The meaning of prayer
17th Sunday Ordinary Time – C Today’s Gospel passage is bookended by references to the Father in heaven. This gives us an insight into the meaning of prayer, which is less a set of words than it is an expression … Read More
Hospitality of home and heart
16th Sunday Ordinary Time – C As we reflect on this Sunday’s Gospel, let us avoid putting Martha or Mary into convenient boxes— Martha, the anxious, resentful host; Mary, the attentive but inconsiderate follower. Both are doing the work of … Read More
Can we be neighbors?
15th Sunday Ordinary Time – C Nowhere in today’s Gospel passage does Jesus describe the Samaritan as “good.” Instead, Jesus calls him “neighbor.” Similarly, the priest and the Levite were not judged “bad.” They just weren’t neighborly. Each of us … Read More
Leading music and prayer
19th Sunday Ordinary Time – C If you got into music ministry like I did, no one gave you an instruction manual. Maybe you had some musical training already, but you soon discovered that knowing how to make music didn’t … Read More
The Kingdom of Peace
14th Sunday Ordinary Time – C Our tendency to respond to rejection with force or hostility is strong. Just look at how many Twitter wars and Facebook fights even well-meaning Christians get into. And last week, the disciples would have … Read More
We cannot be half-hearted
13th Sunday Ordinary Time – C We suffer at times from “imposter syndrome.” You know—that feeling you aren’t qualified for the job despite evidence of the contrary. It’s often an excuse to avoid the risk of doing something new and … Read More
Being satisfied
Body and Blood of Christ – C If you like coffee like I do, you know what it’s like after going without for a long time and you take that first precious sip. Especially with fine coffee, but even with … Read More
A sign of love and service
Most Holy Trinity – C I learned to pray the liturgy of the hours from a priest at the Catholic campus ministry center where I worked as a college student. He taught us how to navigate the breviary with its … Read More
Nothing will ever be the same again
Pentecost Sunday – C Whenever the Holy Spirit is present and active, something changes. In the Eucharist, simple bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. With a blessing, ordinary water becomes a font for eternal … Read More
The heart of the Eucharist
Seventh Sunday of Easter – C The Easter season invites us to deepen our grasp of the paschal mystery and make it part of our lives. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults gives us four ways to do this: … Read More