Posts from 2023

January is here again, and for many people, it’s time to make our annual New Year’s resolutions. So often these resolutions are made on the spare of the moment: need to lose weight; stop smoking; cut back on this or that. In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, maybe there is some inspirational words to help us. In the Gospel, it says: “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) In the spirit of Mary’s…

Christmas has become for us a time to exchange gifts with family and loved ones. It’s a beautiful tradition that keeps us close as family and friends. It warms our hearts that someone is thinking about us. And it truly brings joy to many. This Christmas let us remember the gifts we have received and share them always. Merry Christmas! Jesus gave us the gift of Himself. Let us give the gift of our presence to those who seek our…

One of the saddest comments I hear during this time of year is someone saying, I can’t wait for Christmas to be over! It’s sad because their missing out on the joyful presence of Jesus in our preparations. Consider the story of one young man. He was often sick as a baby. He was always small, puny some would say. As a youth he was always frail and delicate. He was not able to play sports with the other boys…

Family members were on edge. A beloved aunt had died, and all her grown nieces and nephews were gathered in her home to figure out how to dispose of her lifetime of belongings. You could feel the tension. Old hurts were close to the surface. Fear reigned in everyone’s heart as they worried that they would not get their due. Though they didn’t realize it at the time, fueling all the fear and tension was the pain of having lost…

Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of the Lord. We spend a lot of time preparing in our lives. Getting dressed: what to wear? is it appropriate? is it in style? Going to dinner: where to go? what am I going to eat? do I get dessert? Going shopping: what do I need? what store is best? how much can I spend? And I could go on. But what about preparing for the coming of…

When you listen to the parable of the Final Judgement in today’s Gospel, what stands out for you? Is it what you didn’t do for the least of God’s people, or is it the good things you have done and continue to do for His creation? There are so many opportunities to follow the works of mercy as outlined in the Gospel. Can’t list them all is this short paragraph. But I’m sure you know them just by being a…

THANKSGIVING is a time to reflect on the blessings received and to express our gratitude for them. Be thankful for your Family & Friends. Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones and celebrate the joy of togetherness. Be grateful for the people in your life who support you, love you, and make you feel valued. Be thankful for Good Health. This we can sometimes take for granted. Be thankful for our bodies and the ability to move, breathe,…

In today’s Gospel, we hear the parable of the ten wise bridesmaids. Jesus is telling His disciples to stay alert and be ready for He will not always be there in person for them. Today, we are those disciples to whom the Lord is speaking. Are we wise or foolish? Are we alert to our faith? Or are we distracted by the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life? There is a lot going on around us – work keeps us…

In one of his homilies, Pope Francis reminded us of how the Eucharist unites us with our loved one, those still with us and those who have gone onto eternal life. He said: “In the Eucharist, we in fact encounter the living Jesus and His strength, and through Him we enter into communion with our brothers and sisters in the faith: those who live with us here on earth and those who have gone before us into the next life,…

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to live by the two great commandments: Love God with everything we have and love our neighbor as ourselves. Pope Francis summed up these words at a talk he gave to pilgrims in Rome. He said: ”We are a community nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. Communion with the Body of Christ is an effective sign of unity, of communion, of sharing. One cannot participate in the Eucharist without committing oneself to…

From a homily by Pope Francis: God knows how difficult it is, He knows how weak our memory is, and He has done something remarkable: He left us a memorial. He did not just leave us words, for it is easy to forget what we hear. He did not just leave us the Scriptures, for it is easy to forget what we read. He did not just leave us signs, for we can forget even what we see. He gave…

From a homily of Pope Francis: “The Eucharist gives us a grateful memory, because it makes us see that we are the Father’s children, whom He loves and nourishes. It gives us a free memory, because Jesus’ love and forgiveness heal the wounds of the past, soothe our remembrance of wrongs experienced and inflicted. It gives us a patient memory, because amid all our troubles we know that the Spirit of Jesus remains in us.” The next time you go…