “The Right to Private Property and Loving Our Neighbor” in my series, “Our Relationships With Others” reflecting on Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. I hope it is helpful for you.…
Read More32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AWisdom 6:12-16Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (2b)1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Matthew 25:1-13November 8, 2020 Everyone is looking for happiness. We find lasting happiness, we find joy, when we find fulfillment. What is it that fulfills us?…
Read MoreEarlier 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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