|The contrast between today's readings from Daniel and John show us clearly, I think, the kind of new order and new way of being that Jesus came into this world to inaugurate, one where we are called to mercy and compassion ...

The Annunciation of the Lord Psalm 40: 7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11 "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." The first part of Psalm 40 relates a thanksgiving to God, who has saved the psalmist (and us) from death and put a new ...

|Today is All Souls Day and a Sunday.  It seems particularly powerful to be gathering together as community for Sunday liturgy and to commemorate all the faithful departed.  I always appreciate praying in every liturgy for ...

Today we celebrate the wondrous feast of the Annunciation. We witness once more Mary's courageous decision to put her whole self on the line for the sake of God's saving action in history. This year, as we celebrate this ...

This Gospel passage is part of Mark's chapter 6 and relates organically to all of the other parts of this chapter in various ways, but I would like to consider what this limited text says just on the surface.||Jesus has ...

|Preparing | This fourth Sunday of Lent stands in the middle of three weeks - the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent - in which the Church performs public scrutinies of those who will join us through baptism or ...

Today's readings bring up the much-loved image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The first reading from Hebrews speaks of people who lead us, and of God as "the great shepherd of the sheep." Then we have the beautiful ...

|The Ascent|"On this mountain the Lord of hosts…will wipe away the tears from all faces." (Isaiah 25: 6-8)|To set out on a mountain trail takes us away from the ordinary.  It is better to travel light, so we leave stuff ...

|There are multiple themes that run through today's readings: the appeal of God's word; God's marvelous care for us; the work of the Holy Spirit inspiring conversion. I was especially moved by the twin notions of challenge ...

Sunday in Ordinary Time Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed PRE-PRAYERING|We have a little saying that when you get a lemon, you make lemonade. This means generally that when something sour or displeasing comes our ...