The Responsorial Psalm for today’s Mass, “Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire,” is certainly appropriate for the man whose feast we celebrate today. Maximilian Kolbe was ordained a Franciscan priest in his native Poland in 1918 and much of his energy and passion went into promoting “The Army of the Immaculate,” which […]

In today’s gospel passaqe we hear again the parable of the sower. He scatters his seeds and some fall where there is little soil or no soil, so these seeds can’t produce any fruit. But some seeds have the great fortune of falling on rich soil and they produce fruit in abundance. Obviously Jesus is […]

In today’s gospel reading Jesus sends out his twelve disciples. Their mission: to proclaim the kingdom of God. While these men had heard the parables and teachings on the kingdom and had witnessed its power in Jesus’ healing, they had really not “gotten it” yet. They were still novices, in that they had not yet […]

In today’s first reading we hear again the call of Abraham, our Father in faith. God promises him that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the heavens. Abraham hears this promise, but, being a practical man, responds that he and his wife are old and have no sons. God promises Abraham […]

The opening line from today’s reading from 2nd Corinthians is quite a profound assertion by Paul, “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.” We certainly did not earn that confidence. It is a gift of grace bestowed on us by God in Christ. It gives us the ability to cry out, “Abba,” knowing with […]

In today’s Gospel we are invited into a vineyard in which the vine grower cuts and prunes the vines to grow more and better fruit. Jesus identifies himself as the vine and his followers the branches. The followers draw their life from him. His focus is on how the branches of the pruned vine die […]

“You cannot imprison the word of the lord.” The above quote is taken from Leonard Bernstein’s musical piece, “The Mass.” This haunting refrain in Bernstein’s piece is a belief that echoes throughout the New Testament and far beyond as the Word of God is continually persecuted, attacked, and rebuffed, and yet triumphs. In today’s first […]

How often have we read and reflected on this post-resurrection appearance with its Eucharistic undertones. In this reflection I would like to focus on one line that is often passed over, “but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” Suppose that this “blindness” to Jesus was not imposed on the disciples from outside. Perhaps there […]

“If you remain in my word, you will be my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” This promise of the power of truth drew me further in John’s Gospel to Jesus before Pilate. In response to Pilate’s question, Jesus responds, “I came into the world for this; […]

In today’s first reading, Moses’ acclamation to the people as they are gathered to hear the statutes and decrees is indeed a profound one. “For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God is to us whenever we call upon him?” This is the God who, […]