Daily Reflections
The Audience of James My dear friends, the first reading today is very interesting. St James is addressing the Jews, who were known for their commercial abilities and expertise in business and trade. As such, they changed cities and developed the economies of the areas they lived in. To that…
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Today marks the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. Growing up, I thought it was kind of silly that we chose to celebrate a chair! It wasn’t until a priest in college took the time to explain this to his students that I finally understood the true importance and…
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I would like to start this short reflection with today’s question presented by the Apostle James: Who among you is wise and understanding? The answer follows on the next line: she or he is wise who a) shows works by a good life b) is humble because humility comes from…
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David gives us today a great example of merciful love. King Saul had seen the proverbial “writing on the wall” (see I Sam. 18:5–9; Dan. 5:5–9, 24–28). So even though David would become the king’s son-in-law, marrying his daughter Michal, “Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David,…
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Today’s scripture readings warn about the need for taming our tongues, of praying to God to preserve us from an evil generation and ends with the Transfiguration of the Lord. You and I, we are on a pilgrimage up the steep mountain that leads to our final destination. Let us…
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St. James in his letter emphasizes the importance of good works as a testament of a good faith (Jas 2: 16ff). That is the theme of our First Reading today. It would almost seem that the words which St. James offers us in this letter of his are in contradiction…
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This line in today’s gospel has been resonating with me these past weeks. Next time the day’s pressures trip you into anger, aggression, or sarcasm, imagine Jesus stopping you, gently grasping your arm and saying “But who do you say that I am? (Mark 8:29). Like Peter, do we say…
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As Jesus entered the town of Bethsaida, the people brought him a blind man, and what was the very first thing Jesus did? He took this man “by the hand and led him outside the village” (Mk 8:23). Jesus led him outside what is familiar, outside his comfort zone. Jesus…
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Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). The Value of Trials and Temptation Trials, tribulations, and temptations come our way often in life. They are difficult experiences and problems that confront us daily. Primarily, trials…
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I am a volunteer Religious Education teacher at our parish. This year, I have the privilege of teaching 22 kids who are in the second year of a two-year Confirmation program, with the sacrament happening in mid-May. We meet every Sunday for 90 minutes. The Director of Religious Education has…
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