Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19:8-11; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25) Being Angry toward Injustice without Sinning “He made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple area.” (John 2:15) Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus was angry. But just a little more than a […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18; Psalm 116:10,15-19; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10) Knowing and Living the Gospel Message that God is for Us “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) With these ten words, Paul begins to summarize the points he has been making so far […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25; Psalm 41:2-5, 13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Mark 2:1-12) Journeying together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5) Did you catch that? Jesus forgave this man and healed […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46; Psalm 32:1-2,5,11; 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1; Mark 1:40-45) Knowing and Experiencing the Healing Touch of Jesus “He remained outside in deserted places.” (Mark 1:45) This man wore no shackle or chain, yet he lived every day in solitary confinement. Afflicted with leprosy, he was bound by […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Job 7:1-4,6-7; Psalm 147:1-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23; Mark 1:29-39) Seeking the Father’s Will Each Day in Prayer “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Jesus certainly had a full day. With his first four chosen […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2,6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28) Being Alert to the Attacks of the Evil One “Quiet!” (Mark 1:25) Today’s Gospel warns us to be on guard because evil spirits are constantly at work tempting us and harassing us. This warning is even more urgent […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Jonah 3:1-5,10; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20) Hearing and Responding to God’s Call to Be His Disciples “They left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:18). In his unending creativity, God calls us to know him and to serve him in a way that is […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (1 Samuel 3:3-10,19; Psalm 40:2,4,7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20; John 1:35-42) Saying Yes to Jesus’ Invitation to Make Him Our Lord and Savior “Behold, the Lamb of God.” (John 1:36) Most of us became Catholics as infants, when our parents presented us to the church for baptism. That […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12) Being Faithful Stewards of God’s Grace You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace. (Ephesians 3:2) Have you ever been entrusted with an important message to deliver to someone? If so, you probably worked hard to make sure […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21) Living Our Lives as Beloved Sons or Daughters of Our Heavenly Father When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman … so that we might receive adoption (Galatians 4:4-5). Our mothers usually know […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18) Christmas, A Time to Deepen Our Faith in Jesus Our Lord The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14) For two thousand years, we have celebrated this day—and for good reason. This was no ordinary […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12,14,16; Psalm 89:2-5,27,29; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38) Advent: A Time to Say Yes to God as Mary Did “Hail, favored one!” (Luke 1:28) Face-to-face with the mighty angel Gabriel, Mary was “greatly troubled” (Luke 1:29). Gabriel announced God’s plan for her to conceive through […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11; Luke 1:46-50,53-54 (Responsorial Psalm); 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-2) Advent: A Time to Testify to the Light of Christ, Not a Time to Quench the Spirit “He came … to testify to the light” (John 1:7) . How many times have you watched a TV courtroom […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalm 85:9-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8) Advent, A Time to Experience the Lord’s Comfort, Peace, and Joy “Comfort, give comfort to my people.” (Isaiah 40:1) The people of Israel were in crisis. Their Temple in Jerusalem had been burned to the ground. Their king […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 63:16-17,19; 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37) Advent, A Time to Prepare our Hearts for Jesus’ Coming “Be watchful! Be alert!” (Mark 13:33) Announcement: The Most High God requests the honor of your presence at the entry of his Son into the world. The […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17; Psalm 23:1-3,5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28; Matthew 25:31-46) Allowing Our Hope in the Second Coming to Impact Our Lives When the Son of Man comes in his glory . . . (Matthew 25:31) Today is the last Sunday in the church year. So it’s appropriate to […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30) Bearing Fruit for the Kingdom of God Come, share your master’s joy. (Matthew 25:21) Quick! Ask yourself: “As I read this parable, did I identify more with the third servant in this parable than with the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Malachi 1:14–2:2,8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13; Matthew 23:1-12) The Second Coming of Christ Our Source of Hope and Encouragement We who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Apparently, some of the first-century Christians in […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Malachi 1:14–2:2,8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13; Matthew 23:1-12) Treating Others with Dignity and Respect Have we not all the one father? (Malachi 2:10) With one simple question, the prophet Malachi gets to the heart of who we are. Since we all come from the same Father, […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18:2-4,47,51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40) Living Out Our Christian Faith as Catholics You became a model for all the believers” (1 Thessalonians 1:7). Paul really liked the Thessalonians! It seems that their faith and their joy in the Lord gave him a lot […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 45:1,4-6; Psalm 96:1,3-5,7-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21) Reflecting the Lord’s Light in You to Others Whose image is this and whose inscription? (Matthew 22:20). Let’s talk about coins. Have you ever held a coin that was so dirty you could hardly tell what it was? […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:9,12-16,19-20; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43) Overcoming Our Anxieties by Receiving God’s Peace Have no anxiety at all. (Philippians 4:6) Is Paul serious? How can any of us live an anxiety-free life? Doesn’t he know how hard life can get? Yes, he does! He even […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145: 2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16) Knowing and Doing the Will of Our Heavenly Father “Which of the two did his father’s will?” (Matthew 21:31). This is a familiar story. A father sends each of his two sons to work in his vineyard. The […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145: 2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16) The Importance of Knowing and Experiencing the Grace of God “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16) These words can have a number of different meanings. For instance, we look at […]
