The Holy Mother Church has entered into the Holy Season of Lent, where each and every one of its children is called to be led by the Spirit into the Desert to fight, just as the Author of our Salvation, Jesus, did. Let us all remember and reaffirm the truth…
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People fast for many reasons. On the secular front, intermittent fasting has become popular in health and fitness circles, for its efficacy in weight loss, and in mitigating diabetes and heart disease. A strapping young man at work once told me that, before summer, he did a weekly water fast…
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Today’s title has been blithely borrowed from a favorite saint; it is one of St. Augustine’s more famous quotes. The theme of choosing life over death is highlighted in all of the readings on tap for today. If we reduce the Commandments to the Golden Rule, we are left with…
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The first line of the first reading is an appropriate start to Lent. Today, Ash Wednesday, begins our Lenten journey to Easter. “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God” Joel 2:12.…
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Today’s gospel from Mark is the account when the disciples are with Jesus in a boat and realize they have forgotten their bread. They become distressed at this realization and Jesus warns them; and reminds them of what they have been through together. Guard Yourselves Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out,…
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The Lord sighs. In today’s Gospel, we are introduced to the Pharisees, who attempt to trap Jesus by seeking grounds to accuse Him. They request a sign from Jesus. Like them, we sometimes seek signs from above to better understand our circumstances or make wise decisions. We often look for…
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Today’s readings lead us to reflect on the theme of the “law of the Lord,” as the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 118) reminds us, “Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord.” A fundamental instrument to observe any law is wisdom, not that of the…
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As the New Year feeling of January wears off and February brings us Valentine’s Day, it is a time to reflect on how we think about love and the role it plays in our lives. How can those who are celebrating look at their celebration from another perspective? And how…
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, today’s Scripture readings take us to the deep reason why humanity continues to suffer division and brokenness. Surely, we experience moments of graces and of divine presence. But we also realize that our personal and collective lives carry the marks of broken promises and unfaithfulness to…
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