Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16Matthew 5:27-32 Reflection: As empowering and liberating as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was, he made no bones about adultery and divorce. “Tear out your right eye,” he said. “Cut off your right hand,” he said.…
Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46Matthew 5:20-26 Reflection: Today’s gospel continues moving through the Sermon on the Mount. Here we are presented with the first of six “antitheses,” which essentially are a fuller understanding of the…
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-39Matthew 5:17-19 Reflection: Today we are called to make resolute decisions about our life’s faith journey. In the first reading from the 1st Book of Kings, “Elijah appealed to all the people and said, How long will…
Scripture: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3Matthew 5:13-16 Reflection: We have all heard the derogatory term, “playing second fiddle.” As in: “I’m the star of this show, and I’m not playing second fiddle to anyone.” To play second fiddle means to play a…
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-6Matthew 5:1-12 Reflection: Any business consultant will advise having a mission behind the company, a vision for where you’re going, and strategies to help make that happen. When you create that vision, mission, and strategic plan, you…
Scripture: Genesis 3:9-152 Corinthians 4:13-5:1Mark 3:20-35 Reflection: Again, and Always, the Good News of Jesus A priest working in Africa taught the Bible in secondary school. The school included Christian and Muslim students, so the Bible was taught as a…
Memorial of The Immaculate Heart of Mary Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8Luke 2:41-51 Reflection: Following upon yesterday’s feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we today honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Jesus. What a privilege to have these…
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Scripture: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19John 19:31-37 Reflection: “…My heart is overwhelmed,my pity is stirred.I will not give vent to my blazing anger,I will not destroy Ephraim again…” (Hos 11:8-9) I saw…
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-15Mark 12:28-34 Reflection: Pope Francis, in his landmark encyclical Laudato Si, is strong in his condemnation of the exploitation of the billions of people living in poverty of mind and body around the globe. He calls out…
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12Mark 12:18-27 Reflection: In reading the four Gospels, it’s not uncommon to find people in the story who are confused by Jesus’s teaching and what he stands for. Over the last couple of weeks, the Gospel…