Liturgy

Today's readings Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. That line sounds like such an outrageous goal that it would be easy to write it off and pretend it's not part of Scripture. But we know that's not … Continued

Today’s Readings It would be so much easier if we could define our own righteousness. If we could choose who to reach out to and who to ignore, life would be good, wouldn’t it? If we could hold grudges against … Continued

Today’s readings If we take one thought out of Lent this year, it should be this: we need a Savior. Even before Jesus’ time, Esther knew this. Esther’s adoptive father Mordecai was a deeply religious man. His devotion incurred the … Continued

Today's readings This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. In all fairness, I think it should be noted that even though Jonah was a sign … Continued

Today's readings Ancient sources say that we are to pray the Lord's prayer at least seven times daily. Why? Because the Lord's prayer in all its wonderful simplicity reminds us that God is God and we are not. To those … Continued

Today's readings Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. Today's readings represent what I think is the scariest instruction we have in the Gospel. And that is … Continued

Today’s readings Back in May, I was starting to pack up the vast array of stuff that had accumulated in my room during the five years I lived at Mundelein Seminary. I was sorting through files, books, clothes, belongings, the … Continued

Today’s Readings In Hebrew, the word for “righteousness” is tseh’-dek, which has the connotation of right relationship. Indeed, it was the whole idea of right relationship that was preached continuously by the prophets. That right relationship was one that should … Continued

Today’s readings [Prayer Service] A couple of years ago when I was in seminary, I was a fire chaplain for one of the local fire departments. On Wednesdays, we only had one class, and since it was Ash Wednesday and … Continued

Today’s readings [Mass for the School Children] What are you going to do for Lent this year? Are you going to give something up? Are you going to pray more? Are you going to do something nice for someone or … Continued