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The work of sharing the gospel is not easy. That’s because it is not easy to live according to what Jesus says. So, people often don’t want to hear it. The resistance may come from religious leaders, as it does…
Read More14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BEzekiel 2:2-5Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4 (2cd)2 Corinthians 12:7-10Mark 6:1-6July 5, 2024 Ezekiel was trained to be a priest in Jerusalem but when Jerusalem fell, Ezekiel was among those taken away in Exile. Away from…
Read MoreThis past weekend was high school graduation weekend where I live. Graduation is a time to celebrate the accomplishment of completing high school for the graduates (and their families). It also leads others to reflect on our graduations. There were…
Read MoreWhat did God create us for? Wisdom tells us “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.” God does not want us to die in our sin. He did not create us to…
Read MoreOn June 22nd of each year we celebrate the memorial of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More. St. Thomas More served as the chancellor of England. As such he was King Henry VIII’s “right-hand man.” St. John Fisher with…
Read More12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BJob 38:1, 8-11Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31 (1b)2 Corinthians 5:14-17Mark 4:35-41June 23, 2024 The disciples were afraid. They were crossing the sea when a “violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the…
Read MoreIn May, the Diocese of Buffalo announced plans to merge 1/3 of its parishes. As of this morning (6/18/24) a banner on its website says “Rightsizing and Reshaping.” In the business world “rightsizing” is a good thing. It is seen…
Read MoreDo we always understand how things happen? No, and we don’t have to. In today’s gospel, “Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter…
Read MoreThis article is written based on a comment received to a blog article, “Pro-Choice or Not?” that I published here last week. The person spoke of promoting contraception as a means to reduce the number of abortions. I wrote this…
Read More10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year BGenesis 3:9-15Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (7bc)2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1Mark 3:20-35June 9, 2024 When Jesus returned home, his relatives were surprised to hear what He was saying and doing. They knew him as the little…
Read MoreToday I would like to write about something that has been on my mind for a while. As I see polarization increasing in our nation to the point where true dialogue almost seems impossible, I want to seek understanding and…
Read MoreThe Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year BExodus 24:3-8Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 (13)Hebrews 9:11-15Mark 14:12-16, 22-26June 2, 2024 When God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He did not simply pull them out of Egypt and then…
Read MoreIf you are a regular reader of my blog, I would think you probably are a regular churchgoer. If so, you can use this article to reflect on why you find value in going to church. This can help keep…
Read MoreIn today’s gospel (second option), Jesus speaks of the Advocate whom He will send to us from the Father. This advocate is “the Spirit of Truth that proceeds from the Father.” The Advocate of whom Jesus speaks is the Holy…
Read MoreRecessional, Hymn, and Other Prayers Then the altar servers, lector, and clergy recess out as we sing a hymn. We began with a procession that symbolized all of us entering in. We end with the recessional symbolizing all of us…
Read MoreToday I would like to try something a little different. I would like to examine the morality of something emerging in today’s technology. I begin by proposing a question to you. Do you want to grow in your faith? I…
Read More7th Sunday of Easter Year BActs 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 (19a)1 John 4:11-16John 17:11b-19May 12, 2024 Throughout the season of Easter our first reading at Mass comes from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts tells us the story…
Read MoreHere is an article in PDF format that I recently composed (with proofreading and editorial assistance from some friends.). The topic is what is the purpose of a parish.
Read MoreThe “Last” Prayer After Communion, we stand as the priest offers the Prayer After Communion. There was a period of time when this prayer was mistakenly called the Closing Prayer. This is understandable since it is the last prayer said…
Read MoreI don’t understand…I don’t understand so much of what goes on in the world today. I don’t understand the current protests occurring on college campuses in the United States. I believe in the right of people to protest. However, I…
Read MoreLove can change the world for the better. Hate can’t do that. Why? “Because love is of God.” Jesus does not want us to be his slaves. He says so himself, “I no longer call you slaves.” Instead He calls…
Read MoreStanding or Kneeling Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the normal practice was to receive Communion kneeling at the Communion rail. Now the official practice in the United States is to receive standing. Timothy P. O’Malley writes, “We stand and…
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