At the conclusion of last night’s Liturgy, which is simply a pause in the one Liturgy of these days of the Easter Triduum, we accompanied Jesus and his disciples “across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.” (John 18: 1) Jesus Read more…
Today’s Gospel from St. Luke (4:1-13) recalls Jesus’ temptations in the desert for forty days. One practical consideration for us is this temptation follows immediately upon the heals of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan. At the Baptism, Jesus is revealed as God’s Son. Jesus receives the Holy Spirit. In this Read more…
“The crowd was pressing in on Jesus…” In today’s Gospel (Luke 5:1-11), Jesus is seen preaching along the Lake of Gennesaret, or perhaps better known as the Sea of Galilee. Our initial focus is not so much on the crowd as it is upon the person of Jesus. Even though Read more…
Today’s Gospel from Mark recalls Jesus walking through a field of grain with his disciples. How often did Jesus utilize the surrounding beauty of creation to be the backdrop, the ‘classroom’ for instructing the disciples? He used references to creation often to refer to God and the wisdom of God’s Read more…
Today, the First Sunday of the Christmas Season, the Church celebrates the Holy Family. The many depictions of the birth of Christ, surrounded by Mary and Joseph, and all the other members of the Christmas story tell us that all families find their true center and identity in Christ. Hopefully, Read more…
Today, the Church begins the Christmas story in the Gospel of Matthew. Incidentally, today is also the birthday of Pope Francis. Happy Birthday, Holy Father! The use of the O Antiphons begin with evening prayer this evening, as our Novena for Christmas begins. Each day from now to Christmas, with Read more…
In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges our indifference to both the joy he offers as well as the penitential preaching of John the Baptist. To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but Read more…
Again this Sunday, we hear from Mark’s Gospel (9: 30-37) more about discipleship. The opening line of today’s Scripture passage gives the first subtle point: “They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.” (Mark 9:30) This journey with Read more…
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we find Jesus and his disciples traveling in the northern section of Israel, near the Syrian border, at a place known as Caesarea Philippi. This area was known at the time for its worship of many different gods. No wonder Jesus chose this location to ask Read more…
This week, the People of God during the Gospel at daily Mass are listening to Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Plain, perhaps more better known as Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, or the Beatitudes. For me, as with all Scripture, but especially with the Gospel where Jesus is Read more…