Posts by Connor Szurgot
On Dullness of Heart
“He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.” (Mark 6:51-52) The Douy-Rheims translation renders the last part of those verses as “their heart was blinded”, and the Knox translation has “so…
Read MoreOn the Fruit of Repentance
The Gospel opens with St. John the Baptist’s famous call to action, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” This can seem like a strange reading choice as we near the Christmas season, a season we rightly associate with the coming of the Infant Jesus, meek and tender. This reading becomes logical when…
Read MoreOn Prudence with Our Present Possessions
Today’s Gospel records the parable of the wasteful steward who, in order to be received favorably by his master’s debtors after he was justly dismissed from the role of steward, artificially lowered the amounts they owed to his master by having them write new promissory notes. Jesus ends the parable by saying: “And the master…
Read MoreOur Lady of the Rosary
Today’s readings remind us of the importance of listening to God’s voice and heeding its commands. The first reading begins with the line, “The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time.” We all know what happened the first time the word of the Lord came to Jonah. He disobeyed and (in an…
Read MoreOn The Necessity of Sacrifice
In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. Our Blessed Lord addresses us today with very difficult words, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”…
Read MoreOn the Life of Grace
“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” ~ Gospel Acclamation Our Lord Jesus Christ came not only to forgive men’s sins, but to raise him to new life. Not to a new earthly life like the one we now possess, but to a heavenly life. To partake…
Read MoreOn the Life of Grace
“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” ~ Gospel Acclamation Our Lord Jesus Christ came not only to forgive men’s sins, but to raise him to new life. Not to a new earthly life like the one we now possess, but to a heavenly life. To partake…
Read MoreOn Our Present and Expected Salvation
Pentecost, like Easter, has a solemn vigil liturgy. This liturgy includes a large number of Old and New Testament readings foreshadowing the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. They highlight His role as unifier of all nations in the Church (Genesis 11:1-9), as God dwelling with His people (Exodus 19:3-8a, 16-20b), as the…
Read MoreI Have Much More to Tell You, But You Cannot Bear It Now
As we approach the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven, our hearts both rejoice at His glorification and grow sad at the loss of the closeness we experienced with Him while He walked on earth. Yet, the words which Jesus speaks to His apostles show us that His work is not finished. He promises to…
Read MoreOn Receiving Communion Well
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” It is so important to prepare properly to receive our Lord in the Eucharist! It is so easy for Communion to become routine and forget the incredible gift that we are receiving. There are…
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