Posts by Fr. Rich

Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, a week reminding us of the great sacrifice of Jesus for us. But what does this week mean to you? Today, Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with the waving of palms. What have we done to welcome Jesus into our lives? Hopefully not simply palms but more like prayer. On Holy Thursday, we relive the Last Supper when Jesus gave us the Eucharist: “This is my Body …” Is the…

There was a magazine article that spoke of a woman who began experiencing stomach trouble in her mid-20s. Her nausea and vomiting were most severe in the morning. Despite undergoing various tests, doctors could not find any physical cause for her symptoms. They always attributed her condition to stress, offering antacids and advice on diet. By the time she was 30, her health had significantly deteriorated. She became weak, thin, and began suffering from bouts of hiccups, mental fog, and…

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…

We need to practice the Golden Rule in its fullness: The Golden Rule asks us to do to others what we would like them to do to us. If we obey, loving others and expressing that love by loving words and deeds, we will start receiving the same love from others in higher intensity. Further, if we want others to forgive our offenses, our words of criticism, and our thoughtless judgments against them, then we should start forgiving their offenses…

What does it mean to trust in God? It shouldn’t be a sentimental feeling or emotion. It shouldn’t be a gamble when we have a great need. Because if it doesn’t work out, we blame God as being untrustworthy. An old Arab proverb said: trust in God but tie down your camel, Trusting in God does not mean taking foolish chances. Jesus advised his disciples you must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. He also said, if you…

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks two requests of his disciples. First, he asks Peter to take him in the boat a short distance so he can talk and teach the people. Then he asks the disciples to take out their boats for a catch of fish. In both instances Peter and the disciples were tired from fishing all night without having much success. But despite their tiredness, they do as Jesus requests. And the results were great. You may have…

The Scriptures for today focus our attention on the importance and power of the Word of God and its challenge for us today. The Word of God is called “sacramental,” in the sense that, when it is spoken, read, or heard, God becomes present in our midst. For that to happen to us, we must listen to the Word, accept it into our hearts, and then put it into practice as we live out our lives. Where does the Word…

Wasted time is not a prized commodity in our society today. We seem to be a people ruled by the clock. Time is money because time is to be filled with purposeful and controlled activity which is productive of things that can be sold. We are convinced that we must be in control of time. Our Creator is described in the Scriptures as the original and best of players. Creative activity is playful, and creative people do not feel what…