Today’s readings “For freedom Christ set us free.” So writes Saint Paul in our second reading today. And it’s a beautiful reflection for this weekend, when we are getting ready for our Independence Day celebrations. When our nation’s founders set up this fledgling republic 231 years ago, freedom was certainly one of their primary concerns.… Continue reading The Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Month: June 2013
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Today’s readings In today’s Gospel, Peter and the others are asked, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” We heard this Gospel story just last weekend. Now, both Peter and Paul were committed to the truth about who Christ was. They had too much at stake. Having both messed up their estimation… Continue reading Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Today’s readings Today we celebrate a feast that is a bit unusual for us. When we celebrate a saint’s day, it is usually celebrated on the feast of their death, not their birth. But today we do gather to celebrate the birth of a saint, Saint John the Baptist, and the fact that we’re celebrating… Continue reading The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Thursday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings In today’s Gospel, we have the origin of the beautiful prayer the Lord gave us. Unfortunately, that same prayer can get rattled off so quickly and second-naturedly that we totally miss what we’re saying and miss the real grace of the Lord’s Prayer. We really ought to pay more attention to it, because… Continue reading Thursday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
Monday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings We have been reading the last several days from the very challenging portion of Matthew’s Gospel in which we hear Jesus use the formula: “You have heard it said … but I say to you…” Basically, in all of these instructions, Jesus is taking the old Jewish law and cranking it up a… Continue reading Monday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time
The Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Today’s Scriptures speak to us all about our need for a Savior. If we didn’t need a Savior, this would be a pretty strange gathering. Why bother getting out of bed and dragging ourselves here? Even good King David knew that he needed a Savior and he, very appropriately, helps us to pray… Continue reading The Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
Saint Anthony, Priest and Doctor of the Church
St. Anthony is probably one of the best-known Catholic saints. I’m sure many of us have prayed that familiar prayer, “Tony, Tony, look around, something’s lost and can’t be found.” We all lose track of things from time to time, and it’s nice to have someone to help us find them. But the real story… Continue reading Saint Anthony, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Monday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Sometimes God’s blessings can be challenging. For example, we might not think that those who are meek and those who mourn are blessed. And we certainly wouldn’t celebrate the blessings of those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, would we? It’s even more challenging when we remember that the word “blessed”… Continue reading Monday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
Today’s readings Today’s Gospel story is a fitting one, I think, for this celebration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The evangelist tells us that Mary’s heart was filled with wonder. There are a few stories in the Gospels that end with that wonderful line: “and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” … Continue reading The Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Today’s readings I remember when I was growing up, often visiting my dear grandmother. She and I were best friends in so many ways. I remember when we visited that she had a beautiful framed picture in the living room, given a spot of honor where everyone could see it, and that picture was of… Continue reading The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus