Our Blog
On Monday night I led a session called “Navigating the Bible.” I say “session” as opposed to having used “presentation” because the format of this one, like my last session, “Lenten Customs,” was of a different format in the past. This time,…
Read More3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A Exodus 17:3-7 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 March 19, 2017 The Israelites have just left slavery in Egypt. You might think they would be very thankful for being set free…
Read MoreToday’s gospel begins, “Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.” The line “Be merciful, just as your Father is…
Read More2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A Genesis 12:1-4a Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 Matthew 17:1-9 March 12, 2017 In our responsorial psalm verse today we sang, “as we place our trust in you.” We come here to…
Read More1st Sunday of Lent, Year A Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11 March 5, 2017 Today we hear the story of the “original sin.” Adam and Eve were in the Garden and God had…
Read MoreOn Monday night I led a session on our Lenten customs. I say “session” as opposed to having used “presentation” because the format of this one was something new. I used PowerPoint slides to present the information but it also…
Read More8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 49:14-15 Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Matthew 6:24-34 February 26, 2017 “No one can serve two masters.” These are Jesus’ words to us. As we hear them our first thought…
Read MoreI just a new video. My previous videos have been approximately one hour-long videos that are video recordings of presentations I have done to parishioners present in the audience. This new video, “So What’s on the Altar?” is a 7 1/2…
Read MoreIn today’s Gospel (February 20, 2017) we hear the story of Jesus driving out another evil spirit. He has does this before but this time there is a difference. Before coming to Jesus directly, the boy’s father had asked Jesus to…
Read More7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 February 19, 2017 Our readings continue on the themes we have been hearing in recent weeks. Paul continues to…
Read MoreThe first reading for today’s (February 15, 2017) Mass comes from the story of Noah and the Great Flood. The reading picks up at the point where it has just stopped raining for forty days and forty nights. There is…
Read More6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Sirach 15:15-20 Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17-37 February 12, 2017 Sirach reminds the people “If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you, if you…
Read More4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a January 29, 2017 The prophet Zephaniah wrote in the 7th century B.C. This is shortly before Jerusalem falls to the Babylonian…
Read More3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 8:23-9:3 Psalm 27:104, 13-14 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 January 22, 2017 Paul had helped start the Christian community at Corinth. Now, he has heard about division and immorality going on…
Read More2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34 January 15, 2017 Our first reading today is part of what are known as four “Suffering Servant Oracles” in…
Read MoreThe Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60;1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 5:1-12 January 8, 2017 Today we hear what we consider as the last piece of the Christmas story. Here come the magi. We don’t…
Read MoreToday (January 5th) is the Memorial of St. John Neumann. He was born in Bohemia in 1811. He came to the United States and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New York in 1836. At that time, the…
Read MoreMary, the Holy Mother of God Numbers 6:22-27 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21 January 1, 2017 One week ago we celebrated Christmas day but our Christmas season continues until next week. Today marks the eighth day…
Read MoreChristmas 2016 – Mass During the Night Isaiah 9:1-6 Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 December 25, 2016 We are here to celebrate something very holy. We began with a song familiar to many, O Come All…
Read More4th Sunday in Advent, Year A Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (7c, 10b) Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24 December 18, 2016 Isaiah offers a sign to King Ahaz but the king refuses. He tries to make his refusal look noble by…
Read MoreI just finished reading two separate books on “Apologetics.” Before going any further I probably should provide a definition of what “apologetics” is. Patrick Madrid in his book How to Do Apologetics: Making the Case for Our Faith (Our Sunday…
Read More3rd Sunday in Advent, Year A Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-13 December 11, 2016 “Be patient.” These are the words of James offers to the recipients of his letter. What are they to be patient…
Read More