Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph When we think of “family” in a broad and general sense, all of family life’s positive and nurturing qualities may come to mind. However, when we think of “family” in a specific sense, many of the complexities of family dynamics might come to mind. Our […]

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time God loves you. This one short sentence, consisting of only three words, is such a profound truth. It’s a message that not only needs to be heard but felt within the depth of our being. It’s not simply a matter of “believing” God loves us, as important as that is. […]

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Think back on your life and identify an accomplishment that you are proud of. Was it passing a difficult test of some kind or achieving some level of higher education? Getting a job in a field you always wanted to be part of or an award of some sort? Achieving […]

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Why do we make enemies? Why do we look with suspicion upon others? In today’s gospel, the disciples tell Jesus that they “saw someone driving out demons in your name.” This apparently bothered them because they then recount, “we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus’ […]

Sometimes when we have heard a story or a parable many times, we may gloss over it. We think we already know the meaning. In those instances, it might be worthwhile to reread it as if you have never heard it. Read it slowly, attentive to details. What stands out to you? When I read […]

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time What thoughts do you pursue? That’s a more critical question than we may realize because so much of what we do begins as a thought. Even more, much of our time is taken up with thoughts. From passing thoughts to practical thoughts to more contemplative thoughts, our days are filled […]

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time As this is a “Daily Eucharistic Reflection,” it is almost impossible not to acknowledge the context of today’s gospel reading. Jesus is in the midst of his “Bread of Life” discourse. He has just said to his listeners: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of […]

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time How many people do you know who are hungry? At first glance, you may think, not that many. But ponder it a little more and set the idea of food aside. How many people do you know who are hungry, and what are they hungry for? This changes things because […]

Saint Paul writes long sentences! More than this, his long sentences often require familiarity with numerous scriptural and theological concepts that are not easy to grasp. Add to this his unique style and the limitations of translations, and we may be left confounded. I had to read today’s passage from his Second Letter to the […]