Today’s readings At the age of 15, Francesco Forgione joined the Capuchins and took the name of Pio. He was ordained in 1910 and was drafted during World War I. After he was discovered to have tuberculosis, he was discharged. In 1917 he was assigned to the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo. On September 20,… Continue reading Saint Pius of Pietreclina (Padre Pio)
Month: September 2021
Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Today’s readings For those of us who strive to live as disciples, today’s feast is really a joy. I say that because Matthew was qualified to be a disciple of Jesus in much the same way that we are qualified to be disciples of Jesus – which is to say, not at all, really. Matthew was a… Continue reading Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
Today’s readings As we come together this evening to begin the year of faith formation in our Confirmation program, I think today’s readings and saints really speak to us. The Gospel this evening reminds us that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the ability, the gift, and the obligation to witness… Continue reading Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings We’ve all heard this gospel parable about the sower and the seeds dozens of times. We know, then, that the seeds are the Word of God: not just some words, but Word with a capital “W,” which is Jesus himself, God’s eternal Word, spoken to bring life to a world dead in sin. … Continue reading Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Today’s readings are a kind of blueprint for the life of the disciple. We see that those who surrounded Jesus as his core group were but a few selected people. We have the Twelve, of course, but also some women. Common to all of them is that nowadays we would probably not see… Continue reading Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Saint Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
Many of us probably can remember building sand castles in our youth. We learned pretty quickly that there was always a price to pay for laying the foundation of it too near the water. It might go well for a while, but one good wave, and all our hard work would be washed away. Well,… Continue reading Saint Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Today’s readings In a lot of ways, this is a strange feast we are celebrating today. Think about it. This is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which in Jesus’ day would have been as big an oxymoron as one could possibly imagine. No cross would ever have been thought exalted in that day. That’s… Continue reading The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
The Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings I think, as a pastor, the issue I wrestle with most is the suffering that is out there. People come to me in their suffering, and that is a great privilege, a holy space. The father in me wants to be able to say a quick prayer and take all the suffering away,… Continue reading The Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Saint Peter Claver, Missionary Priest
Today’s readings Saint Peter Claver was ordained in 1615 in what is now Colombia. During that time, the slave trade was vigorous, and the port of Cartagena was a central entry point for African slaves. Ten thousand slaves would pour into Colombia through Cartagena every year under extremely foul conditions. Around a third of them… Continue reading Saint Peter Claver, Missionary Priest
Labor Day
Today’s readings: Genesis 1:26-2:3 | Psalm 90 | 1 Thessalonians 4:1b-2, 9-12 | Matthew 6:31-34 One of the things that I remember vividly about my childhood is how hard my parents worked. My Dad worked more than one job at a time for several years. And in his main job, he was with the company… Continue reading Labor Day
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