Daily Reflections
I Thought I was Right Some people are blind. Including ourselves. “On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’” (Acts 22:6-7, NABRE)…
Continue ReadingSowing Seeds Have you ever sown a seed? Being January here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s been a while since sowing season. But in a few short months, those green thumbs up here will be at it again. But even if you’re not green-thumbed (myself included), Jesus’ Parable of the Sower is still relatable.…
Continue ReadingMove for the Lord The Lord has come. He is in our midst. Can you feel Him? King David danced before the ark of the Lord with abandon (2 Samuel 6:14). What a sight it must have been to see the ruler of the nation dance with abandon before the ark of the Lord,…
Continue ReadingDeath and Life Recent events have been a legislative victory for the Pro-Life Movement in the United States. Namely, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade from 1973, which made the right to have an abortion constitutionally protected, was overturned on June 24, 2022 (in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization). This…
Continue ReadingRepent. Repent. Repent. How many times do we have to hear it preached? How many times do I have to repent? What does it mean, anyway? Merriam-Webster, America’s oldest and foremost publisher of dictionaries, defines this intransitive verb to mean: “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.” Turn…
Continue ReadingWe continue the saga of David and Saul with Saul gathering an army to search for and to kill David. But when David had the opportunity to strike first and kill Saul, he was remorseful and showed him mercy. In our lives, we might have moments in which we are persecuted, hated, or betrayed,…
Continue ReadingIn today’s first reading, we see Saul and David returning after David had slain the Philistine. They were greeted with much joy and festivities as the women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul became jealous that they attributed more to David, and the jealousy consumed him to the…
Continue ReadingToday’s first reading is known well by many people. The story of David and Goliath is not a story of David’s strength or bravery, but it is a story of his deep faith and trust in God’s strength and glory. He says to the Philistine giant, “You come against me with sword and spear…
Continue ReadingIn today’s first reading, Samuel was sent to Jesse of Bethlehem to seek the LORD’s anointed among Jesse’s sons. Upon seeing Jesse’s son Eliab, he thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before me” but he was not the chosen one. For Samuel looked upon them and saw their stature, strength, and outward appearance…
Continue ReadingIn today’s readings, we see that it is not by action alone that we please God, but by the desire behind the action. The Psalm says, “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always.” And further, “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant…
Continue ReadingIn today’s readings, we hear God calling out to us. In the first reading, the LORD called out to Samuel but he did not realize that is was God speaking because “at that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD.” Thinking it was Eli, he went to him saying, “Here I am. You…
Continue ReadingIn yesterday’s reading from First Samuel, we heard how God told the prophet Samuel to choose a king for Israel. Today’s reading describes how Samuel carried out this divine directive. We are introduced to the figure of Saul. While he is searching for some lost sheep of his father, he runs into the prophet…
Continue ReadingThe readings from First Samuel jump from chapter 4 to chapter 8. The situation has changed. The prophet Samuel is now an old man. Many of the Chosen People had treasured him. He was a good leader, following in the tradition of Moses and Joshua and the several “judges.” The people were worried about…
Continue ReadingToday’s reading from the First Book of Samuel presents a bit of history. The Chosen People are trying to establish themselves in the Holy Land. But the land was already occupied by a people called the Philistines. War between the two peoples was the unfortunate result. In the first battle between the opposing armies,…
Continue ReadingThe first reading continues yesterday’s story. But Samuel is now approaching adulthood. He lives in the Shiloh temple and is being trained by the elderly priest Eli. The text states that “a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent.” We can expect that this is going to change. One night, Samuel hears…
Continue ReadingToday, we move into the first week of Ordinary Time. The first reading throughout January will be taken from the two Books of Samuel, except for the few feast days. Three figures are prominent: the prophet Samuel, the first king by the name of Saul, and the great King David. Before Samuel, however, today…
Continue ReadingToday’s Gospel describing the baptism of Jesus starts out by talking about John the Baptist. What an interesting figure! He had spent years in the desert, preparing himself for his mission. He will point out Jesus. “One mightier than I is coming after me.” He is a man of the desert. What does the…
Continue Reading Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The Greek word “Epiphany” means “manifestation” or “appearance.” In the Gospel, Jesus is manifested and appears as a King who is adored. This is somewhat surprising. After all, Jesus is not even a month old. Yet he is recognized as a King.…
Continue ReadingOn this Marian Saturday during the Christmas season, St. Maximilian Kolbe once said, “I thank you very much for your prayers and ask for many, many more, that I may serve the Immaculata with zeal, ‘suaviter et fortiter‘ [gently and bravely].” Let us always pray for one another through the Immaculata so that we…
Continue Reading“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.’ And he said to him, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on…
Continue ReadingToday is the feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton! She once said, “Blessed a thousand, thousand times be God who governs all and will bring light out of darkness.” During Advent, I kept pondering how God brings everything that is dark into light, so that nothing will be left in darkness! Why? Because God…
Continue ReadingIn our Alleluia verse today, we hear, “The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him, He gave power to become the children of God.” Why did he give us power to become children of God? Not only because we accept him, but because we have Our Lord…
Continue ReadingIn our first reading today, we hear “Beloved: Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.” One of our saints…
Continue ReadingA very Happy New Year to all. It is very fitting that we celebrate this solemnity of Mary, Mother of God! Yesterday, we read from the prophecy of Simeon: “And you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” I am reminded of what a priest friend shared…
Continue ReadingI think it is very fitting that the last day of the year is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Family. We read in our Gospel today the Canticle of Simeon and his prophecy to our Lady, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my…
Continue ReadingO come, let us adore Him! Our Savior is Born! Many of you sang that hymn at the beginning of the Vigil Christmas Mass or the Midnight Mass. It’s my favorite Christmas Mass hymn! After singing O Come Emmanuel for weeks, and after begging the Christ to come and save us, now we sing…
Continue ReadingMerry Christmas! Our Savior is born! In today’s gospel, we see the Holy Spirit’s promise fulfilled. The Holy Spirit told the holy, devout, and righteous man Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Christ. After waiting for what seemed like forever, Simeon sees the Christ in the temple when…
Continue ReadingMerry Christmas! Our Savior is Born! Guilt by association… those were the words that I used in my reflection for St. Stephen’s Feast Day a couple of days ago. The Deacon Stephen knew what could happen to him when he associated himself and professed a faith to the Christ. Today, we remember and honor…
Continue ReadingMerry Christmas! Keep listening to that Christmas music! On this third Octave Day of Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, author of John’s gospel, AND the disciple whom Jesus loved. The gospel we hear today is of John and Simon Peter running to Jesus’ tomb after Mary Magdalene told them…
Continue ReadingMerry Christmas! Our Savior is born! Keep those Christmas decorations up. We’ve got 40 days to celebrate the Messiah’s birth! On this first day after Christmas, we are reminded of the cost of the Christian life. Today, we honor and celebrate a deacon of the early Church, St. Stephen. He was martyred because of…
Continue Reading Puer natus est nobis et filius datus est nobis. A child is born for us, and a son is given to us. These words of the Introit for the Mass of Christmas Day have announced this feast and mystery for centuries. A child is born for us; a son is given to us. These…
Continue ReadingWell, here we are, it’s Christmas Eve, and we’ve just participated in one of the shortest Advent periods. But before jumping into tonight’s celebration, let’s look at what our readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent are trying to tell us. From our first reading from Second Samuel, we hear how King David is…
Continue ReadingYou aren’t the Messiah, and I am not the Savior. Now that we have that established, let’s focus on who we are and what we are to do. Based on the Scripture readings, our role is fairly clear: to prepare the way. For an entire year, I told a seminarian whom I was working with…
Continue ReadingAn authentic encounter with the Lord brings joy. Mary does for Elizabeth what she does for every Christian who seeks her intercession. Mary puts us in proximity to Jesus. Mary does it physically as she carries Jesus in her womb and His presence is acknowledged by John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s womb.…
Continue ReadingMary pondered. She pondered and allowed her heart to move to a place of acceptance of God’s will. It’s often the case in life that we will experience things we do not understand, do not like, or cannot change. Every moment like this is an opportunity to ponder—which is to say, reflect in silence.…
Continue ReadingAn angel of the Lord appears to Manoah’s wife and promises that she will conceive and bear a son. Throughout the Scriptures, the Lord visits the lowly and humble. God comes in the small and ordinary circumstances when we call upon Him with great faith. Greatness isn’t measured in popularity and worldly esteem but…
Continue ReadingThere are countless examples in the Bible of humanity not listening: Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, Pharaoh hardened his heart to God and did not listen, and the Chosen People, once freed from slavery in Egypt the people’s grumbling and complaining, which can also be seen as their refusal to listen.…
Continue ReadingMany of my friends, especially those with young children, have mixed feelings about the holiday season. On the one hand, they look forward to the time spent with family and friends, the anticipation of preparing and celebrating Christmas. But, they also feel overwhelmed by the pressures to buy more, or try to accomplish everything…
Continue ReadingElijah and John the Baptist were like fire; their words were like a flaming furnace. As the saying goes, the truth hurts, and the prophets’ vocation was to point out the truth of people’s sin they hoped to ignore. Fire is destructive, yes, but fire is also purifying. We know that the lifecycle of…
Continue ReadingA little mystery is a good thing. However, as a pastor and as an administrator in a seminary, I have found under-communication can be a serious mistake. When you don’t connect the dots, people can, and will, speculate wildly. And misunderstanding often causes the confused to assume the worst about you. When Jesus cleanses…
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