2 Corinthians 6 was the scripture passage my classmates and I chose as our ordination theme. Looking at the text today we were probably highlighting St. Paul’s statement: “In everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God.” That is as true today as it was 45 years ago. Looking again at the epistle another line… Read More »

Language is the way people convey information to others. Problems can arise because language is alive, it evolves so communication can wobble. What words signify changes over time. When I was growing up somethings were “groovy” or “outta sight.” I knew I was getting older when I didn’t know what it meant to be “gnarly”… Read More »

One puzzling aspect of the pandemic has been that some people have not been able to think in terms of the common good. Responses to mask wearing or vaccine getting have been couched in terms of personal freedom instead of how my actions impact others. St. Paul wanted the people of Corinth to think more… Read More »

The Sacred Heart of Jesus has been part of Catholic devotion at least since the growth of Christian mysticism in the fourteenth century with figures like St. Gertrude the Great. It was in the seventeenth century that the devotion started to percolate into the general body of the Church through the visions of St. Margret… Read More »

St. Paul told the church in Corinth we are not discouraged because in Christ we are being transformed from glory to glory.  When I look at the state of the country, the church, the city, my own soul I am discouraged. Instead of moving from glory to glory it seems things are going from bad to… Read More »

In ordinary time the daily scriptures are done as a “continuous reading” — going through each reading chapter by chapter.  They are not meant to comment on each other… which makes today’s two selections very interesting since they seem to contradict each other! St. Paul said,  the letter brings death.  Jesus said, “Not the smallest… Read More »

Years ago I led the singing at La Purisima Church. The priest told me to change the lyrics to a popular song. “Let you light shine before men that they may see the good that you do.” He complained, the focus should be on God not what we do. I objected, the song writer didn’t… Read More »

The daily Bible readings will be taken for the next weeks from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians and the Gospel of Matthew. We begin the gospel texts with the Sermon on the Mount, particularly the Beatitudes where Jesus reminds us of the blessings which are ours. Note that we don’t create or produce… Read More »

A scene mothers can relate to: your teenager comes home from school and announces. “Hi Mom, I’m STARVING.” “Don’t eat too much. Supper is in an hour.” Several PBJ sandwiches, some chips and a soda later the teen listens to some music until called for supper … and proceeds to eat a full meal! You… Read More »

The Angel Raphael gave some advice to Tobit and Tobiah before departing.  Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. The gospel story for today coincidentally (providentially?) tells the story of the “widow’s mite.” A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Both readings… Read More »