Category: Reflections

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2018 Readings Amos 7:12-15 Psalm 85:9-14 Ephesians 1:3-15 Mark 6:7-13 As we discovered in last Sunday’s readings, being a prophet is no easy task. Last week’s star prophet was Ezekiel, who would experience hardship and rejection in his preaching of God’s word. This Sunday the prophet Amos begins our… Continue reading FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 2018

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Readings Ezekiel 2:2-5 Psalm 123:1-4 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6a There is never a good time to be a prophet. It appears that wrapped up in the very nature of what it means to be a prophet is skepticism, indifference, rejection, even possible hostility, all things that we would prefer… Continue reading FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Readings Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 Mark 5:21-43 Our God is a generous and loving God, who “did not make death,” and who does not “rejoice in the destruction of the living.” As our first reading from the Book of Wisdom points out,… Continue reading THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Readings Isaiah 49:1-6 Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15 Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:57-66, 80 It was not that long ago when only “feasts of the Lord” were to take precedence over the regularly scheduled Sunday readings. A saint like John the Baptist at one time would never have replaced the Sunday schedule,… Continue reading NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24 Psalm 92:2-3, 13-16 2 Corinthians 5:6–10 Mark 4:26-34 Whether you are a farmer by trade, a weekend gardener, or a simple keeper of a collection of houseplants, all people understand the horticultural language so often used by Jesus to describe the kingdom. Our personal experience of growing… Continue reading ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (2018) Readings: Exodus 24:3-8 Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18 Hebrews 9:11-15 Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 In more than four decades of priesthood, my experience shows that churches, whether large or small, usually fill up first from the back of the church, leaving pews closest to the altar the… Continue reading SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (2018)

Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 2018 As we gather together, each with fears and needs that invade elements of our lives, we ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and kindle in them the fire His love. That Pope Francis may be inspired by the Spirit of Truth as he leads the Church in renewing… Continue reading Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 2018

THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST (2018) Readings Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104, 1, 24, 29-31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12- 13 John 20:19-23 What an incredible thing has been revealed to us in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles today: the language of salvation is a universal language! Luke’s dramatic account of the Pentecost… Continue reading THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST (2018)

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2018) Readings Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3,6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Mark 16:15-20 The Ascension of Jesus marked a significant turning point for the disciples and the early Church. It was not that long ago, with hearts heavied at the loss of their leader and friend, that the disciples… Continue reading SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2018) READINGS Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 Psalm 98:1-4 1 John 4:7-10 John 15:9-17 Friendship is the most precious of gifts. It is precious not because it is exclusive, not because it is eternal. Indeed, depending on our good nature, we can hopefully boast of numerous friends in every phase of our… Continue reading SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2018)