Posts from March 2025

Some time ago a woman wrote a letter to Ann Landers describing the terrible relationship that once existed between her and her brother. It took the death of their father to get her to forgive him and to treat him as a brother again. Sometime after their reconciliation, her brother had a heart attack and died in her arms. She ends her letter with this moving paragraph. “I am grateful for the years we had together, but I could scream…

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the importance of repentance. He points out that none of us is perfect and we are all sinners. Do we recognize that we are sinners? Or have we turned our sins into making excuses for our actions, or finding ways to blame others for the bad things we do? We may all have used the phrase: ‘the devil made me do it!’ During our Lenten journey as we pray, fast and give of ourselves,…

There was a fifth grade class that just learned about the Transfiguration. Afterwards they were all asked to draw a picture of God. What they thought God looks like in their lives and why. There were a variety of pictures. One drew an elderly man in an alley begging for food. That’s God asking me to feed the poor. One drew a teenager playing basketball on his school team. That’s God saying use the talents I gave you. One drew…

One way Jesus prepared for his public ministry was to go into the desert, filled with the Holy Spirit, to be tempted by the devil. We may have to confront a similar experience during Lent. While striving to follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, we encounter temptation to abandon our good resolutions. Jesus’ example of faith and trust in God, His Father, shows us the disposition we must have if we are to triumph over the enemy. And that…

On the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we reflect on the power of our words. Sirach 27:4-7 teaches that our words reveal who we really are. Good words show a good heart, while bad words reveal inner problems. Our speech can lift others up or tear them down. We need to be careful with our words. Speaking kindly and truthfully can show our faith and love for others. Harsh or dishonest words can hurt people and damage our witness as…