Lenten Resources
Today in our readings we hear the great mercy that the Lord has those who turn away from the sins that they commit and come back among the flock. But we also hear the warning of those who turn away from God and decide to do their own will and fall away. As the…
Continue ReadingIn the Gospel today, Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” I remember when I…
Continue ReadingI am reminded of a homily that our Fr. Aquinas gave after reading the gospel account of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. He said “Mark is the only gospel writer who says ‘Herod enjoyed listening to him [John].’ It just proves that God even loves Herod so much that he tries to penetrate the hardest…
Continue ReadingI remember one day trying my best to show humility in the place where I work on campus, I had a little pocketbook of the “Personal Notes of St. Bernadette Soubirous” that Fr. Joel Derks gave to me before he passed away. I read to myself the section where St. Bernadette said, “I raised…
Continue ReadingI remember thinking as a child, “why on earth are we celebrating a chair, especially a chair that is probably broken since it is over 2000 years old!” But as St. Paul says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.” When…
Continue ReadingIn today’s readings, especially the first reading, we can first get the sense of Easter. Noah was in the ark for 150 days. When the day finally came for him, his family, and all the animals to come out of the ark, the Lord made a covenant with Noah, saying “I will establish my…
Continue ReadingPlenty of people are funny but can’t tell a joke. Each week I get a taste of that hosting our seminary’s community night, News & Views. I start out with a joke, and let’s just say that often my humor differs from our seminarians. They think I’m funny, true, but they don’t always laugh…
Continue ReadingOur culture is very health-conscious. The very idea of fasting seems foreign in contemporary America. True fasting is hard. Several years ago, I went on a bread-and-water fast just on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent. That did not seem too bad – after all, I love bread! However, there was something about that being…
Continue ReadingOkay, let’s be real: Who would choose death and doom over life and prosperity? Unfortunately, the reality is not as simple as that. Many people do choose to gain the world and lose their soul in the process. Therefore, Moses is quite right to say that the choice is counter-intuitive. The Law of the…
Continue ReadingThis year our custom for imposing ashes will change in the U.S. However, the practice of sprinkling ashes on the crown of the head as opposed to marking a cross on the forehead is more common throughout the world. Honestly, I prefer the new custom. It felt odd to hear Jesus’ words about…
Continue ReadingMark’s Gospel differs from the other three in that there are two miracles of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. Both stories are charged with biblical numerology – numbers that cue us into seeing a deeper significance. For example, twelve baskets leftover equal the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and the seven baskets leftover…
Continue ReadingHow does one distinguish between coincidence and a sign from God? Often it is only looking back on events, and, at other times, it is our willingness to see the divine action at work in our life. In our first reading, Cain is jealous of his brother Abel. Rather than understanding that sometimes when…
Continue ReadingThe Journalism School at the University of Missouri is world-renowned. Consequently, you could not scratch your nose in class without elbowing a journalism undergrad. One principle of journalism they mentioned was this: If it bleeds, it leads. In other words, bad news sells papers (or gets internet clicks). Bad news captivates us. Yet conspicuously…
Continue Reading“Taking the seven loaves (Jesus) gave thanks, …. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also.” To bless God is to enter into the mystery of his creation. It is to take up and allow oneself to be formed in reverence for all God has…
Continue ReadingThe Benedictine abbot, Blessed Columba Marmion commented that the mysteries of Christ are our mysteries as well as Christ’s. In today’s Gospel we have an example of this: “(Jesus) …looked up to heaven and groaned” Here we have a mystery of Christ’s life – groaning or sighing. This man comes before him Jesus and…
Continue Reading“She begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter” “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” This episode in Jesus’ encounter with the demonic can teach us something valuable for our lives. One of the things which Satan does not, cannot, understand is humility. It…
Continue ReadingThe Benedictine world today celebrates the feast of St. Benedict’s twin sister, Scholastica. The Gospel given for the feast is the Martha-Mary story in serving Jesus in their home. The first optional reading is taken from the Song of Songs, also called, The Song of Solomon. It is an Old Testament love song and…
Continue ReadingToday’s readings offer us two ways to “learn God”. The first way is by contemplating God’s works. We learn that God is creator. It’s a beautiful way to come to know God. It’s a way children are taught to know God. Think, for example, of the catechism question and answer, “Why did God make…
Continue ReadingHow does the believer touch Jesus in our times? There are two indicators in this question that lead us in the direction of an answer. The first is the word, “believer.” One has to be a believer, he or she must have faith! Yet there is more to it than simply stating that touching…
Continue ReadingAll of us can agree, I’m sure, that mental anguish is a very great human suffering. Loneliness, fear, doubt, betrayal, infidelity, and especially depression and mental illness are hard to take. Job confronted this dilemma centuries ago. He didn’t solve the problem but he began the journey into redemptive suffering — a journey which…
Continue ReadingOne of the greatest travesties of life is when people give up hope. How often you see people who don’t want to move forward in life or make things better simply because they don’t believe things can get better. We all know a cynic or two. Sometimes the person who’s questioning our hope is…
Continue ReadingI have often turned to Thomas Merton as an inspiration in my spiritual life. His writing is so profound. There are simplicity and significant depth that run through all of it. I found a new insight recently when I read his autobiography again, The Seven Storey Mountain. In one section he writes about World…
Continue ReadingI once heard the saying that a pessimist is an optimist with experience. Can you really experience life and still be hopeful? I do believe the answer is yes. An optimist is someone who makes the best of their experiences. We will have both positive and negative experiences in life. We can’t control everything…
Continue ReadingThe Epistle to the Hebrews offers encouragement to those who are undergoing trials. “Treat your trials as discipline… Strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees…” Jesus underwent a trial of disappointment in His native place. He came home and no one listened to His word. He was “amazed at their lack of faith.”…
Continue ReadingJesus’s parents brought him into the Temple in Jerusalem to fulfill the ancient custom of presenting the firstborn child before the Lord. The prophet Malachy foretold that the messenger of the Lord would come before the Lord, and the Lord himself would come to the Temple. We see this fulfilled when Jesus entered the…
Continue ReadingHebrews declares that our ancestors “conquered kingdoms” because they had faith. They believed that the Lord was with them. They hoped in the Lord’s promise. How blessed we are to inherit the blessings of this promise. As Hebrews says, “something better was planned for us.” We have received the great treasure that was longed…
Continue ReadingToday’s readings show how often humanity puts up barriers to God. The Lord wants to draw us to Himself, yet we are the ones who put up the barriers. In the beginning of Israel’s journey, the people enjoyed the direct presence of God. They still asked not to hear the voice of the Lord…
Continue ReadingPreface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61) Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come…
Continue ReadingPreface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord. From Psalm…
Continue ReadingPreface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.…
Continue ReadingPreface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61) You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek. From…
Continue ReadingPreface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. From Psalm 96:3…
Continue ReadingPreface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61) Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.…
Continue ReadingPreface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61) Teach me your ways, O Lord. From Psalm 25 In high…
Continue ReadingThe picture we get from St. Mark’s Gospel today is that of Jesus and the disciples almost overwhelmed by the crowds wanting to get close to him and speak to him anytime they catch sight of him. St. Mark, always known for his brief and blunt descriptions, simply says that it was even impossible…
Continue ReadingDo you remember in grade school, when sides had to be chosen for anything, from spelling bees to inside games to outside games? There was always that sinking feeling of when, or even if, you would be chosen. I’m sure those embarrassing and often painful childhood experiences are handled differently these days. My point…
Continue ReadingHave you ever thought of the difference between a tourist and a pilgrim? Tourism is obviously big business today. On the other hand, making a pilgrimage seems to have much less appeal. Why would that be the case? It all comes down to what the person wants to accomplish. If it’s excitement and seeing…
Continue ReadingThere is an American Dominican sister who has been a missionary among poor villages in northern Nigeria for the past 40 years. One of her most successful community help programs involves inviting international surgeons to volunteer their skills to provide corrective surgery at local clinics for the many children who have rickets. This bone…
Continue ReadingSome of my favorite memories as an Iowa farm kid were all about summer threshing time. A great time to experience “neighborliness” when farmers (and kids like us) came together to help neighbors harvest the oats crop. Our “job” was driving tractors! Harvesting the grain was an up-close and personal experience of the gift…
Continue ReadingToday the Church has begun the annual World Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. As we observe the various struggles and divisions among some Christian denominations today the thought and even hope of unity might seem quite distant. Nevertheless, painful division over the centuries has not prevented Christians from praying for healing and striving…
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