Made Known

Come Out and Be Freed! (Apr 6, 2014)

Jesus weeps at the death of his friend Lazarus.  Or is there something more behind his sorrow?  

He turns to us in that sorrow, asking us to "come out" of the darkness and be freed from the bonds of sin.  

Fifth Sunday of Lent (Yr A)

Ez 37:12-14

Rom 8:8-11

Jn 11:1-45

"Are you blind?" (Mar 30, 2014)

The healing of the man born blind invites us to a deep reflection on our lives.  Do we see as God sees?  By the way we love the poor, we can get a glimpse of the answer in our lives.  Let us encounter Jesus and His mercy in the poor.  

Fourth Sunday Lent, Year A

1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Eph 5:8-14

Jn 9:1-41

Guilt Is Not the Enemy (Mar 9, 2014)

Jesus' Temptation in the desert stands against Adam and Eve's disobedience in the garden.  We need to accept the reality of sin in our lives and not ignore it in order to avoid the bad feelings of guilt.  In so doing, we may be trying to hide from God.  But we really only succeed in hiding ourselves from the greatest gifts He desires to give us - His mercy and grace.  Guilt is not the enemy, sin is.

First Sunday of Lent, Year A

Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Rom 5:12-19

Mt 4:1-11

God Never Tires of Forgiving Us (Mar 5, 2014)

"God never tires of forgiving us.  We are the ones who tires of seeking His mercy."  Pope Francis' words help us begin Lent with confidence, not in ourselves and our own strength and willpower, but in God's great mercy.  He never tires of inviting us back to Him.

Ash Wednesday – The beginning of Lent

Joel 2:12-18

2 Cor 5:20-6:2

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Can a Mother Forget Her Infant? (Mar 2, 2014)

Even when a mother does forget her infant, God does not forget her.  God's heart for healing all those impacted by abortion shows all of us how to overcome the deep spiritual anxieties we may experience and rest in the loving arms of God. 

8th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

Is 49:14-15

1 Cor 4:1-5

Mt 6:24-34

If I Do Not Forgive... (Feb 23, 2014)

Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan's spiritual journey teaches us how to love our enemies and forgive those who have wronged us.  Imprisoned in Vietnam for 13 years, he shows us how he discovered what true freedom is.  If we do not forgive, we will never be free.

7th Sun Ordinary Time Year A

Lev 19:1-2, 17-18

2 Cor 3:16-23

Mt 5:38-48

The Higher Standard - The Good News (Feb 16, 2014)

It should not shock us that Jesus raises the moral standard for His followers.  This is good news for us, because it means God has not given up on His original plan for us - that we might be like Him.  The better news?  He is here to help us.  

6th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

Sir 15:15-20

1 Cor 2:6-10

Mt 5:17-37

Tasteless Existence (Feb 8, 2014)

Jesus calls his disciples the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  If we are not bringing meaning and truth to the world, Jesus says, our whole purpose as the Church is lost.  It is so easy to get used to a tasteless and darkened practice of our faith.  We must not allow ourselves to become complacent.

Fifth Sunday Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings:

Is 58:7-10

1 Cor 2:1-5

Mt 5:13-16

Giving God the Leftovers (Feb 2, 2014)

Today's Feast of the Presentation of the Lord teaches us how to make a real offering of ourselves to God.  Our lives come from God, belong to him, and our fulfillment is in offering our lives back to him in thanksgiving.

  

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Readings:

Mal 3:1-4

Heb 2:14-18

Lk 2:22-40

John the Baptist's Doubt - Dec 15, 2013

What's gotten into John the Baptist's mind that he has to send a messenger to ask Jesus if he is the awaited Messiah?  Have we followed up on our heart's questions about the Lord?

3rd Sunday of Advent

Readings:

Is 35:1-6a, 10

Jas 5:7-10

Mt 11:2-11