Posts by Paul Verderber
Second Chances
Scout Noah has been on the Ark for 40 days. That is a long time to be on a boat, especially since it contains the world’s best zoo, plus some other humans. He must have been getting a little anxious, as all he could see was water for 40 days. A raven was released to…
Read MoreSheep or Cats?
“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” This is a famous line from Psalms, often used in speeches, sermons and films, including Saving Private Ryan. This line struck me in today’s readings and will become my reflection. Sheep We’re the sheep, and Jesus is the shepherd. That needs to be said…
Read MoreEvangelize As Only You Can
John, Andrew, and another guy are standing on the side of the road. Jesus walked by. John acknowledged who Jesus was, and Andrew and the other began following Jesus, right then and there. Add two followers to the Church. Then, Andrew told his brother Simon about Jesus, and another follower into the fold. Simon became…
Read MoreThe Other Trinity
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. This is a perfect opportunity to share a teaching moment from Confirmation classes over the years. The Trinity is something that we talk about and remember with the sign of the cross and the Glory Be. “Trinity” is not mentioned in the Bible, as far as I…
Read More‘Tis the Season
GVM is a non-profit organization, and Father Maurice and I receive no financial compensation for our work with the ministry. However, it takes money to keep the website running, updated, and secure. It takes money to support Catholic missionaries in the jungles of Guyana, and to build the St. Faustina mission in Nigeria. It takes…
Read MoreCitizen of Heaven
The theme that jumped out at me after completing the readings was about dealing with how we conduct ourselves as if Earth is our final destination, versus how we conduct ourselves if Heaven is an option after death. Most of us will strive to reach Heaven, which is what we were built for. However, not…
Read MoreToward the Better Part
Today we honor St. Francis of Assisi, one of my favorite saints. The picture at the beginning of this reflection is of the St. Francis statue that we have placed in both of our previous gardens. I appreciate that he is said to have practiced sermons in front of the animals, and that he put…
Read MoreRubbish and Scum
Hey, St. Paul! Who are you calling “rubbish and scum” in today’s reading from Corinthians? Presumably, it is the church in Corinth, because you and Apollos address the letter that way. We know that the Bible is written to us, so that would put us in the same heap of rubbish or layer of scum…
Read MoreElevator Pitch
Jesus is on his way to Caesarea Philippi with his disciples. That remote, ancient town was developed near a spring that feeds the Jordan River. The Jordan is the source of life for so much of the region. We also know that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan not long before this journey. When he…
Read MoreHealing Touch
No, today’s reflection is not advertising for a chiropractic office, or a new age medical spa. In today’s Gospel, I will focus on the healing touch of Jesus, and others, and the miraculous outcomes achieved. Today’s Gospel speaks of Jesus bringing the daughter of the official back to life. This is perhaps the most extreme…
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