Lenten Resources
This week, we have reflected on the joy of God’s presence, revealed through His transforming work, His faithfulness across generations, His strength in trials, and His surprising ways. Today, we gather all these threads together in the readings, which show us the culmination of joy in the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the Song…
Continue ReadingThis week, we’ve journeyed through the joy of God’s presence, revealed in His transforming work, His faithfulness through history, His strength in trials, and His surprising interventions in unexpected places. Today’s readings bring us to the ultimate surprise: God’s presence comes to us not only through His promises but in the Word made flesh,…
Continue ReadingThroughout this week, we’ve reflected on the joy of God’s presence: in His transforming work, His faithfulness through history, and His strength in our trials. Today, we see this joy breaking through in a surprising and profound way—God’s presence is often revealed through the utterly unexpected, challenging us to expand our faith and trust…
Continue ReadingThis week, we’ve been reflecting on the joy of God’s presence. First, we considered how God’s presence transforms curses into blessings and calls us to open our hearts in faith. Then, we marveled at His enduring presence in salvation history, working through generations to fulfill His promises in Christ. Today, our readings call us…
Continue ReadingBuilding on yesterday’s reflection, we continue to explore the joy of God’s presence—a joy that is not fleeting but rooted in the unfolding of His eternal plan. Yesterday, we saw how God’s presence transformed a curse into a blessing in the prophecy of Balaam and invited us to open our hearts to His authority.…
Continue ReadingToday’s readings draw us into the mystery of God’s presence—a presence that brings joy, not through human effort, but as a gift of grace to those who are open to receiving it. In Numbers, though summoned to curse Israel, Balaam is instead moved by the Spirit of God to proclaim blessing. His vision reveals…
Continue Reading Gaudete Sunday calls us to rejoice, a moment of lightness as we approach Christmas. Today’s readings are brimming with encouragement and hope, showing us how to live joyfully in the truth of God’s presence and His work in our lives. In the first reading from Zephaniah, we hear a powerful promise: “The Lord…
Continue ReadingThe Church has purposely set aside these four weeks before Christmas as preparation time. During this time, we are supposed to be preparing to meet our Lord. This means looking at oneself and recognizing what we need to fix or change so as to have a clean heart and soul to meet the Savior…
Continue ReadingI’m okay admitting that sometimes I need another person to help me see and understand something. Yes, it can be the case that I don’t understand something, and another person’s perspective helps to communicate what I need to know. I think that’s what Jesus is going in our gospel today. He’s calling out the…
Continue ReadingFor a second time this week, we honor our Blessed Mother. This time it is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Almost 500 years ago, a woman converted the New World to Catholicism. She did not do this for her own sake, but for the sake of the one she was carrying in…
Continue ReadingWhen I was a little kid learning how to ride my bicycle, I was terrified of getting the training wheels removed from the bike. When dad took them off, my older brother helped to calm my fears by running beside me while I was on my bicycle. He had one hand on the handle…
Continue Reading“Mostly” doesn’t cut it, not in God’s eyes. Jesus gives this image of a sheep that strayed away from the flock and got lost. The shepherd went looking for this lost sheep and with great joy found it. Out of 100 sheep, ONE went missing! There may be some who may believe that it’s…
Continue ReadingIt’s been 14 years since my mother passed away, and we’re coming up to Christmas. Every Christmas, she made hundreds of tamales! I miss her and her tamales! I remember saying to others, “my mom makes the best tamales, she makes them perfectly!” Of course, growing up around lots of Hispanics, I’d hear my…
Continue Reading We are in the second half of the football season. A lot of the players are getting hurt, getting tired, and the person who helps them stay fit is a person critical in sports—very critical, it’s the trainer. A trainer works with an athlete. They get the athlete physically ready, exercising with them…
Continue ReadingIsaiah today: The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, Jesus sends out his apostles: “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make…
Continue ReadingIsaiah today: “And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” “The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD.” In the gospel, Jesus encounters two blind men—Have pity on us, Son of David. They did not need to ask Jesus to do anything, he knew what they longed for—to…
Continue ReadingAll the liturgical seasons have their own unique themes. Advent is a favorite liturgical season for many. What is so special about the season of Advent? Perhaps, that of all the seasons of the year, Advent is the most true to life. It is a time of waiting. A season of hope. We hope.…
Continue ReadingToday we have a look at Jesus the Savior and the one who provides. It is linked to another familiar passage of the prophet Isaiah 25. On this mountain the Lord will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain…
Continue ReadingToday’s passage from Isaiah is an insight to a messianic age when all is well and all is as God would have it be—as “in the beginning,” when creation and the world order have been restored and renewed. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,…
Continue ReadingThere is a definite beauty to the season of Advent. Though it begins on the first Sunday reminding us of the second coming of Christ, it moves day by day to have us consider how to prepare for that coming, as well as to recall the longings of ancient Israel for the long-awaited Messiah.…
Continue Reading Today is a day of new beginnings! Today we begin the season of Advent. The cycle of the Church’s liturgy begins anew. We begin again the cycle of celebrating and reflecting on the mysteries of our salvation. These are the themes of advent: the cycle of salvation—the time of salvation. The coming of…
Continue ReadingThis is the feast of St. Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, the first two apostles called by Jesus. Today’s gospel from Matthew 4:18-22 recalls that event: “Jesus…saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me,…
Continue ReadingIn the first reading from the Book of Revelation we hear a dramatic description of the overthrow of Death and Hades. John speaks of the holy ones who have turned to Christ—those souls who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and the word of God, who have come to life and now…
Continue ReadingIn the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah enumerates the glorious acts of the Lord, the many blessings bestowed upon a people he calls his own: “The loving deeds of the Lord I will recall: …He became their savior in every affliction,” his love and pity redeemed them, he lifted them up and carried them…
Continue ReadingIt is a tradition at Conception Abbey that a mass is celebrated during Thanksgiving week as a commemoration of the departed members of our monastic community and the deceased loved ones of our personal families. The readings are of the weekday. In the first reading from the Book of Revelation we see a vision…
Continue ReadingIn today’s gospel from St. Luke, Jesus tells of the destruction of the temple and speaks of the end time when there will be earthquakes, famines, plagues and mighty signs from the sky. Jesus urges his disciples to remain faithful: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified.” But Jesus is…
Continue ReadingOur first reading from the Book of Revelation paints a scene of the “holy ones” who delight in eternal peace: “…with him [the Lamb] a hundred and forty-four thousand…were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne” Who are these one hundred and forty-four thousand who follow the Lamb? The answer…
Continue ReadingToday we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This Sunday opens the 34th and last week of the Church’s liturgical year, presenting us each day with reflections on the second coming of Christ in glory. In the gospel of today’s liturgy from St. John, Jesus, a gentle, poor…
Continue ReadingThe Gospel for today is a discourse between the Sadducees and Jesus. The Sadducees ask Jesus a question on marriage and how the laws of marriage would follow one into the afterlife. Our Lord proceeds to speak on how there is no marriage between those who are found worthy and are risen in the…
Continue ReadingSo often in prayer, when we read a beautiful scripture passage, or a touching reflection in a spiritual book or saint’s journal, our soul is enriched by the words that are so clearly called forth by the Holy Spirit. We may feel inspired to follow the words we read at that moment because, in…
Continue ReadingAs Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, He wept over the city, expressing profound sorrow for its spiritual blindness. His tears reveal the depth of His love and compassion for the people who have failed to recognize the time of their visitation. This moment highlights the duality of Jesus’ mission: He is both the Savior…
Continue ReadingIn today’s Gospel, Jesus shares a parable as he is walking to Jerusalem. He knows that he will soon be leaving this world, and the people following him believe that the Kingdom of God will soon be upon them. What they don’t know is how this will happen. Jesus tries to prepare the people…
Continue ReadingIn today’s readings we hear hard words about being lukewarm. Revelation tells us that it is better to be either too hot or too cold than to be lukewarm. So what is being lukewarm? It is saying, “I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,” seemingly believing in God but rejecting…
Continue ReadingDo you ever feel jealous of the saints? It seems impossible not to have a firm faith if you bear the marks of Christ’s crucifixion on your body like St. Francis of Assisi, or if our Lord comes to you in visions like he did for St. Faustina. Their stories are remarkable for the…
Continue Reading‘He Calls Us to Suffer with Him.’ “For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.” – Heb 10:14 This passage comes from our second reading from Mass today, and is centered on Jesus acting as The High Priest, making the ultimate single sacrifice; to suffer and die on…
Continue ReadingIn the Gospel for today, there is a parable with an odd interaction between a merciless judge and a persistent widow. This parable is not as rich in imagery as maybe the story of the prodigal son or as economic as the parables of the talents. Why are we now getting a judicial lesson…
Continue ReadingWe often live our lives as though we expect to live forever. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul admonishes Christians to wake up from their spiritual slumber, reminding them to understand the present time. “Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). The “present time” Paul refers…
Continue ReadingIn Luke’s Gospel today, Jesus asserts that no one can observe the Kingdom of God, for it is among you. There are many instances in our daily lives where we can become distracted and look where our Lord is not. One way these distractions work is that you “look there or look here” while…
Continue Reading“Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.” “O LORD, you have probed me, and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand.” Today’s responsorial psalm has an important lesson in store for us. God knows us and desires to pour his love upon us. Today’s psalm reminds us, “O LORD,…
Continue ReadingToday, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Josaphat, a bishop martyred on this day in 1623. St. Josaphat is most well-known for his zeal in uniting the Eastern and Western Churches. From a young age, he desired to give his life to the service of our Lord and started to study the lives of…
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