May
28
To Serve - Not to Be Served
May 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Today’s gospel has one of the most meaningful passages for me in it.
In Mark 10, Jesus is instructing the apostles after James and John started asking him about sitting at his left and right when he came into his kingdom. While rather bold and brazen of the two of them, Jesus uses the moment to [...]
May
26
Memorial Day
May 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There are men and women who have walked among us, and sacrficed everything they have and everything they are to keep us and others throughout the world free. They have gone to liberate, save and comfort - to make the world a better place. And they have paid with their lives for what we too often take for [...]
May
20
Receiving in His Name
May 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Having lived through a relatively disadvantaged childhood (i.e. orphaned, lived in foster homes and orphanages, adopted as older child, several major surgeries to repair birth defects), I remember being struck by today’s gospel reading (Mark 9:30-37) the first time I heard it twenty-five years ago.
After predicting his Passion for the second time, Christ tells his disciples [...]
Apr
2
More Lessons from the Biggest Loser
April 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Sometime ago, I wrote about the Biggest Loser and certain relationship lessons we could learn from this show.
Last night, the show got down to the final four - and throughout the night’s show, they showed before and after footage - before they were on the show and what they look like now. The literal transformation of [...]
Mar
21
Intimate Union with Christ
March 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment
This day is one to spend in intimate union with the Lord. Good Friday - the day to truly be there with Christ in body, mind and spirit as he sacrifices himself to save us and bring us to the fullness of redemption.
Let us all be in church at some point today. Let us gaze upon [...]
Mar
19
To Serve - Not to Be Served
March 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Do we serve? Or do we seek to be served?
Today’s Mass Communion Antiphon quotes Jesus in Matthew 20 when he declares that he “did not come to be served, but to serve.”
Jesus served us throughout his public ministry - throughout the Passion - on the Cross. He serves us still today.
But do we serve him - [...]
Mar
3
Signs & Wonders
March 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
What if we ask and do not receive?
What if we pray to God for a miracle and he does not answer us - in the way that we desire?
In today’s gospel (John 4), the royal official from Capernaum has his pray answered - his son is healed and lives.
But, sometimes, prayers are not answered - [...]
Feb
6
What’s Our Plan?
February 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Ash Wednesday is the last chance to develop our Lenten Plan. So do we have a plan?
For me, Lent is a time to try to repent, reflect, purify and renew. Like others I make a plan. And like others, I usually end up deviating from the plan or forgetting about it altogether.
This year, I resolve [...]
Dec
12
Miracles Do Happen
December 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment
I knew that Our Lady of Guadalupe (whose feast the Church celebrates today) is the Patroness of the Unborn. But I didn’t realize the significance until I read One Bread, One Body today. The reflection discusses a certain pregnant, unmarried teenage girl who was poor and just starting out in life. Yet, she gave birth to [...]
Dec
3
What is This Thing Called Hope?
December 3, 2007 | 1 Comment
Advent is a season of hope - a season to believe in a better life, a better world. A season to rise above our limited powers of perception and see something extraordinary - the potential of the human condition when directed by the divine will.
We see this hope in the season’s food drives, toy drives, [...]
