READINGS: Genesis 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Romans 8: 31b-34; Mark 9: 2-10. Who hasn’t made the traditional “New Year’s Resolutions’ for self-improvement? Or who has not dreamed of the day when not shackled by some bad habit, sinful inclination, or a character flaw? We all do and, as Americans, concern about ‘self-help’ has been … Continue reading “Transformation”
READINGS: GENESIS 9: 8-15; I PETER 3: 18-22; MARK 1: 12-15. Remember the last time you traveled through a desert; perhaps it was the Mohave Desert or that Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico. Do you remember what you experienced? If you are like most people what was most striking is the seemingly barren, dry … Continue reading “Never Alone”
Readings: Joel 2: 12-18; II Cor. 5:20-6:2; Matt. 6: 1-6; 1-18. There is much focus nowadays on the environment and our relationship to it. While much of this is framed in apocalyptic terms which induce endless hand-wringing with a sense not only of impending doom but of human powerlessness. And who needs that? So many … Continue reading “Ash Wednesday”
January 14th is the Anniversary of the passing of Msgr. Anthony Brouwers. How many of us can tell you the anniversary of the passing of a parent or loved one? These dates, over time, serve as a day of memory rather than sadness, filled with opportunities to pray, remember with joy the lives of those … Continue reading “Remember and Celebrate”
So many have been looking forward to turning the page to a new year, there were even Christmas ornaments that tried to make light of some of our shared 2020 experiences. I admit I did learn to make sourdough bread, cleaned out closets, and found new ways to work from home. So we take a deep breath, head into … Continue reading “New Year”
2020 Christmas will most likely be different from any Christmas we have celebrated. There will be fewer family gatherings, fewer large events, and for some, the only Mass that they will attend will be virtual. It can be easy to feel sad about these changes, I know my husband and I are sad that we … Continue reading “So lets pause”
READINGS I Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 “For nothing is impossible for God.” A short and pithy phrase at the end of today’s Gospel reading from Luke. A phrase which may roll smoothly off our tongues and sound very proper, Christian, and fitting but for us today is it only a … Continue reading “Nothing is Impossible”
READINGS Isa. 61:1-2a, 10-11 I Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 Today is Gaudete Sunday (Joy) because two of the reading remind us of the importance of joy in our spiritual life. In particular, the reading from First Thessalonians tells us to “ Rejoice always’. But it does not tell us what joy is so how … Continue reading “Perfect Joy”
In 1858, appearing to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes, Mary stated her name saying: I am the Immaculate Conception! The beginning of Mary’s role in our redemption is her conception as the daughter of St Joachim and St. Anne. Conceived without original sin Mary received this special grace, a gift of the Holy Spirit. Mary was … Continue reading “Immaculate Conception, the perfect vessel”
Readings Isa. 40: 1-5, 9-11; 2 Peter 3: 8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Hope seems to be in short supply nowadays. Corporate Media is constantly bombarding us with messages of fear, hate, and imminent destruction whether from war, totalitarianism, or a virus. Some political leaders are even telling people not to celebrate Christmas. And we, as humans, … Continue reading “Hope”
Transformation
READINGS: Genesis 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Romans 8: 31b-34; Mark 9: 2-10. Who hasn’t made the traditional “New Year’s Resolutions’ for self-improvement? Or who has not dreamed of the day when not shackled by some bad habit, sinful inclination, or a character flaw? We all do and, as Americans, concern about ‘self-help’ has been … Continue reading “Transformation”
Never Alone
READINGS: GENESIS 9: 8-15; I PETER 3: 18-22; MARK 1: 12-15. Remember the last time you traveled through a desert; perhaps it was the Mohave Desert or that Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico. Do you remember what you experienced? If you are like most people what was most striking is the seemingly barren, dry … Continue reading “Never Alone”
Ash Wednesday
Readings: Joel 2: 12-18; II Cor. 5:20-6:2; Matt. 6: 1-6; 1-18. There is much focus nowadays on the environment and our relationship to it. While much of this is framed in apocalyptic terms which induce endless hand-wringing with a sense not only of impending doom but of human powerlessness. And who needs that? So many … Continue reading “Ash Wednesday”
Remember and Celebrate
January 14th is the Anniversary of the passing of Msgr. Anthony Brouwers. How many of us can tell you the anniversary of the passing of a parent or loved one? These dates, over time, serve as a day of memory rather than sadness, filled with opportunities to pray, remember with joy the lives of those … Continue reading “Remember and Celebrate”
New Year
So many have been looking forward to turning the page to a new year, there were even Christmas ornaments that tried to make light of some of our shared 2020 experiences. I admit I did learn to make sourdough bread, cleaned out closets, and found new ways to work from home. So we take a deep breath, head into … Continue reading “New Year”
So lets pause
2020 Christmas will most likely be different from any Christmas we have celebrated. There will be fewer family gatherings, fewer large events, and for some, the only Mass that they will attend will be virtual. It can be easy to feel sad about these changes, I know my husband and I are sad that we … Continue reading “So lets pause”
Nothing is Impossible
READINGS I Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 “For nothing is impossible for God.” A short and pithy phrase at the end of today’s Gospel reading from Luke. A phrase which may roll smoothly off our tongues and sound very proper, Christian, and fitting but for us today is it only a … Continue reading “Nothing is Impossible”
Perfect Joy
READINGS Isa. 61:1-2a, 10-11 I Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 Today is Gaudete Sunday (Joy) because two of the reading remind us of the importance of joy in our spiritual life. In particular, the reading from First Thessalonians tells us to “ Rejoice always’. But it does not tell us what joy is so how … Continue reading “Perfect Joy”
Immaculate Conception, the perfect vessel
In 1858, appearing to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes, Mary stated her name saying: I am the Immaculate Conception! The beginning of Mary’s role in our redemption is her conception as the daughter of St Joachim and St. Anne. Conceived without original sin Mary received this special grace, a gift of the Holy Spirit. Mary was … Continue reading “Immaculate Conception, the perfect vessel”
Hope
Readings Isa. 40: 1-5, 9-11; 2 Peter 3: 8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Hope seems to be in short supply nowadays. Corporate Media is constantly bombarding us with messages of fear, hate, and imminent destruction whether from war, totalitarianism, or a virus. Some political leaders are even telling people not to celebrate Christmas. And we, as humans, … Continue reading “Hope”