Christmas Midnight '18 - More Than a Story

Merry Christmas. As we hear the Christmas story, we are reminded that it is so much more than a story. http://bit.ly/2GEtFgG Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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4th Sunday Advent C '18 - Recognize

As St. Elizabeth recognizes Jesus Christ in the womb of His mother Mary, she can intercede for us to recognize Him. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Ag0yL0 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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3rd Sunday Advent C '19 - Normal

John the Baptist is asked how the people should prepare - and his answer is pretty basic - do the normal things, the moral things. St. Joseph is a great model of that. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2rEwxjC Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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2nd Sunday Advent c '18 - Prepare the Way

We are invited to prepare the way for the Lord. John the Baptist assists us. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2QubldR Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Immaculate Conception C '18 - Foreshadow

The Blessed Virgin Mary foreshadows the conception and destiny of the Church. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2QubldR Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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1st Sunday C '18 - Hearts Prepared

We are called to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, who comes in history, mystery, and majesty. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2QubldR Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Christ King of the Universe B '18 - King

As we celebrate Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, are we willing to claim Christ as our king? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2DU2Y5J Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Thanksiving '18 - NAP

On this thanksgiving day, we are asked to give thanks to the Lord. Perhaps we should start with a NAP! Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2S40X9Z Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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33rd Sunday B '18 - Amen

Giving at the Fall Retreat, does our "amen" mean and end, or something else? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2RLF4Mp Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Memento mori

Some time ago, I read a story about a doctor’s conversation with a patient with terminal cancer. The patient was expressing fear of dying, mainly because of the fear of the unknown. At that moment, there was a commotion at the door, as the sound of clawing and yelping was heard. A split second later, a dog burst in, bounding into the doctor’s office and with as much enthusiasm as a dog can display, ran up to her master, the doctor, and pounced. As he knew the patient not only from his work but saw him at the same church, the doctor took the moment to demonstrate the lesson. “You notice how impatient my dog was to get here?” the doctor asked. He continued, “My dog has never been in here. In fact, she has never been here before. She did not know what waited for him on the other side of the door, but she heard my voice. She knew that I was in here. She knew the voice of his master, she knew the love of her master, and she had no fear. She just wanted to be with me.” The doctor paused, choking back his tears, realizing the power of that moment for both his patient and himself, “I imagine death is like that. We don’t know what’s on the other side, but we hear the voice of our master, and we should want to be with Him so much that we have no fear.” The patient wiping away tears of relief, was moved by the example to silent pondering. This month, at least in the Catholic Church, we remember all who have died. It gives us a pause to remember those who have passed with fondness, and to pray for them. But it is also a chance for us to remember that we, too are going to die. This can bring us tremendous fear, or it can bring us tremendous peace. Like the doctor and his dog, if we know the voice of the Lord and listen to that voice, we have nothing to fear, and while we do not hasten to see Him before He calls us, we also do no fear that day. This is the true meaning of the phrase, “Memento mori” - Remember death. We call to mind that we are gong to die, and we make decisions based on that eternal perspective. While it is a sobering thought, it is also tremendously freeing. St. John tells us in his first letter that we are God’s children now, and that the world does not know this because they do not know Him. But St. John continues that what we are to be is yet to be revealed, and when it is, we shall be like God for we shall see Him as He is. We hear the voice of the Master, we don’t know what waits, but we know Who waits for us, and that He waits as a loving Father, ready to embrace us as beloved children and something more, something beyond our wildest imaginations. So we remember death, but also remember that death is conquered by Christ. We have nothing to fear.

32nd Sunday B '18 - Two Cents

Jesus praises a widow for her gift of faith. How do we give? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2RLF4Mp Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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31st Sunday B '18 - Love

The Great Commandments tell us to love God and our neighbor, but what is love? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2AKHQMv Give feedback at goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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All Saints '18 - Children

The saints recognize that they are children of God and live out that relationship. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2PAoMbP Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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30th Sunday B '18 - To See

Blind Bartimaeus is giving the choice to ask the Lord for what he wants - and he answers. What to we seek? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2yC9hqh Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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29th Sunday B '18 - Ordered Attachments

The apostles James and John ask for something they cannot have, but their attachment to Christ is greater. What are our attachments? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2qaU1fv Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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28th Sunday B '18 - Disordered Attachments

The young rich man knows that there must be something more to inheriting eternal life, and he asks. He is too attached to his wealth to listen to the answer. What is the Lord helping us to discern this day? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2NzhakE Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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Repeating or Rhyming?

Mark Twain is mistakenly credited to have quipped, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.” This notion has been in my mind these last months as we have witnessed, yet again, the failure of so many in leadership in the Catholic Church regarding sexual misconduct. Some used those days wake-up call to recommit ourselves to the faith, morality, and most importantly live as Christ has called us to live. Dioceses of our state have released the names of those credible accused, sought out the victims to beg forgiveness and seeking healing, and at least begun the settlement of lawsuits. Unfortunately, some bishops and dioceses did not. These last months, we have witnessed high-ranking prelates debasing themselves in the most despicable of ways. We see others covering, aiding and abetting sin and moral failure. Others have created alternative structures, almost an anti-Church movement, heading by duplicitous clergy (priests and bishops) in the Church. While these issues had been named as pedophilia, a more chilling realization has set in – according the 2003 John Jay report, 79% of the crimes were homosexual (male on post-pubescent male). These revelations have shaken most of us to the core. What we are witnessing now in other parts of the country is the rhyme and repeat based on the failure to respond. Too many simply went through the motions, and like a child, swept the dust under the rug, assuming out of sight, out of mind. But that is not clean! Now, the Holy Spirit is challenging us again to look at the corruption. As a Catholic, I deeply believe that this is the time that the Blessed Mother Mary promised, in which she is going to sweep the Church clean. It hurts, and it is hard work. But it is spring cleaning for the whole Church. Lift up the rugs, crush the cockroaches, scrub the dust. Get the filth out! When this is done, there will not be one place for evil to hid in the Church, and then the Church will be able to continue her mission of cleansing the world. Only then will the Church be what she is called to be, a refuge for sinners seeking Christ, and a place of safety for all. The Church will always be the prefect and spotless bride of Christ. Christ has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But the Church’s members are sinners. The Church is in constant need of purification. Christ suffered and died for this! And we must accept this purification. While we may not be at fault, we all have a role. What we see in the Church is only symptomatic of the culture, especially as we consider the #MeToo movement or the rampant rise of STDs, the use of pornography, the sex trades, or abortion. We need to commit ourselves to saying “NO MORE.” We need to examine every aspect of our culture and remove abuse in all its forms. Only then will history cease to rhyme.

27th Sunday B '18 - Ordered Marriage

Jesus teaches that divorces a result of hardness of heart - disorder. What would be a properly ordered heart? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2zVVg7O Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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26th Sunday B '18 - Disordered Passion

Jesus instructs us to do what every it takes, even to maim ourselves, to avoid sin. What does that mean? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2I7Jyt3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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25th Sunday B '18 - Ordered Passion

When our passions and desires are out of order, we will have problems, both internally and in society. How do we order our passions? To Christ's Passion! Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2I7Jyt3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
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