COME AND DRINK Ex. 17:3-7; Rom. 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn. 4:5-42 Someone asked me recently, “What’s the big deal about Lent? They said “It comes around every year; to me it just says Easter is getting close and my wife makes me give up chocolate!” The season of Lent is a gift from Jesus to get […]
Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Rom 5: 12-19; Mt 4:1-11 Jesus is led out into the desert. He is in the wilderness. He is alone with himself: with the competing voices of God and Satan. Like us. He was tested and showed himself to be the holiness of God. He wants to give us that holiness. That’s […]
Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Rom 5: 12-19; Mt 4:1-11 Jesús es llevado al desierto. Está solo consigo mismo: con las voces rivales de Dios y Satanás. Como nosotros. Fue probado y demostró ser la santidad de Dios. Él quiere darnos esa santidad. Había una parte de Jesús que quería usar su poder para hacer pan, para […]
Today’s readings remind us of the importance of this season of Lent which begins today with our celebration of Ash Wednesday. The prophet Joel calls us to repentance through: “Fasting, mourning and weeping.” He tells us, “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord.” Like our first reading, the gospel reminds us of the […]
Leviticus 19: 1-2, 17-18 1 Corinthians 3: 16-23 Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 Matthew 5: 38-48 If only I’d win the lottery, then my life would be perfect. If only I’d find my dream job, then my life would be perfect. If only my spouse and kids would finally listen and do things […]
Tomorrow (2/26) is Ash Wednesday, a day of fast and abstinence. Catholics abstain from meat. One full meal is allowed in addition to two smaller meals. Thus, the rules for fasting and abstinence in the United States are: Every person 14 years or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on Ash […]
YOU ARE MINE There’s a battle going on in the lives of each of us, a battle going on FOR the lives of each of us, a battle between good and evil. At the end of that battle, in the next life, we will hear either Jesus say, “you are mine” or hear Satan say, […]
Sal y luz. La sal conserva y purifica. La luz brilla El mensaje de hoy es simple: nuestras buenas obras nos purifican, y también son buenas para los demás. Deja que tu luz brille. Aquí hay un ejemplo reciente en nuestro medio. Justo antes de Navidad nuestro santuario de oración estaba iluminado. A esto se […]
Is 58:7-10:3; Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5: 13-16 Salt and Light. Salt preserves and purifies. Light shines us forward. The message today is simple: Our good works preserve and purify us, and they are also good for others. Let your light shine. We have recent literal examples, in our midst. Just before Christmas our prayer shrine […]
The Nativity of the Lord. Christmas Readings of Mass During the Night Is 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Last Christmas I told you about the first Christmas creche with live animals created by St. Francis of Assisi in the town of Greccio in 1223. Then I told you about the first non-animate scene created by […]