The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Jesus, the newborn gift from God, who is God in humble humanity, comes to the temple to fulfill the law and be consecrated to the Lord. Mary and Joseph make the sacrificial offering of the poor: two turtledoves. Pause with this image of mom and dad offering […]

Second Sunday in Advent “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1). During these days of Advent, I set aside time to listen to Handel’s Messiah and reflect on the words of God spoken through the prophet. There is a sorrow in God who looks upon the suffering endured by the chosen […]

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe This liturgy culminates the pastoral year of the church. It is a time for a change of season. Many people long for a return to life as we knew it. Yet, we know there is no turning back the hand of time. Next week will […]

Solemnity of All Saints A great vision is set before the church on the solemnity of All Saints. As we are in our mortal life, they once were. As they now are in the glory of eternal life, we hope to become. Saint Peter Julian Eymard spoke about two deaths that await us. He named […]

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus finds himself confronted by a group of Pharisees who have gathered to test him. Have you ever experienced a time when it seemed like several people ganged up with a vendetta against you? A scholar challenges Jesus to name the greatest of the commandment of the law. In reply, […]

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s liturgy set an ominous tone in the opening prayer: …pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. The Prophet Isaiah raises a haunting question, “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had […]

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time … Do nothing out of selfishness; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but for those of others (Philippians 2:3-4). The prophet Ezekiel raises a question of God’s justice, as the people complain, “The Lord’s way is not fair.” Jesus […]

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9) This reply of Cain has echoed back throughout time to God’s question, “Where is your brother?” By saying, “I don’t know,” Cain, denied what he had done and refused responsibility for his brother’s well-being. This calloused lack of love and concern on Cain’s […]

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. What you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; And what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The gospel offers an opportunity to pray with the keys entrusted to you. When was the last time […]

Feast of Saint Peter Julian Eymard “Come to me heedfully; listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant.” Today is the feast of the great Apostle of the Eucharist, Saint Peter Julian Eymard. He proposed for the Church a new way of life centered in the Eucharist. Spiritual indifference […]