Reflecting on today’s readings about God calling Jeremiah and the parable of the sower moved me to pray for all people discerning a vocation to the priesthood or some form of consecrated life within our Church. This reading from Jeremiah was read in the Mass of my consecration, as I…
My dear friends, today is the feast of St. Brigid of Sweden. Today’s gospel sees Jesus speaking metaphorically to his disciples. His words remind me of an African proverb which says that if a lizard departs from the tree of her habitat, little children will roughly mangle her. That is…
The National Eucharistic Congress just took place over the past several days here in the United States. As some might know, it is the first congress happening in 83 years! Although I am not able to attend, I look forward to hearing about the outpouring of graces and fruits from…
We were dizzy with exhaustion and exhilaration when we gathered together again with the Lord. This was our first taste of the authority which lay naturally on the shoulders of our Master but which we had not received ourselves, until now. We had done what Jesus said and we had…
The leaders in ancient Israel forgot the source of their blessings, the Giver of their own gifts, and so they have inflicted injustice on the poor because they can: “They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them” (Mic. 2:2). Today’s reading reminds me of King Ahab. He…
What would you do if 5500 days were added to your life? King Hezekiah is granted a 15-year extension to his life, and he responds with a magnificent hymn of gratitude and thanksgiving. The apostles face the wrath of the persnickety Pharisees, but Our Lord defends them while reminding them…
Rest is often elusive in a world that lives from paycheck to paycheck. We chase after jobs, deadlines, ambitions, relationships, and bucket lists, only to find ourselves exhausted and yearning for something more. And yet, nestled within the Scripture is a profound invitation that promises what our souls desperately seek:…
When I saw the fireworks this year. I was mesmerized. Little “stars” would shoot up high into the sky and dance their little dance. They dazzled as they popped. Colors, shapes, and lights of all sorts lit up the night. “Do it again,” my soul would say. “Do it again.”…
Today’s Gospel is not one often quoted as a favorite. It contains the reproaches of Jesus to the faithless. We hear: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!” Honestly, our first thought when hearing this may be: “Glad I am not one of those two towns!” However, to do…
Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). In today’s first reading, Isaiah presented God’s displeasure to the people. He was displeased by their burnt offerings of rams, fats of fatlings, and blood of calves, lambs,…