5th Sunday of Lent Have you ever walked with someone to their death? I feel blessed to have been present for the deaths of four people I loved deeply. The peace felt as they passed was almost palpable. My faith assured them they were released from all pain, burden, and suffering, turning tears of sadness […]

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord The Annunciation of the Lord refers to when the angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the Savior. In our first reading, written by Isaiah in about 700 B.C., it is predicted in verse 7:14b “the virgin shall […]

I grew up at a time of abundant holy cards. Sister often gave us a holy card if we aced a test, did something “gentlemanly,” or volunteered for something. My favorite as a youngster was the one showing Jesus with a child on his lap and three or more children around him (Cf. Luke 18:16). […]

Credentials If you were asked to provide a driver’s license, a medical card, or a credit card, most likely, one could be produced. We carry our credentials wherever we go. We have a name, an address, an expiration date (for the card that is), and codes and numbers that verify our identity. But something is […]

The God of the Prophets reminds the Chosen People (once a straggling band of nomads) of everything they prize: their sense of belonging to an almighty protector, always with them, never failing, never leaving. And the Promised Land, now restored to them, comes with freedom, pastures, food and drink, springs of water – and comfort. […]

The great promise of God to restore the Kingdom of God is our return to our relationship to God after the fall, as foretold in Ezekiel’s prophecy. Ezekiel has a proven track record. He successfully prophesized the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which the people of his time thought God would never allow such […]

The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary Today’s readings tell us very little about Joseph except that he was descended from the house of David. In a dream, the angel of the Lord appeared, telling him not to hesitate to accept Mary because the child had been conceived by the Holy […]

4th Sunday in Lent What a powerful message Paul shares today! “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light.” Let’s keep this tucked in our minds as we reflect on the story of the man born blind. John’s account of the cure of the blind […]

“The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity…” (Luke 18:11) The Pharisee, even though he seems to be addressing God, “spoke this prayer to himself.” He was taking the name of the Lord in vain, literally and […]

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Our story ends a series of discussions between Jesus and various leaders residing in Jerusalem, which began in Mark 11:27. This discussion ends, as today’s gospel passage notes, with Mark telling us that after this encounter, “no […]