Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—A “From this day all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48). I’ve always had a hard time praying that line in the Magnificat. Isn’t Mary, meek and humble, being a bit boastful here? So … Read More
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A In Matthew, Mark, and John, Jesus’s miracles of feeding the multitude and walking on water are connected because both concern the disciple’s need to trust completely in him. In the first, we are called to … Read More
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A Time and again, all over the United States, have I been refused food by the big house on the hill; and always have I received food from the little shack down by the creek or … Read More
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A I’ve just listened to a podcast geared toward millennials (I’m not one) that teaches them life skills. Today’s episode was on how to study. In college, my study habits involved the usual mix of rereading, … Read More
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A The church would be a great place if it weren’t for some of the people! Am I right? We can chuckle until we weep because of the truth in that thought. The continuing revelations of … Read More
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A Unlike human speech, God means what God says every time. In Hebrew, God’s word is dabar, a “word event.” God’s word happens and matters. More than that, in Christ, God’s Word becomes matter, a visible … Read More
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened” (Mt 11:28). Maybe because it’s the Fourth of July weekend, I cannot help but hear within Jesus’s words still another invitation to the weary and … Read More
When a liturgy goes completely off the rails, we know what needs to be fixed. If the musicians are poorly trained, the lectors are lackluster, or the preaching is subpar, we know where to focus our energy. But sometimes all … Read More
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A Airbnb has renewed my faith in the kindness of strangers. Through this service, where ordinary folks open their homes to travelers, I have received some of the most gracious welcomes far from home. One exemplary … Read More
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time—A I know nothing of what it is like to bear the responsibility and privilege of preaching the homily Sunday after Sunday, to carry the weight of a community’s hopes that they might hear a word … Read More