The thoughts and writings of Fr. Lawrence E. Polansky, a Priest of the Diocese of Camden
Daily Homilies
05/13/2026 -- Wednesday, Sixth Week of Easter
Our Lady of Fatima
At the end of many TV mystery shows, a story line is wrapped up by showing the viewers what really happened, giving us the actual details and re-enactments of “whodunnit.” These explanations are necessary for a lot of us who have been scratching our heads all along, wondering who the perpetrator was.
05/12/2026 -- Tuesday, Sixth Week of Easter
Nereus, Achilleus, & Pancras, Martyrs
The fact that we can do something doesn’t mean we ought to do it.
05/11/2026 -- Monday, Sixth Week of Easter
Today’s reading from Acts of the Apostles may have been very dear to Saint Luke. Is he part of today’s “we” (first person plural)? Did he accompany Paul in the events described?
05/09/2026 -- Saturday, Fifth Week of Easter
Parents of young children often find that when they return home after a full day of work, they forget that they are no longer surrounded by adults. This is most apparent during dinner when they’re talking about their day, and the kids look at them with blank stares.
05/08/2026 -- Friday, Fifth Week of Easter
Bl. Miriam Theresa Demjanovich, Virgin
Love one another. The early Christians, particularly the Gentiles, were quite confused about the conflicting messages from leaders. All they wanted to do was to live their new lives in Christ in solidarity with the Jewish Christians. There were obvious strong opinions on either side of the issue.
05/07/2026 -- Thursday, Fifth Week of Easter
Above all, Paul is a reasonable man. He knows in his heart that to require the Gentiles to adopt Jewish practices before becoming fully Christian represents an unnecessary move backwards. And Jesus clearly taught that new wine should be put in new wineskins.
05/06/2026 -- Wednesday, Fifth Week of Easter
What is the best way to follow Jesus in our confused and often chaotic world? This seems to be an issue for many people, judging from the number of books and articles that tell us the best way to be a true Christian.
05/05/2026 -- Tuesday, Fifth Week of Easter
Saint John’s Gospel reading today was written years after the events occurred in the Acts of the Apostles. Yet the words describe the behaviors of Paul and the other disciples. It is hard to imagine the level of persecution the early Christians experienced.
05/04/2026 -- Monday, Fifth Week of Easter
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find a prayer of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity which says: “O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me forget myself entirely so to establish myself in You … Make [my soul] Your heaven, Your beloved dwelling and the place of Your rest” (CCC 260).
05/02/2026 -- Athanasius, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Saint John’s favorite name or title for God is Father. He uses this term over 100 times. Father is the usual way in which Jesus addresses God. Saint Mark has Jesus calling on God as Abba, the Aramaic term for father.
05/01/2026 -- Friday, Fourth Week of Easter
Joseph the Worker
The idea for this particular celebration of Joseph can trace its origin to late medieval Christianity; however, the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker was instituted in 1955 by Pope Pius XII and is celebrated on May 1st, which corresponds to the day labor is honored in many countries.
04/30/2026 -- Thursday, Fourth Week of Easter
Pius V, Pope
Today’s first reading encourages us to reflect on God’s actions throughout Israel’s history. We see these great events as part God’s plans for His people, revealed through the redemptive story of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection.