December 4, 2022

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.

December 11, 2022

This week we will 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 18, 2022

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 25, 2022

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.

January 1, 2023

This week 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. 

January 8, 2023

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

January 15, 2022

This week 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 22, 2023

     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 29, 2023

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

February 5, 2023

     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 do a little bit better at it-every day.

February 12, 2023

     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 19, 2023

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

February 26, 2023

     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.

March 5, 2023

     Though 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 12, 2023

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, 2023

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 26, 2023

Facing death of those we love or our own—is a profoundly human moment in every life, a moment into which we know Jesus will step.

April 2, 2023

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 us to resurrected life.

April 9, 2023

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 16, 2023

This Sunday, 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 23, 2023

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 30, 2023

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

May 7, 2023

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 14, 2023

The Holy Spirit promised by Jesus gives us our purpose: to go out on the joyful mission of spreading the good news of salvation.

May 21, 2023

Even though Jesus has “gone away,” he is closer to us now than he could have been if he had physically remained on earth.

May 28, 2023

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.

June 4, 2023

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 11, 2023

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 18, 2023

Without cost, we have received. Without cost, we are to give. Do we open our hearts to one another with the same reckless mercy that God opens his heart to us? How quickly the world could change if we did.

June 25, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

We hear God’s affirming voice from heaven as Jesus is gloriously transfigured. Our own words and voices have the power to transform —for good or ill — those around us.

August 13, 2023

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

August 20, 2023

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, 2023

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

September 3, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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

October 8, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

Sometimes those who challenge Jesus begin the conversation with false praise. Now, as then, Jesus doesn’t fall for insincere flattery.

October 29, 2023

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, 2023

“Practice what you preach.” Though this saying has been around for a long time, we still have trouble doing it.

November 12, 2023

Everyone in this Gospel reading fell asleep. The real difference is that one group — though asleep — was prepared and ready to go whenever it was time.

November 19, 2023

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, 2023

The Glory of Jesus our King isn’t something we merely sit back and admire. It envelops us, and its majesty transforms us until we become Christ-like through its presence and power.

December 3, 2023

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 un-consciousness. But it is hard at times to stay up, to keep watch. Is Jesus being unreasonable here?

December 10, 2023

John the Baptist is surely among scripture’s most challenging prophetic figures. To this day he points us to Christ and away from the world’s distractions.

December 17, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2023

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, 2024

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, 2024

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, 2024

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, 2024

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, 2024

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, 2024

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, 2024

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, 2023

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 3, 2024

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 10, 2024

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 17, 2024

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 24, 2024

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!

March 31, 2024

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

April 7, 2024

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.

April 14, 2024

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.

April 21, 2024

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.

April 28, 2024

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.

May 5, 2024

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.

May 12, 2024

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 19, 2024

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.

May 26, 2024

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

June 2, 2024

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 9, 2024

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

June 16, 2024

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 23, 2024

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.

June 30, 2024

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 7, 2024

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 14, 2024

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

July 21, 2024

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

July 28, 2024

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 4, 2024

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 11, 2024

Plenty of things in our daily living 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 18, 2024

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

August 24, 2024

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 1, 2024  

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.