-
Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings It’s been a while now since I was thought of as “too young.” I remember on my ordination as a deacon, on my way to priesthood, the first reading was from the prophet Jeremiah in which he protests to the Lord that he is too young to prophesy. Bishop Kaffer, of happy memory,…
-
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. It’s like us saying that we are going to celebrate the exaltation…
-
9-11: Taking the Wooden Beams Out of Our Eyes
Today’s readings When I hear today’s Gospel reading, I think about my dad. When he was alive, he was a guy who seemed to know everyone. Anywhere we went, he’d find someone he knew, even on vacation! But he wouldn’t just know their names, he’d also know something about them. He would know their talents,…
-
The Twenty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time: Ephphatha!
Today’s readings Jesus’ ministry on earth was all about healing. In today’s gospel, he heals a man who has been deaf and mute with the word of command: “Ephphatha!” – “Be opened!” So you’ve heard me talk about this kind of thing before. The healing is not here just for us to say “how nice…
-
Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Church
Today’s readings “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” These are words Saint Gregory took to heart. He was one of the foremost theologians and thinkers in Church history, and did much to spread the Gospel in an orthodox way throughout the world. St. Gregory showed a great deal of…
-
Monday of the Twenty-second Week of Ordinary Time
Today Jesus tussles not with the scribes and Pharisees as he often does, but instead with the people of his own home town. They are amazed at his words and speak highly of him, right up until the time when he begins to challenge them. Then they have no more use for him. They become…
-
The Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings So often, when someone thanks us for something, we might say, “It’s the least I could do.” As if it were some kind of badge of achievement to do the least thing possible. I think it’s human nature to try to do as little as possible, without being perceived as lazy or something.…
-
Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Today’s readings (Mass for the school children.) “You made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” This is one of the most famous lines from Saint Augustine’s writings. We celebrate his feast day today, and it is somewhat of a miracle that we celebrate his feast at…
-
Saint Monica
Today’s readings The kind of persistent prayer for those who were important to Saint Paul, as he speaks about in today’s first reading from his second letter to the Thessalonians, was something that Saint Monica practiced every day of her life. This was a woman in love with God and the Church, and her family,…
You must be logged in to post a comment.