The Lenten discipline of fasting is the focus of today’s readings. The disciples of John ask Jesus: Why do we and the Pharisees fast and your disciples do not fast? Jesus answers them, Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken […]

In today’s gospel, Mark presents us with what led to the death of John the Baptist. Herod “had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’” (Mark, 6:17-18). We read […]

Today’s gospel (Lk 5:12-16) relates the story of an encounter between Jesus and “a man full of leprosy.” A person with leprosy in the time of Jesus was both physically and socially isolated, rejected by family and community and confined to remote areas. The belief that disease was punishment from God further enhanced this isolation. The man […]

Saint Margaret of Scotland and Saint Gertrude the Great, holy women honored in today’s liturgy, personify in diverse ways the message of today’s first reading “Let us love one another.” This second letter of John is addressed to a “chosen lady,” most likely a leader of a fledgling Christian community and reflects the Johannine theme […]