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Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Today’s readings There’s an old saying that if you want to hear God laugh, just tell him your plans for the day. And we know how true that is, don’t we? How many times have we had a plan for the day, only to have it derailed by whatever circumstances come our way during the…
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Saint Francis Xavier, Priest, Diocesan Patron
Today’s readings: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 16:15-20 We celebrate the memorial of St. Francis Xavier as a feast today, because he is the patron saint of the Diocese of Joliet. Francis Xavier was a sixteenth century man who had a promising career in academics. He was encouraged in the faith by his good friend,…
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The First Sunday of Advent
Today’s readings I don’t know about you, but I always find this weekend after Thanksgiving to be a little strange. And I love Thanksgiving: I enjoy joining my mother and sisters in the kitchen to cook a wonderful meal, and spend the day with our family. But this weekend, as a whole, has become rather…
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Saint Andrew, Apostle
There are two presentations of Andrew’s discipleship in Scripture. In the Gospel story we have today, Andrew is called at the same time as his brother Peter. They are both fishermen, and are casting their nets into the sea. Jesus, of course, has plans for them to cast nets for bigger fish, for souls for…
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Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Jesus says to us today, “this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” This includes all of us, past, present and future. We will all live, in some way, to see the end of days, either here on earth, or from the joy of heaven. So what will…
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Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Very often, when we hear this story about the widow’s mite, the story is equated with the call to stewardship. That’s a rather classic explanation of the text. And there’s nothing wrong with that explanation. But honestly, I don’t think the story about the widow’s mite is about stewardship at all. Yes, it’s…
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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Today’s readings I wonder if this solemnity of Christ the King is one to which many people can relate these days. In our day, many people don’t recognize or accept any authority outside of their own personal opinion of what is okay, let alone grasp the concept of a monarchical, top-down method of government. And…
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Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Today’s readings [Mass for the school children.] How many of you are musicians: do you play an instrument, or do you sing? Well, today is your feast day, because today we celebrate Saint Cecilia, a virgin and martyr who is the patron saint of musicians. Because she is a martyr, we also remember those people…
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The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today’s Gospel can be a confusing one, perhaps even a little difficult to hear. It’s very disconcerting to see Jesus as being callous to his mother and not receiving her when she came to visit. But our gut – or rather our faith – tells us that Jesus and Mary had a relationship that transcended…
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Monday of the Thirty-third Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Right at the end of today’s first reading is one of the most chilling lines in all of Scripture: “and they did die.” The people’s faith was sorely tested: would they give in and worship the false gods of the people around them so that they could have some kind of peace and…
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