The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Two women who felt oppressed and isolated suddenly realize their greatness and are free to celebrate their blessing. Mary and Elizabeth become community. They need each other, just to be together and protect each other, support each other, and affirm each other. Elizabeth and Mary stay together …
The Most Holy Trinity – True love requires three partners. You remember the old saying “Two’s company, three’s a crowd.” The Trinity shows us that three is community, three is love at its best; three is not a crowd. Each one of us becomes fully human only when we are in relationship with God and …
Jesus faced certain hostile religious leaders of his time. They were not particularly vicious or unprincipled men. They saw him as a dangerous liberal who went about advocating new religious doctrines and moral values. On one occasion they tried to trick him by getting him to explain why he did not follow the popular teachings …
We must exercise the prayer and forgiveness taught in this text lest today we become the new, prideful, failing ‘temple.’ Are we equally barren of fruit, though outwardly appear to be flourishing? In times past God has replaced individuals, nations, and religious institutions. “Let the one who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.”
St. Augustine of Canterbury – My friends, the kingdom of God is not some heavenly resort reserved for those who are physically fit, financially solvent, and morally respectable. It is a family of faith that cares for all of God’s children especially those who are down and out and desperate. As followers of Jesus, as …
St. Philip Neri – The disciples in today’s story were confused. They could not fully understand all they had seen Jesus do and heard him say. His predictions about his suffering and death were even more perplexing. To hear Jesus speaking about greatness in terms of becoming a slave to all must have only compounded …
The call to be holy is just as relevant today as back in the first century. Through baptism, we are graced with the vocation of seeking holiness in all areas of our lives and conforming ourselves to Christ. Achieving this requires steadfastness. The impossible becomes possible when we look at different areas of our lives …
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church – On this feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, we reflect on our relationship with Mary who has been given to us as our Mother. She was faithful to her Son and her God all the way to the foot of the cross. As our spiritual …
Pentecost Sunday – Saint Paul adamantly refused to concentrate on differences. Although gifts and ministries were diverse, the Spirit was the same. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same spirit.” He therefore urged the Corinthian community to use their talents for the common good and not purely personal good. “To each person …
St. Rita of Cascia – Did you ever notice how important blinders are in a horse race? Unless they wear something to block out the sight of the other horses running alongside them, horses would constantly be distracted. The trick is to keep their eyes on the track and on what is in front of …
