December 01, 2019

Let us rejoice in the Lord's peace; let us live honorably as we await His return.

November 24, 2019

In Hebron, David is hailed as king by all the tribes of Israel.  Jesus is anointed king on the wood of his cross, a sign of paradox, of defeat yet final victory.  Through His cross we have passed from darkness into the kingdom of light.

November 17, 2019

Jesus teaches that His disciples will be persecuted as a necessury prelude to the Parousia.  Through their perseverance, they will emerge victorious when the Lord comes again.  As we await the Day, let us conscientously fulfill our Christian obligations.

November 10, 2019

In response to an attempt to ridicule his teaching about life after death, Jesus again proclaims a resurrection that life is indeed stronger than death itself.  This is our eternal consolation and hope.  Then will our joy be truly fulfilled.

November 03, 2019

The Lord is full of mercy and compassion, slow to anger and of great kindness.  He has come to search out and save what was lost.  Let us be more concerned with doing the Lord's work than with the idle speculation about when He will come again.

October 27, 2019

Humility is the recognition that no matter what our accomplishments, we still stand in need of the Lord.  God hears the cry of the poor and the oppressed, especially those who acknowledge their dependency upon him.  Having hear Pauls' cries for help, the Lord corwned him with eternal salvation.

October 20, 2019

Through incessant prayer we open ourselves more fully to understanding God's will.  Through faith in the power of prayer, we experience God's love and assistance.  Our Christian life is nourished by the scriptures we read and by our received tradition.

October 13, 2019

The Lord has revealed his saving power to all the nations! Naaman, a Syrian, is healed, and lepers are made whole, but only the Samaritan returns to give thanks. Let us remain steadfast in faith, and thankful for the Lord's blessings.

October 06, 2019

Faith is a gracious gift from God.  It can neither be earned nor bought, only responded to with works of love and service.  A vibrant faith can make us strong, loving and wise, confident that God will guard us from all harm.  God is the rock of our salvation.

September 29, 2019

Amos condemns the complacency of the rich who seek only their own comfort.  In his parable about the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus echoes Amos, exhorting those who have to share with those who have not.  Self-sufficiency must never blind us to the needs of others.  Only in this way do we keep God's commandments in integrity and in truth.

September 22, 2019

Amos cries out against those who exploit the poor for the sake of extortion and greed.  They seek to serve only themselves rather than the Lord.  By giving ourselves to God rather than money, we can truly pray with blameless hands for all those in need, especially the poor whom the Lord will raise up.

September 15, 2019

Moses intercedes on behalf of the people who had turned away from the covenant. The Lord delights not in sin, but in turning back to him, for a contrite and humbled heart God will never spurn. He sent his Son into the world not to condemn but to save sinners.

September 08, 2019

Who can comprehend the Lord's way or conceive what the Lord intends? True wisdom leads us to acknowledge our limitations and our idols of materialism as we seek to follow the Lord without reservation. True discipleship calls us to forgive those who have wronged us. May we gain the wisdom of heart to discern more fully our call to take up the cross of Jesus.

September 01, 2019

Humility and self-knowledge go hand in hand.  Those who conduct their affairs with humility shall be exalted, while those who exalt themselves shall be humbled.  The humble shall rejoice and exalt before in the assembly of the heavenly Jerusalem.

August 25, 2019

No one is to be excluded from the kingdom for all peoples are called to proclaim the praises of the Lord and confess His holy name.  Not ethnic or religious group possesses exclusive rights to the kingdom.  Suffering and pain are part of the human condition.

August 18, 2019

The Lord came to the aid of Jeremiah whose preaching brought upon him rejection and ill treatment. For those who take the gospel seriously, misunderstanding and division must likewise be expected. Like Christ, we must never grow despondent or abandon the struggle to proclaim and live the truth. 

August 11, 2019

The author of Wisdom speaks of "that night" of exodus from bondage in Egypt when the Lord delivered his chosen people from death. The Lord will come again, perhaps in the midst of night. Let us be prepared for his return. As we walk in darkness, our journey to our heavenly homeland is illumined by faith.

August 04, 2019

Listen carefully to the voice of the Lord: set your heart on what will last forever. We only fool ourselves if we believe that our possessions will bring us happiness and life. Instead, "grow rich in the sight of the Lord."

July 28, 2019

In bargaining with God, Abraham demonstrates a real persistence in prayer.  Jesus invites us to persist in prayer as well, to "ask...seek...know".  May our prayer open us to God's will, and so build up his strength within us.  In baptism we have died with Christ, and have been raised to life with him.

July 21, 2019

Abraham, the just and upright man, graciously hosts three visitors. As Mary and Martha host Jesus, he speaks of only one thing as necessary for us who follow him: being open to receive the message and person of Jesus, and being receptive to "the mystery of Christ" as he comes to us through one another.