Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is a story told about Jonathan Swift, the 18th-century Irish writer, when he was quite old. And in case you don’t know who he is, he is the author of Gulliver’s Travels and many other works. He was visiting a friend and was looking out the front window of the house. It was nighttime, and the lamplighter was lighting the streetlamps. From the window, one could only see the lamps that were lit, and the light the lamplighter carried from one lamppost to the next. The lampl
1 day ago4 min read
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I think the prophet Micah perhaps proclaims it best when declaring what is expected by God: “He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic 6:8). I ask you to take a moment to remember some of the great members of the Church who have followed that call.
Feb 14 min read
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is a story I heard several years ago of two boys, neighborhood friends, who became priests. Differing assignments made it impossible to spend much time together. When retirement came, they decided to share an apartment. By this time, one had become a die-hard conservative and the other an outspoken liberal. This arrangement might have been doomed, but their faithfulness to their shared Baptismal call won out. When anyone asked how they made it work, each would laughingl
Jan 254 min read
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Have you ever said or had someone say to you, “Don’t call us … We’ll call you?” I think that’s usually another way of saying, “If I want to talk to you, it will need to be on my own terms … on my schedule, not yours.” Sometimes we might even say that to God. We know that God is important to us ... but we still like to think that we’re the ones who are in control ... we like to think that we’re the ones who remain in control of our relationship with Him.
Jan 184 min read
The Baptism of the Lord
C.S. Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia series, is right when he says that the doctrine of grace makes the Christian faith unique among all other faiths. Other religions hold that God rewards the just and punishes the wicked. The Christian faith also believes in the justice of God.
Jan 114 min read
The Epiphany of the Lord
Today’s Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the showing forth or the manifestation of the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah, and successor of King David to the Gentiles ... represented by the Magi. Following a star in the darkness of night, the Magi came from a foreign land to honor Him.
Jan 44 min read
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
As time continues to move onward, God is always present to bless us. In order to realize this, we need to broaden our vision by not dwelling on the past, particularly on those events and things that we cannot change. Rather, we must move forward where a possible future of renewed hope awaits us in the Lord.
Jan 13 min read
