Category: Reflections

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: Exodus 17:8-13 Psalms 121:1-8 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Luke 18:1-8 We are accustomed to hearing Jesus’ parables and assigning the appropriate roles to individuals with whom we are familiar. Thus, if we appear in our lives to be like the widow, praying ceaselessly for “things to happen,” then it… Continue reading TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: 2 Kings 5:14-17 Psalms 98:1-4 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19 There are those, many with a peculiarly conservative bent, who believe that you cannot come to God without an overwhelming sense of guilt. For them it is guilt that drives you to God, usually through the confessional door.… Continue reading TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10 The boldness of the Old Testament prophets is striking, so striking that some might be inclined to accuse them of being less than respectful of the God they so often address. But the prophets managed to… Continue reading TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)

For and Against In the span of one week, at my job as a Church communications director, I had two people separately accuse me of completely opposite-and equally untrue-realities. One person sent me an online message implying I was ignorant at best and a heretic at worst for running a column in the diocesan newspaper… Continue reading For and Against

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13,17, 19 First Letter to Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 Chapter 15 of Luke’s gospel is the ‘Lost and Found’ section of his gospel. In some of the most familar parables in all of the gospels, Luke lines up three parables in a row… Continue reading TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18b Psalms 90:3-6, 12-14, 17 Philemon 1:9-10, 12-17 Luke 14:25-33 Had Jesus been on the campaign trail enjoying what the gospel calls “great crowds,” He might have seized the opportunity to speak to the great numbers of people in words that would attract and inspire them to… Continue reading TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21 Psalms 117:1-2 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30 Most of us prefer to live with the non-Catholic perception that all people (and pets) go to heaven. It gives us a great deal of comfort to think that no matter what we do, no matter how we live… Continue reading TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: Wisdom    18:6-9 Psalms    33:1, 12, 18-22 Hebrews    11:1-2, 8-19 Luke 12:32-48 There is good news and bad news in today’s gospel from Luke. First the good news: Jesus refers to his disciples [and us] as His “little flock,” to whom His Father “is pleased to… Continue reading Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)   Readings:   Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 Psalms 90:3-6, 12-14, 17 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21 Surely, everyone knows a family or two that has been torn apart by the reading of a will. Indeed, it makes no difference how comfortable one might be, or how much need there truly… Continue reading Eighteen Sunday in Ordinary Time

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019) Readings: Genesis 18:20-32 Psalms: 138:1-3, 6-8 Colossians 2:12-14 Luke 11:1-13 Surely most of us recall being taught how to pray. Whether we were fortunate enough to have a Catholic education where nuns would dutifully teach us our prayers, whether we attended religious education classes in our local parishes, or… Continue reading SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2019)