I think today’s reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a good one for us to hear. How often are we beset by all the frustrations of the world, and all of the sadness that our own lives can sometimes bring? I’m not saying that every day is horrible, but we all go… Continue reading Thursday, October 30, 2014
Month: October 2014
Monday of the Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time
“Loose lips sink ships.” That’s a saying that I learned somewhere in my early elementary school life. I don’t think I fully understood what it meant at the time – all I appreciated was that it told me to keep my mouth shut. But as I’ve lived and matured, I know very well that frivolous… Continue reading Monday of the Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time
The Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time: Time/Talent/Treasure
Today’s readings One of our parishioners showed me some pictures yesterday of the new chapel at my alma mater, Mundelein Seminary. The chapel has stained glass windows that depict various saints of the New Evangelization, and the one that stood out for me was that of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Maximilian is a modern saint, a… Continue reading The Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time: Time/Talent/Treasure
Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Have you ever seen a fig tree? I haven’t. But I can tell you I’d be pretty frustrated if I had cared for a fig tree for three years and never saw one bit of fruit. I think we could all understand the man wanting his gardener to cut the tree down and give the… Continue reading Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings In our overly-litigious society, Jesus’ words that we are to make an effort to settle the matter on the way are a good call to refocus. This call shifts the emphasis from winning to healing, and it calls us to do some hard things. In order to settle the matter, we will have… Continue reading Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Some people would say that Jesus was a peaceful man. Saying that is really misunderstanding Jesus and who he was. Because peace wasn’t necessarily his primary interest, at least not peace in the way that we would probably define it. Because sometimes I think we misread what peace is supposed to be. We might sell… Continue reading Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings It has often struck me that, the economy of our nation and the world being as precarious as it is, that being rich in what matters to God is more important than ever. With all the bad news out there – financial news, political news, news of epidemic diseases, war and terrorism, who… Continue reading Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time
The Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings When a couple comes to me for marriage, one of the things I have them do is to write me letters, individually, asking to be married. I ask them to reflect on their relationship and to say something about their faith. Over the years I’ve received a lot of letters and some are… Continue reading The Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr
Today’s readings Franklin Roosevelt once said “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” We can be afraid of all sorts of things: of the dark, of strangers, of taking a risk, of all sorts of danger. And to a certain extent, fear is good. It keeps us from putting ourselves in harm’s way. But… Continue reading Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
“I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus.” St. Margaret Mary spoke these as her dying words, while being anointed at the age of 43. Margaret was a simple woman and a Visitation nun. She worked as an assistant in the convent infirmary, but God had other plans for… Continue reading St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin