Today, I’d like to share a bit more of a sermon than a homily, reflecting more on a specific topic than on the readings themselves. I do this because today is Respect Life Sunday, and I think it’s important to be aware of what the Church teaches on this very important issue. This being an election… Continue reading The Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Respect Life Sunday)
Category: Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The Ascension of the Lord
Today’s readings For the early Apostles and disciples, today’s feast had to be a kind of “now what?” experience for them. Think about what they’ve been through. Their Lord had been betrayed by one of their friends, he had been through a farce of a trial and put to death in a horrible, ignoble way,… Continue reading The Ascension of the Lord
Respect Life Sunday
Today’s readings Today is Respect Life Sunday, and so I want to do more of a sermon than a homily. A sermon speaks about an issue, while a homily is based on the readings. Even so, I would like to begin this reflection with these beautiful words from today’s second reading: “Whatever is true, whatever… Continue reading Respect Life Sunday
The thirty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings The very most important piece of the Gospel today comes right at the end, when Jesus says to the scribe: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” That’s actually a pretty remarkable thing for him to say, because he was always berating the scribes and Pharisees for not getting it, for… Continue reading The thirty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time
Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time [B] – Respect Life Sunday
Today’s readings If you’ve been to any number of Church weddings, you have probably heard today’s first reading, and part of the Gospel proclaimed. Obviously we usually leave out the part about divorce, but these readings are quite popular for weddings. The reason, of course, is that the story is about how man and woman… Continue reading Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time [B] – Respect Life Sunday
Monday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time: Respect Life
Yesterday was the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that in effect legalized abortion in the United States. The Church teaches us that abortion is a violation of the fifth commandment, which states: “Thou shall not kill.” Participation in an abortion – which includes having one, paying for one, encouraging one, performing one,… Continue reading Monday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time: Respect Life
The Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time: Respect Life Sunday
Today’s readings How wonderful are the words we hear in today’s Gospel! “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” This raises important questions for us: how deep is our faith? What have we… Continue reading The Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time: Respect Life Sunday
Twenty-eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Today’s gospel reading is a rather heartbreaking story, to be honest. The rich young man is obviously a follower of the law and a religious man, because he is able to talk to Jesus about his observance. But when Jesus tells him to let go of what he has in order to gain… Continue reading Twenty-eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings It would probably come as no surprise to you that today’s first reading and a part of the Gospel were read at the wedding I celebrated yesterday. Obviously we left out the part about divorce, but these readings are quite popular for weddings. The reason, of course, is that the story is about… Continue reading Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
Memorial Day
Today’s readings: Isaiah 32:15-18, Philippians 4:6-9, Matthew 5:1-12a Memorial Day originally began in our country as an occasion to remember and decorate the graves of the soldiers who died in the Civil War. Later it became a holiday to commemorate all those who had died in war in the service of our country. This continues… Continue reading Memorial Day