May 28, 2017

Like the gifts we receive for birthdays or on Christmas, the best way to show that we truly appreciate the gifts of the Spirit is to use them — and make them Spirit-gifts for others.

May 21, 2017

Jesus uses His own intimate relationship with the Father to assure His followers that He—and the Father—are equally close to them and dwell with them through the power of the Spirit.

May 14, 2017

Like every other aspect of our lives, our spiritual lives go through times of growth and change, times that are not always easy. As the Church did from the beginning, we need to keep the Lord near.

May 7, 2017

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is always with us and tends us. But the members of His flock still fair to hear or know His voice, and scatter off in many directions without knowing their shepherd is near.

April 30, 2017

The disciples knew Jesus in the breaking of the bread, but first they had to come to know how He had broken open His own life. As we still break bread in His name, so must we break open our lives.

April 23, 2017

The very breath of Jesus bestows the Holy Spirit on the disciples. Like our own breath, the breath of the Spirit is absolutely essential to our ongoing lives as followers of Jesus.

April 16, 2017

The Easter scriptures give us many role models to be people who give witness to the resurrection. We must overcome fear and boldly speak what we have come to know through faith.

April 9, 2017

The death of Jesus on the cross was not merely a dutiful Son fulfilling His role. It was a total self-emptying, self-surrender, self-giving sacrifice that led Him, and leads us, to resurrected life.

April 2, 2017

Jesus is warned that the tomb of Lazarus will have a stench. But Jesus has faced the stench of evil, sin, and death before — and has overcome it.

March 26, 2017

As our Lenten journey progresses, we strive to improve the manner in which we “see” with our hearts, hoping that, in the light of Christ, we can truly come to see the world as God does.

March 19, 2017

The most common substance on earth — water — is also the most precious.

It is no wonder that the stories of our salvation feature it so frequently.

March 12, 2017

Though the experience of the Transfiguration was dazzling, Christ’s followers had to come to learn that no matter where they were, Christ their Light always remained with them, even when leaving the mountaintop.

March 5, 2017

The fruit of the tree in Eden was good, but the eating of it wasn't a good thing for Adam and Eve. In Christ we can discern both what is good and what will be good for us.

February 26, 2017

There is a way in which our living in anxiety is a statement that we don’t trust in God. Complete trust in God doesn’t mean life won’t have difficulties, but it does mean they can be faced calmly, with faith.

February 19, 2017

To know one’s enemies may be the most difficult teaching of Jesus, the one that leads to many times to act in direct contradiction to the wisdom of the world. Yet that is at the heart of His message.

February 12, 2017

It is tempting to try and figure out the bare minimum that we can do and still think
we are a follower of Christ. But He always challenges us to do more than the minimum, to stay away from the Tempter who leads us down that path.

February 5, 2017

Though few of us are called to do grand and publicly glorious things for Christ, each of us is called upon to bring some goodness into the world, and to do a little bit better at that every day.

January 29, 2017

The Beatitudes in this week's Gospel reading show us how to orient ourselves and to give ourselves an attitude toward living that is truly Christ-like.

January 22, 2017

There is no denying that the world, our society, our Church, are all in a state of factionalism. For Christians, fiercely belonging to a faction often means that we can only share a fraction of the Gospel.

January 15, 2017

We hear John the Baptist call Jesus the “Lamb of God,” we are set on a

journey toward Ash Wednesday to discover who Jesus is — and who we are as well.

January 8, 2017

An epiphany is a moment of revelation, a moment that can occur when something long expected finally happens, or when something completely unexpected breaks into our lives.

January 1, 2017

On this feast day, we celebrate Mary, who held God’s mysteries and pondered them in her heart, and whose heart would be pierced in sorrow. Like Mary, we need to train our hearts to be given wholly to God.

December 25, 2016

All the ends of the earth see the saving power of God because God’s Light
from light — Jesus Christ — shines for all to see, and for all to be able to see.

December 18, 2016

We hear about Jesus’ many ancestors in Matthew’s Gospel. Surely Jesus knew of these men and women, but He always lived focused on the future, building on what He had inherited.

December 11, 2016

We hear what happens when the reign of God truly breaks into the world. Can we imagine a world or a life that looks like those signs?

December 4, 2016

Sometimes we do not like change, but when it comes to living more closely in the image of Christ, things about our lives do need to change. We cannot change our lives without a change of heart first.

November 27, 2016

Unlike our everyday life, in which we can never fully prepare for crisis or
emergency, we are able to prepare spiritually for the time of the Lord’s return.

November 20, 2016

This feast celebrates majesty in humility, strength in weakness, power in gentleness. Are we able to live humble, weak, gentle lives—as Jesus did—so one day we will be crowned with His glory?

November 13, 2016

The readings at the end of the liturgical year always refocus us on the end of time. As frightening as they can sometimes be, we are always assured of the ultimate love we will know a the end.

November 6, 2016

Attempting to understand the life beyond this life can be a challenge. We know that somehow we will still live, but a in a completely new way. The Risen Christ shows us the way.

October 30, 2016

No doubt we’ve all come to the conclusion that God sees the world and others in a very different way than we do. Can we attempt, however, to see the world with God’s vision of love and mercy?

October 23, 2016

It shouldn’t be that difficult to be humble when standing before God in prayer. However, in addition to telling God what “I” want/need, we must remember the needs of the world around us.

October 16, 2016

Even Moses needed assistance in prayer, having his arms held up so they would not tire. Sometimes we need that same kind of help to pray-and sometimes we area called upon to hold up someone else in prayer.

October 9, 2016

It doesn’t take all that much to say “thank you” to God when something Extraordinary happens. But do we have the mindfulness to express our gratitude for the smaller, commonplace blessings?

October 2, 2016

In our world of quick-if not instant-results or gratification, we sometimes
are not able or willing to wait patiently to see what God has in store for us.

September 25, 2016

God knew and loved the homeless beggar Lazarus by name. How often do we treat the poor and homeless as though they were not real people, named, known, and loved by God?

September 18, 2016

As it is with God’s gifts, we can use the intelligence or insight we have been given (or have gained) for our own selfish purposes. Or, in the Divine Image, we can use them for the benefit of others.

September 11, 2016

God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness are boundless. Sometimes we see this mercy extended to those  we think aren’t deserving and — rather than imitate God’s mercy — we are blinded by jealousy.

September 4, 2016

Even though God's ways are not our ways, we can still search for God's wisdom as a guide for living; it will prove valuable as we strive to be faithful disciples.

August 28, 2016

True humility is not self-deprecation, but honest self-awareness. A disciple truly aware of what it means to follow Jesus cannot help but live in humble service to others.

August 21, 2016

Jesus shows us a heavenly banquet that just might have a lot of attendees we don’t expect to see; Those who, by the way they lived, showed God’s grace and mercy to the world around them.

August 14, 2016

God’s word can both comfort and challenge. Living out that word in a prophetic
way can provide us with comfort—but also with times of profound challenge.

August 7, 2016

In our overly scheduled lives we can lose sight of the fact that the most important "meeting" we will have is one that we cannot put on any schedule.

July 31, 2016

Many things tug at us for our allegiance-some healthy, some not. Ultimately, only one of these can hold first place in our lives.

July 24, 2016

In advising us to ask — seek — knock in our prayer, Jesus is reminding us
that prayer always takes us out of ourselves, and places us before God.

July 17, 2016

In Martha and Mary we see a microcosm of the Church, we each have distinct abilities and need to put them at the service for Christ.

July 10, 2016

Life often seems simpler when we put others into categories that help us de-humanize them. But when we view them as a neighbor, or as a brother or sister in Christ, it is easier to act as a follower of Christ.

July 3, 3016

"No one is an island," says common wisdom - as disciples we are constantly called to leave our isolated and individual lives to bear the Good News everywhere.

June 26, 2016

Even though we don't always grasp the ways that discipleship guides our life, we can only keep going forward, following Christ.

June 19, 2016

Jesus asks His follower who they thought He was, well before He offered any self-explanation. Can other see who we are -- and who lives in us -- without our having to offer them an explanation.

June 11, 2017

When we know the Father’s grace, that grace as members of the Body of Christ,

we are living in the grace of the Holy Spirit.

June 18, 2017

In the Eucharistic elements, Christ feeds us with spiritual food and quenches
our thirst with the cup of salvation. Thus, He continues to guide the Church

June 25, 2017

Frequently the scriptures tell us not to be afraid, for we have God with us; as members of Christ’s flock, we are called to live this fearlessness.

July 2, 2017

Our lives are networks of relationships, which can change over the course of time. We are challenged in the changes to keep Christ as our primary relationship.

July 9,  2017

Jesus continually surprised people with unexpected wisdom from unexpected sources. We still must be open to new knowledge coming to us from places we don’t expect.

July 16, 2017

Jesus taught in parables, often from the natural world. Our sacraments use things that come to us from the natural realm, too. All can lead us to imagine God’s reign among us.

July 23, 2017

It can be easy to focus on what's wrong in life and in the world. Some time spent focused on grace and goodness can lead us to a brighter day.

July 30, 2017

Our covenant of love with God is our security and strength. May it also be the song that fills our hearts and lives each day.

August 6, 2017

We ask God to give us our daily bread, but prayer is another kind of nourishment also necessary for our spiritual life.

August 13, 2017

We ask God to give us our daily bread, but prayer is another kind of nourishment also necessary for our spiritual life.

August 20, 2017

When we open our hearts to let in the reconciling power of God, we can discover how petty and useless many of our squabbles can be.

August 27, 2017

We live in a world filled with locks and keys, with all kinds of devices meant to keep others out. But prayer is a key we are given to open up our lives to God and to others.

September 3, 2017

Though we’d prefer an always-easy life, life isn’t that way. A deepened relationship with God is the ultimate place to turn.

September 10, 2017

When there is discord in any relationship or group, it is difficult and necessary — because it is difficult — to recall that we must still treat everyone respectfully, as an image of a loving God.

September 17, 2017

CATECHETICAL WEEKEND

We think of extending forgiveness as an act of giving a gift to another person.

But we also receive a gift when we forgive others.

September 24, 2017

Sometimes God seems to act unfairly, but it is really God’s generous justice in action.

Perhaps having a bit more of God’s generous nature would help us to all be more just.

October 1, 2017

Respect Life Sunday

One of the hardest things for us to do is to admit we’ve been wrong. But when we do, we often open up our lives to much affirmation.

October 8, 2017

There are two possible outlooks on most things in life: gratitude or entitlement. Viewing life gratefully helps us to live thankful lives, and avoid greed or jealousy.

October 15, 2017

Banquets or feasts are often used in scripture to tell us something about God’s reign in our midst. Called to an abundant feast, we are likewise called to be signs of that feast, and live by sharing abundantly.

October 22, 2017

Sometimes those who challenge Jesus begin the conversation with false praise.

Now, as then, Jesus doesn’t fall for insincere flattery.

October 29, 2017

Love God. Love your neighbor. There are, essentially, two commandments — but even this short and simple list can sometimes be difficult to live out daily.

November 5, 2017

The Gospel passage is likely the source of the maxim “Practice what you preach.” Though this saying has been around a long time, we still have trouble doing it.

November 12, 2017

Everyone in today’s Gospel reading fell asleep. The real difference is that one group — though asleep — was prepared and ready to go whenever it was time to wake up!

November 19, 2017

Everyone has been given some gift or gifts by God. What differentiates us is the degree to which we use those gifts so they flourish and become of even greater use to those around us.

November 26, 2017

It is an upside-down of kingship that next week’s feast presents to us: We see royalty in the least and the lowly, by giving aid to them.

December 3, 2017

The call to be watchful and alert is a call to readiness, not to let our spirits get sluggish and slip off into a state of unconsciousness. But it is hard at times to stay up, to keep watch. Is Jesus being unreasonable here?

December 10, 2017

Sometimes God’s timeline seems inscrutable, or at least beyond our human patience. While waiting for the Lord, we lift our hearts and voices in prayer, knowing the solace of Divine Presence.

December 17, 2017

As we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas, and anticipate his return in glory — no matter what our life situation — we are called upon to be prayerful people of joy!

December 24/25, 2017

Though David wanted to build a dwelling place for God to dwell in, God promised David something greater: a “house” that would last forever. In Christ, we find that promise fulfilled.

December 31, 2017

God doesn't promise a life that is always easy, or never knows sadness or trials. What God does promise us in Christ is someone to share it all - the difficulties and the joys - no matter what.

January 7, 2018

Whether it was Isaiah’s listeners wondering where God’s light was, or the Magi following a star to an unexpected place, or us trying to broaden our understanding of God’s mysteries, we know that God illumines the way.

January 14, 2018

We are anointed with holy oil both at our Baptism and Confirmation. This makes us “anointed ones” for God. But the sheen of that oil disappears soon — what must remain is our living witness.

January 21, 2018

Sometimes God calls us out of the patterns of our day-to-day existence to take on something new. Though we hesitate— we are content with life as it is — the call to turn our lives anew is not to be resisted.

January 28, 2018

In both testaments of the Bible, there are struggles to understand how Divine Authority comes into the world. If we remain connected to the mission and message of Jesus, we have the authority to live as a disciple.

February 4, 2018

The trials of Job led him to an even deeper insight into the ways and the wisdom of God. When life presents us with difficulties, we also can step back in faith, and search more deeply into God’s will.

February 11, 2018

The Church — the Body of Christ — is like other bodies. We are often in need of healing and wholeness. This calls us to be humble enough to acknowledge our own needs, and to be Christ’s healing touch for others.

February 18, 2018

The theme of safe passage through destructive waters to a place of life and hope pervades our understanding of this baptismal season of Lent.

February 25, 2018

After Jesus’ trials in the desert, we hear of his Transfiguration. It was doing the Father’s will that he desired, not status, wealth or power.

March 4, 2018
Modern life offers us many things to be “zealous” about—things to commit our lives, energies, and resources to. But Jesus shows us there is only one thing that should inspire our zeal: God’s will.

March 11, 2018

The entire encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus takes place at night, yet Jesus is able to reveal light, and bring Nicodemus to the light.

March 18, 2018

As we stand at the threshold of Holy Week, which begins in two weeks, we hear once again that life will have times of trial, but in Christ we are assured that the trial is not our final future.

March 25, 2018

When our lives imitate the pattern of Christ’s life — when we offer ourselves in humility, and in sacrifice for the sake of others — we are truly proclaiming that Christ is Lord!

April 1, 2018

According to scripture, nobody witnessed the actual Resurrection event; it was the testimony of witnesses that spread its news. Next Sunday, there are the witnesses,
so others “see” the Resurrection.

April 8, 2018

In the early days after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to his followers, extending them the blessing of peace. In John’s Gospel, he gives another gift after the Resurrection: the Holy Spirit.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

The disciples’ response in the familiar Emmaus story should be our own, especially when we celebrate the Eucharist — to have our minds open to God’s word, to have our hears on fire for Christ.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

If it seems nonsensical to say that an actual shepherd would die for the flock, that’s because it is — unless the shepherd is the very love of God for us, our shepherd Jesus Christ.

Sunday, April 29, 2018

For followers of Christ, to “remain” does not mean merely staying in place, but keeping an active, living, and close connection with him at all times.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

As the community of Jesus’ first followers grew, they grew in their understanding of God’s boundless love, and how boundless is the call to live in that love.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Extraordinary events were clear, if at first unexpected, ways that God’s reign came to the world. We can bring God’s presence in daily living, so God’s reign still comes in unexpected ways.

May 20, 2018

The Holy Spirit, the “actor” who drives the “acts” of the apostles, urged them, and always urges us, outward, bringing the Good News to new places and to new people.

May 27, 2018

The three persons of the Holy Trinity form a community among themselves. From their community we receive loving inspiration for our own community.

June 3, 2018

The Blood of Christ is the source of the new and eternal covenant — a covenant sealed by Christ’s blood mingling with our own.

June 10, 2018

Our great strength as Christians comes from oneness in Christ: We form one Body. When evil successfully divides us, it also weakens us.

June 17, 2018

We can cooperate and advance the coming of the reign of God on earth, but we can never bring it about on our own. It will happen only through God’s grace and will.

June 24, 2018

As Zechariah’s neighbors used signs to communicate with him, we often communicate our faith to others most effectively by the sign of our daily lives.

July 1, 2018

We believe in a God who, in Jesus, took on our human flesh. Jesus of Nazareth literally touched people to heal them. Through us, members of his Body, he still can.

July 8, 2018

To reverse a popular TV show theme song, sometimes you want to go where nobody knows your name. Dismissiveness can often accompany familiarity with those we think we know.

July 15, 2018

Sometimes we think that there is a select group of people — to which we could not possible belong — who are the “holy ones.” If we really live in Christ, this could not be less true.

July 22, 2018

The evangelists tell us that Jesus is moved to the depths of his being for others.

July 29, 2018

Jesus could have fed the multitude in any number of ways, making food appear out of thin air. But He worked a miracle with what is already a miracle: God’s Creation.

August 5, 2018

Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist is meant to renew us and energize us to become that Body and Blood for the life of the world.

August 12, 2018

Plenty of things in our daily lives clouds our vision. By allowing Christ to heal your vision, we are able to see and love again as the Father sees us and loves us.

August 19, 2018

The actions of eating and drinking at the Eucharist are the same as we use daily. But Eucharist calls us to a deeper, more engaged eating and drinking.

August 26, 2018

Our world, like the world of scriptural times, is filled with many categories or even pigeonholes we try to use to keep others away. But to live as Christ means to serve others — ALL OTHERS.

September 2, 2108

The Church has always experienced a tension between faith and actions. Rather than viewing these in tension, however, we truly follow Christ when they are united.

September 9, 2018

Divine healing in the scriptures never exists for its own sake, but as an impetus to proclaim God’s glory. When we experience healing, our lives must be opened to be faithful witnesses.

September 16, 2018

Suffering of various ports is an integral part of being human. Jesus knew this, for he shared fully in human suffering. But he shows us that our ultimate hope is in the restorative healing power of God.

September 23, 2018

Try as we might to live good and righteous lives, we sometimes lose focus through jealousy or envy of others. Better to stay focused on how we can serve others.

September 30, 2018

Our lives can get crammed so full—with busyness, possessions, material concerns — that there is little room or time left for God. Some housecleaning may be in order to free up some space for the Divine.

October 7, 2018

Our lives can get crammed so full—with busyness, possessions, material concerns — that there is little room or time left for God. Some housecleaning may be in order to free up some space for the Divine.

October 14, 2018

To observe the mere basics of our faith, to do the bare minimum, is a kind of indifference to God’s presence in our lives. Our quest must be God’s — to live and love more extravagantly, more fully.

October 21, 2018

A good portion of discipleship is balancing the place of servanthood, and leadership in our lives.In some way, each of us is called to do both in our life of faith.

October 28, 2018

From Hebrew slaves freed from Egypt to faithful people calling out to Jesus for healing, we encounter many stories of persistent faith. Let us make our story
the same.

November 4, 2018

We only need to love God in two ways—but in most broad and deep ways! We must love God completely, and love our neighbor as we love our very selves.

November 11, 2018

Two widows figure prominently in these readings. The first offers her last bit of sustenance to a foreigner, a stranger; the second offers an enormous portion of her small worldly wealth to God.

November 18, 2018

In a way, it would be simpler to live out the rest of our lives if we knew precisely when all would come to an end. Jesus calls us to something more difficult: living that way even though we don’t know.

November 25, 2018
We live in a shifting time, when people are replacing what is true with what they believe is true. In Christ, we know what a true king is, though it may not match up with what others believe a king to be.

December 2, 2018

Though the followers of Jesus were told at his Ascension not to stare uselessly up at the sky, faithful disciples will keep focused—with their hearts—on the power of heaven for guidance and comfort.

December 9, 2018

In Baptism we were named for Christ. This means that every day we are called upon to look around us for the presence of Christ in the world, and to live so that others see Christ present to us.

December 16, 2018

Next week is a joyful resting place on our Advent journey toward the coming of Christ. This season can sometimes be filled with busy-ness, so we need to stop, rest, and rejoice!

December 23/25, 2018

“Let ev’ry heart prepare him room.” This is a message not only in these final days before Christmas, but for every day.

December 30, 2018

We think of church, or perhaps religious education classes, or a parish school as the places we learn about faith. But none of these is more central to learning to live our faith than the household and family.

January 6, 2019

We are tempted to think of Epiphany as a single day for celebrating the arrival of the Magi. Yet, every day, in our own lives, we are offered the opportunity to behold and reveal the God-appearing that is Epiphany.

January 13, 2019

The baptismal garment is an outward symbol of the brightness and glory of Christ, in which we are wrapped—even swaddled—on our baptismal day and every day of discipleship.

January 20, 2019

It's tempting to think that knowing and naming the gifts God has given us shows a lack of humility. In truth, doing so actually helps focus on how we might be most effective as sharing the Good News of Jesus!

January 27, 2019

Those who don’t look like us, or think or talk like us, or agree with us — how difficult it is to see all people as God’s children, all of us loved by God.

February 3, 2019

Must not be afraid to stand up to people in power, face lots of rejection, be relentless in proclaiming God’s mercy, and offer comfort and consolation in times of trial.” Applicants?

February 10, 2019

There may be no task more difficult than seeing ourselves for who we truly are, and striving to see ourselves as God sees us. God, who made us, continues to look upon us as good.

February 17, 2019

Luke’s Beatitudes, unlike Matthew’s, balance the “blessed” sayings with others beginning with “woe.” The woes of the world, according to Jesus in Luke, come when we place our trust in that which is not of God.

February 24, 2019
The expectations and commandments of Jesus—especially to love one’s enemies—made people suspicious about him, and his early followers as well. Following Jesus, we should not be surprised if others think we also might be a bit unbalanced!

March 3, 2019

Though we may think that actions speak louder than words, we still express that truth using words. Our words can be potent, for good or evil, to promote the gospel message or impede it.

March 10, 2019

How much we want all of life to be easy and pain free! Yet our experience of life teaches otherwise, and our faith shows us how the pain of the past can lead us to hopeful futures.

March 17, 2019

Clouds are frequently present in the Scripture. A pillar of cloud led the Israelites through the desert, and the Abba of Jesus speaks from a cloud. When our lives seem cloudy, we can trust in God’s guidance.

March 24, 2019

The most common substance on earth — water — is also the most precious. It is no wonder that the stories of our salvation feature it so frequently.

March 31, 2019

As our Lenten journey progresses, we strive to improve the manner in which we “see” with our hearts, hoping that, in the light of Christ, we can truly come to see the world as God does.

April 14, 2019

When Jesus—who was both truly human and truly divine—was humbly sacrificed on the cross for us, it was the ultimate act of reconciliation. As his disciples, we give of ourselves as people of reconciliation.