Every year right after Christmas, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. There is an important reason for this. It’s easy to think the “incarnation” means God took on a human body, that he appeared in human flesh. But there is much more to it than that. In Jesus, God unites himself entirely with […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings:1st Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-3, 5-62nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 What Does it Take to Inherit the Kingdom of God? Inherit the kingdom. (Matthew 25:34) Today, on the feast of Christ the King, we celebrate Jesus’ sovereignty over all […]
33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group DiscussionMass Readings:1st Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-52nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 Being Alert, Awake, and Ready to Meet the Lord When He Comes A man . . . called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings:1st Reading Revelations 7:2-4, 9-14 Responsorial: Psalm 24:1-62nd Reading: 1 John 3:1-3 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 Honoring the Great Cloud of Witnesses in Heaven Blessed are you. (Matthew 5:11) Stroll the halls of any maternity ward, and you’ll see parents beaming with happiness over the birth of […]
30th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings:1st Reading: Exodus 22:20-26 Responsorial: Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 512nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40 What Does it Mean to Love God and Neighbor? Love the Lord. . . . Love your neighbor. (Matthew 22:37, 39) What a rough day! From […]
28 th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10 Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6 2nd Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 Accepting God’s Invitation to Jesus’ Wedding Banquet Many are invited, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14) Does this sentence give you a chill? Maybe […]
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7 Responsorial: Psalm 80:9,12-16,19-20 2nd Reading: Philippians 4:6-9 Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43 Allowing God to Nourish Us as His Vineyard and Bear Fruit For Him Let me now sing of my friend . . . concerning his vineyard. (Isaiah […]
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9 Responsorial: Psalm 145: 2-3, 8-9, 17-18 2nd Reading: Philippians 1:20-24, 27 Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16 Being Grateful That God’s Ways Are Far Above Our Own My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. (Isaiah […]
23 rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9 Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 2nd Reading: Romans 13:8-10 Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20 Answering God’s Call to Be Watchmen for Our Families You . . . I have appointed watchman. (Ezekiel 33:7) Just as God appointed Ezekiel […]
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 22:19-23 Responsorial: Psalm 138:1-3, 6,8 2nd Reading: Romans 11:33-36 Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20 Making Our Homes a House of Prayer He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 22:21) Master of the palace: it was a […]
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Responsorial: Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 2nd Reading: Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 Gospel: Matthew 15:21-2 Making Our Homes a House of Prayer My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7) All of […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 Responsorial: Psalm 85:9-14 2nd Reading: Romans 9:1-5 Gospel: Matthew 14:22-23 Worshipping the One True God at Mass Theirs [is] the worship. (Romans 9:3) Paul begins his long meditation on the mystery of Israel’s rejection of Christ by listing some […]
17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 Responsorial: Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 2nd Reading: Romans 8:28-30 Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52 Jesus Christ, the True Pearl of Great Price The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. (Matthew 13:45) […]
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11 Responsorial: Psalm 65:10-14 2nd Reading: Romans 8:18-23 Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23 Listening to and Putting into Practice Jesus Words and Teachings You shall indeed hear but not understand. (Matthew 13:14) Any parent can tell you what it’s […]
ST. BENEDICT, blessed by grace and in name, was born of a noble Italian family about 480. When a boy he was sent to Rome, and there placed in the public schools. Scared by the licentiousness of the Roman youth, he fled to the desert mountains of Subiaco, and was directed by the Holy Spirit […]
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Zechariah 9:9-10 Responsorial: Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14 2nd Reading: Romans 8:9, 11-13 Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30 What Does It Mean to be Baptized into Jesus’ Death and Resurrection? We are not debtors to the flesh. (Romans 8:12) Whether it’s […]
12th Sunday of Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Jeremiah 20:10-13 Responsorial: Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 2nd Reading: Romans 5:12-15 Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33 Staying Close to the Lord and Allowing His Love to Shape Our Hearts My persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. (Jeremiah 20:11) […]
St. John Eudes was responsible for activating the devotion to Our Lady’s Heart and giving it the stimulus which grew into this modern feast. In 1942, Pope Pius XII confided the whole human race to the care of Mary’s Immaculate Heart in a solemn act of dedication, and established the feast celebrated today. The devotion […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 Responsorial: Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Gospel: John 6:51-58 Knowing and Experiencing the Love, Mercy, and Kindness of the Holy Trinity My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. (John 6:55) Have you ever […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 Responsorial: (Psalm) Daniel 3:52-56 2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Gospel: John 3:16-18 Knowing and Experiencing the Love, Mercy, and Kindness of the Holy Trinity The Lord . . . proclaimed his name. (Exodus 34:5) Have you ever wondered why the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11 Responsorial: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 Gospel: John 20:19-23 Receiving More of the Holy Spirit’s Power and the Gifts of the Spirit They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4) Before Jesus ascended […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Responsorial: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9 2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 Being Used by Jesus to Help Build the Kingdom of God Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6) Amazing. After three years of […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 6:1-7 Responsorial: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9 Gospel: John 14:1-12 Trusting in the Lord’s Great Love during Difficult Times Do not let your hearts be troubled. (John 14:1) Not troubled? That’s hard to imagine! Jesus had just predicted […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 2:14, 36-41 Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:20-25 Gospel: John 10:1-10 Following Jesus’ Example by Being A Shepherd for God’s People The shepherd calls his own sheep by name. (John 10:3) Good Shepherd Sunday often brings bucolic scenes to mind. […]
