Remain in my love. … I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete (Jn 15:9-11). Sometimes I find myself pondering the huge challenges we face as a church, on the many lost sheep we need to reach, on the great needs of the world, […]

In today’s first reading, Philip is led by the Spirit to an encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch who was trying to understand the Scriptures. After Philip instructs him and preaches Jesus Christ to him, the man asks to be baptized. “When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, […]

We see two different examples of people being amazed in today’s scriptures. In the first reading the people were amazed when Peter and John healed a crippled man, and in the gospel the disciples were amazed when Jesus appeared in their midst. In both instances it was the power of the risen Christ that caused […]

We’ve all heard the saying, “A man is only as good as his word.” It seems like we human beings have a very difficult time keeping promises. We make New Year’s resolutions, Lenten resolutions, even Monday resolutions. But when faced with the challenges that inevitably come, we often give up. Not only do we fail […]

In today’s first reading God tells Jeremiah: From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers. When you speak […]

In the first reading today we find Queen Esther preparing to embark on a dangerous mission. She had asked all the Jews in the region to fast and pray on her behalf and, “seized with mortal anguish,” she prayed to God: Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, …Turn our mourning […]

I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.” It is sobering to ponder these words from the Act of Contrition in light of today’s gospel message. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off…and if your foot causes you to […]

In today’s gospel we hear the story of a woman who begs Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” Rather than being indignant, the woman […]

My husband travels often for work, and although it is always challenging to be apart, it was especially so when our children were very young. One week I felt so overwhelmed that when my husband walked in from the airport, he found me with a packed bag in one hand and keys in the other. […]

In the first reading for today, St. John challenges us with a reality check: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar.” He goes on to emphasize that “whoever loves God must also love his brother.” There is no room here for excuses. We must love our brothers and […]