KNOW THIS VERSE!
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Sometimes we can be so thick-headed that God needs to use a (metaphoric) 2x4 over the head to get our attention. Such was the case with Saul of Tarsus, aka...
Authority and Scripture
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Back in Acts 8 for our first reading today. We see a very interesting story about an Ethiopian eunuch who has an encounter with Philip. More on that in a...
The Resurrection of the Body
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In the first reading from Acts 8 today, we read about Saul persecuting the Church. Because of the persecution happening in Jerusalem, all but the Apostles left there. We read...
The New Manna
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Stephen was the first martyr; he was the first person in recorded history to shed his blood and die for the sake of his faith in Jesus. In the first...
Will Work for Food
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Today in Acts 6, we begin reading about St. Stephen. This was a very bold guy who was about to find himself in some real trouble. But even in the...
Witnessing
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In today's Gospel reading from Luke 24, Jesus appears to some of His disciples after the resurrection. He explains to them how all of the Scriptures pointed to Him as...
Men Called to Serve
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In today’s first reading from Acts 6, we read about the ordination of our first deacons. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from John 6, Jesus...
Rejoice in Humiliation
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Another uber-cool reading from Acts of the Apostles today. Be sure to read what Gamaliel, a famous rabbi, says about this new “Jesus movement.” (My words, not the Scripture.) We...
Deliverance
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In today's first reading from Acts 5, the Apostles were dragged before the Sanhedrin and chastised for teaching in the name of Jesus. Peter and the Apostles replied, "We must...
Everything About This Life
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Today's Gospel reading begins with perhaps the most well known passage of Scripture - John 3:16. In the first reading from Acts 5, we read the story of a miraculous...
Was the Early Church Communist?
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Today's Gospel reading is a continuation of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus from John 3. Our first reading is from Acts 4."The community of believers was of one heart...
The First Christian
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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. This is the moment when the Angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she had been chosen to...
Confession and Divine Mercy
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Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Gospel reading from John 20 gives some insight into Divine Mercy and the sacrament of Confession. Jesus appeared to...
Proclaim the Gospel
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Today in Acts 4, the Sanhedrin comes to the conclusion that something astonishing happened through Peter and John. But just to be safe, they tell them not to ever again...
Jesus Alone Saves
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In Acts 4 today, we pick up the story of Peter and John right after the healing of the crippled beggar. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel...
The Turning Point
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We're back in Acts 3 today for our first reading. The Gospel reading picks up where we left off yesterday in Luke 24, following the story of the disciples on...
A Greater Gift
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Another great story from Acts 3 for our first reading today. We’ll talk about that in a moment. The Gospel reading from Luke 24 is one of the most interesting...
Emmaus and the Eucharist
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 24, we read the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They have an encounter with the risen Jesus, but don’t recognize...
Save Yourselves?
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Back we go to the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 today. When the people heard about salvation through Christ Jesus, they asked Peter and the other Apostles, “What are...
Fearful Yet Overjoyed
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Happy Easter Monday! I hope your Easter was filled with blessings. For the next fifty days, our first reading will be from Acts of the Apostles. Today we hear part...
Alleluia!!
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Jesus is risen! Alleluia! Happy Easter! The long season of Lent has come to a close. Now it's time to celebrate! While Lent is forty days long, the season of...
Holy Saturday
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Holy Saturday is an interesting day. It reminds me of waiting in the doctor’s office waiting room after you have had some tests run. You’re kind of in a state...
Holy Thursday, Priesthood and Eucharist
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Lent is over today. Now, that doesn’t mean that you stop with your Lenten penances and practices. Those should continue into Saturday evening. Tonight we begin the Sacred Triduum. It...
I'm Like Judas
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When we think of the brutality that Jesus suffered for us, we can see that this was all foretold in today’s first reading from Isaiah 50. “I gave my back...
The Best Intentions
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Our first reading today is from Isaiah 49, more from the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation...
Of Bruised Reeds
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Monday of Holy Week. For the next few days, our first readings will be from Isaiah, the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. We’ll talk about today’s reading in...
Remembering Christ's Passion
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Today is one of the most well-attended Mass days of the year. Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday. Outside of Christmas and Easter, more people come to Palm Sunday Mass than...
Dying for the Many
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As we approach Palm Sunday, the story of the final week of Jesus’ life unfolds. In the first reading from Ezekiel 37, the prophet speaks of the return of the...
On Vengeance
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You may have heard the saying, "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." That's from Romans 12:19, and not part of today's liturgy. But it comes to mind for me because...
The Author of Life
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There are only a very few instances of God changing someone’s name in the Scriptures. Today we see the first of these in Genesis 17. Abram gets a new name....
Out of the Fire
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In today’s first reading from Daniel 3, we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego getting thrown into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith. Faith enough...
The Real Father's Day
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While in the USA, Father's Day is celebrated in June, I think today should be the real Father's Day. Why? Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph. In...
On Throwing Rocks
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In today’s Gospel passage from John 8, we read the story of the woman caught in adultery. The scribes and Pharisees bring the woman before Jesus, telling Him that the...
Like a Grain of Wheat
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In our Gospel reading today from John 12, Jesus teaches us about wheat. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,...
Entrust Your Cause
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In today's Gospel reading from John 7, the people are wondering just who Jesus is. The first reading is from Jeremiah 11. In it, Jeremiah prays: "But you, O LORD...
The Lord is Close to the Brokenhearted
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An eerie first reading today from Wisdom 2. It describes the things that Jesus went through to a tee. Be sure to read it and see if you don’t shake...
What Others Think vs. What God Thinks
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In today’s first reading from Exodus 32, Moses has a little heart-to-heart with God, asking Him to relent from destroying His people. And God relented. A wonderful statement on the...
Whose Will?
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 49, we hear this question: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?” Now, you would...
Do You Want to be Well?
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Water is a theme that runs through our two readings today. In the first reading from Ezekiel 47, the Angel of the Lord shows Ezekiel a trickle of water flowing...
Rescued
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Today's first reading from Isaiah 65 is one that should bring great hope. It shows us what is to come. The Gospel reading from John 4 is the story of...
Choose Light
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Our Gospel reading for today is from John 3, and includes John 3:16, maybe the most familiar verse in Scripture. But today I would like to concentrate on the second half...
The Deadliest Trap
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Another beautiful reading from Hosea today for our first reading. Through the prophet, the Lord says, “For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather...
Stumbling Down the Path
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The end of today's first reading from Hosea 14 says this: "Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths...
Faithfulness has Disappeared
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In the Gospel reading today from Luke 11 Jesus is accused by some people of driving out demons by the prince of demons. Jesus talks about what a ridiculous notion...
Rules, Rules, Rules
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So many people look at Christianity, and especially Catholicism, as a religion of rules and regulations. You know, Thou Shalt Not this and that. Like it or not, God has...
Forgive, Forgive, Forgive, Forgive...
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Today’s first reading contains one of the most beautiful prayers in all of Scripture. It is the prayer of Azariah from Daniel 3. Azariah and his two companions had been...
Not "One of Us"
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In today’s first reading from 2 Kings 5:1-15, we see the story of Naaman the Syrian. Naaman was a high ranking military official in Syria, but not an Israelite. He...
About Human Nature
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Today's first reading from Exodus 20 is the Ten Commandments. The Gospel reading from John 2 is about Jesus driving the merchants and money changers out of the temple. I...
Hitting Bottom
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The Gospel reading today from Luke 15 is probably a very familiar story – the prodigal son. A man has two sons and the younger son insists that he receive...
Being Good Tenants
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Today's first reading from Genesis 37 is the story of Joseph, whom his brothers sold into slavery. Before making that decision, though, they said, "Let us kill him." That is...