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St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster Father of Our Lord
On today’s feast, we celebrate the faithfulness of Saint Joseph. When he became betrothed to Mary, he got more than he could ever have bargained for. It certainly would have been easy to divorce her quietly when the news of her pregnancy became known, and it certainly would have been difficult to continue the relationship…
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Saint Patrick, Bishop
Today’s readings “The Lord of hosts is with us, our stronghold is the God of Jacob.” These words of the Psalmist are ones that guided Saint Patrick throughout his life and ministry. He was subject to so much misfortune, that it would have been easy for him to throw up his hands and not give…
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The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Scrutiny II)
Today’s readings Today’s Liturgy calls us to clear up our clouded vision and become people of light. The gospel gets at that pretty quickly, healing the man born blind in the first couple of minutes of what is admittedly a pretty long reading. And that’s a good thing because, honestly, who cares about the man…
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Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Today’s readings “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” These are perhaps the most important words of the spiritual life, uttered today by the repentant tax collector in the temple area. These words are so important, actually, that they form the basis of one of the most ancient acts of contrition that we have,…
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The Third Sunday of Lent: Scrutiny I
Today’s readings Note: This homily was for the Mass at which the RCIA Elect was present for the First Scrutiny, so particular readings are used for that. All other Masses used the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle B, including Jesus clearing the temple courtyard. What is it going to take to quench…
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Monday of the Second Week of Lent
Today’s readings These readings for the weekdays of Lent are especially challenging, aren’t they? They’re supposed to be. They speak of what it means to be a disciple and take up the cross, and they speak of it with urgency. We have to be willing to have our whole world turned upside-down; to do something…
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The Second Sunday of Lent
Today’s readings What would you give up for love? Today’s first reading puts poor Abraham in an awful position. Remember, he and Sarah were childless well into their old age. And it is only upon entering into relationship with God that that changes. God gives them a son, along with a promise, that he would…
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Friday of the First Week of Lent
Today’s readings Today’s readings remind us that Lent is no time for “business as usual.” It’s not enough for us to merely claim to be righteous, because righteousness, literally a right relationship, means that righteous actions must back our lofty words. And so today we are called to a righteousness that surpasses the scribes and…
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Friday after Ash Wednesday
Today’s readings The prophets of the Old Testament were always pretty clear about the fact that God was sick and tired of people trying to claim righteousness but not really being righteous. The idea of keeping the letter but not the spirit of the Law, of fasting and praying with the express idea of getting…
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Thursday After Ash Wednesday
Today’s readings Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim because it…
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