Daily Gospel Reflections

 

February 16, 2021 - 6th Tuesday in Ordinary Time

St. Jerome Chapel, Bethlehem

St. Jerome Chapel, Bethlehem

Mark 8:14-21

Forget Me Not!

We are such forgetful people. We walk from the dining room to the kitchen to get something, barely 6 feet. And when we get there, we have completely forgotten what we were looking for. We lose our eyeglasses and find them sitting on our head. We misplace our cellphone and realize it’s right there in our hand. Even as a teacher, I cannot count the number of times I have had to re-teach a concept over and over and over again because they don’t remember.

Even the disciples in today’s Gospel have forgotten! They are upset with each other for only bringing one loaf of bread to feed the whole group. You can imagine Jesus’ reaction. Seriously? Didn’t I just feed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish and even had leftovers! Am I not sitting here right on front of you? Why are you worried? What are you complaining about? Open your eyes and your ears! Remember all I have done for you in the past.

Yes, we all are forgetful! We all need to open our eyes and remember! Remember all that God has done for us in the past! Remember all the times Jesus has been there right beside us! Remember all the days we thought we had reached the end of our rope, when hope was lost, when we thought there was no getting out of this mess! And yet here we are, welcoming in a new day!

Great Spirit, heal my mind today. Help me to see Your presence and feel Your love!


February 15, 2021 - 6th Monday in Ordinary Time

Walking the Via Dolorosa

Walking the Via Dolorosa

Mark 8:11-13

Just Walk Away!

Face it! We live in a world of short tempers and long memories, of vicious words and violent actions. A world of uncivil words and selfish actions! A world where common decency and respect are signs of weakness and violent actions are signs of strength and justice. What to do!

There are a number of times in the Gospels where Jesus is at His most human: crying over the city of Jerusalem and His agony in the Garden. But today’s Gospel contains a story I do not recall every reading. Jesus is growing increasingly concerned and upset with the Pharisees why keep insisting on a sign from heaven. After all His preaching and all His healing miracles, they still insist on something else, something on their terms. And His response is perhaps a perfect definition of frustration – “He sighed from the depth of His spirit.” Is that not a spot-on description? Haven’t we all experienced that same sigh so many times over the past year or more? And haven’t we, in our frustration and desperation, responded by lashing out and piling on the uncharitable words and anger?

But Jesus does the exact opposite; He simply walks away. He sees the circumstances as they are: an impossible situation trying to deal with people who refuse to be reasonable. And so, for the moment at least, He walks away from their hard-headedness and returns to His mission – to preach, to teach and to heal!

Let’s be honest. Sometimes we are those stubborn Pharisees, refusing to change or accept that we are only human. Sometimes we are the ones insisting on a sign from God and yet blind to all that He has gifted us with. And sometimes we are the ones confronted with disrespect and rigid views! And sometimes the best we can do is to realize that today I just need to walk away from the negativity and continue on the path of a truly Christian life.


February 14, 2021 - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Along The Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem

Along The Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem

Mark 1:40-45

Father Knows Best!

Ever since I was little, I have been a die-hard sci-fi fan. Star Wars, Star Trek, you name it! But my all-time favorite show is Doctor Who. It’s about this alien who travels through time and space in a blue British police phone box, helping out people and saving the universe. The box (Tardis) is intelligent and the Doctor has numerous conversations with it. At one point, he has gotten quite frustrated and complains “You never take me where I want to be.” The Tardis replies “True, but I always take you where you need to be.”

Sound familiar? Isn’t that true for us sometimes in our prayer life? Doesn’t it seem that prayer too often consists of asking God for something, thinking that we know what’s best for ourselves. And then we get upset when we don’t get it! Kind of like a child not getting everything they want for Christmas. Certainly as parents and grandparents, we know that to be true! I want to give my grandsons every imaginable present but I also know there is a clear line between giving them what they want and giving them what they need!

Case in point – a few years ago I was driving around with my 2 grandsons running some errands and it was getting near lunchtime. So being the loving Papa that I am, I asked them where they wanted to go for lunch. One of the worst decisions EVER! I should have realized I would get 2 completely different answers – one wanted Taco Bell and the other, McDonalds! In the process of trying to give them what they wanted, we ended up with civil war and with me driving to both places to bring about peace.

I’ve always felt that, whenever we pray to God for something, He never says NO! He may answer us in three different ways – Yes! Not right now! Or “I have a better idea.” Let that sink in a bit. God doesn’t always give us everything we ask for. But He does give us everything we really need, even if we don’t recognize or acknowledge it, even if it’s at a time we don’t expect!

The leper is today’s Gospel reading certainly understands that. Truth be told, lepers at the time of Jesus were literally the walking dead. They were cast out of society, forced to live apart from their family and their livelihood. They were even cut off from practicing their faith. They were shunned and avoided out of a fear of contamination. They were granted no dignity and no hope of human contact. They lived and died apart from the world.

And yet this leper kneels before Jesus and engages Him in conversation. He has this intense desire to be healed, to be returned to his family and his faith. All he wants is to be cured. And yet in 3 simple words, he accepts that God knows best. IF YOU WISH! If it is Your will, You can make me clean. He doesn’t demand or plead; he puts it in God’s hands and is willing to accept God’s decision. It is a clear sign of not only his faith in Jesus but his humility in accepting that, whatever happens, let it be according to God’s Will and not his own.

And what does Jesus do? He cures him of course. But He also does something else! He touches him – a leper, an outcast, unclean – and He touches him. Jesus didn’t just give him what he asked for, what he wanted! He gave him something else, something he needed – human contact! Who knows how many years the leper suffered through the lack of any physical contact, a simple loving touch of another human being. Jesus also gave him a re-connection to his family, his faith, his world!

Just imagine the faith of this man. All he wants is to be healed of his sickness, to be restored to health and to his world. And yet he places his Faith in the Son of God. He trusts in God’s Will and not his own desires!

We hear that same theme in the Lord’s Prayer – Thy Will Be Done! Not my will, but Yours! Maybe it takes us a while to realize and accept it but Father really does know best!

My Creator, make my eyes and my heart open to Your Will! Aho!


February 13, 2021 - 5th Saturday in Ordinary Time

Lunch at Fassuta, northern Israel

Lunch at Fassuta, northern Israel

Mark 8:1-10

Leftovers

Well, you missed it; you really missed it! If you had only been over at our house last night, you would have been treated to a dizzying array of culinary delights, an unbelievable assortment of tasty treats! We had homemade chicken rice soup, tuna casserole, chili, rice and salad. It was a dinner worth relishing a second time. As a matter of fact, it truly was. We feasted on what was commonly called LEFTOVERS! It was a night that we cleaned out the fridge of all the remnants of dinners past!

Now that might not seem all that appetizing but think about it. What do leftovers really tell us? We made more food than we could eat! We could save the extra for a rainy (snowy and cold) day. We got to revisit a meal from the past and appreciate even more the second time. It brought back memories of that first meal, not just the food and its preparation but also the conversation. Who would have thought that leftovers could be such a rich storehouse of memories.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, was moved with pity for the crowd of people who spent all day in the heat listening to His words. So He multiplied 7 loaves of bread and a few fish to feed them when there was no way they could have been fed otherwise. But what strikes me is that there were leftovers, 7 baskets full of fragments.

Think about that. Jesus fed not only their bodies but their souls that day! And when it was all over, there was still more left over. There was still more food, more reminders of His words for the days ahead. What does that say about His love, His compassion? God’s love is boundless; His compassion has no limits! Even when we think we are full, God still sets aside even more food for us for another day! God doesn’t just feed us for a day; it is for a lifetime!

Food for our bodies! Food for our souls! Every day, God loves us, sustains us, cares for us! Every day God reminds us not to worry. I have even more for you tomorrow!


February 12, 2021 - 5th Friday in Ordinary Time

Church of Peter Primacy, Tabgha

Church of Peter Primacy, Tabgha

Mark 7:31-37

Hands-On!

Needless to say, over the past 11 months, I have spent a lot of time at home (so say we all). And in the midst of all the frenzied cleaning, it has given me the chance to appreciate all the quirks and qualities of our 110-year-old home. Yes there are still plenty to items on my honey-do list! But I can also see the effects of all the work that we have put into making it a home. And none of that would have been possible without the guidance and hands-on teaching of my father-in-law Bob. When we bought the house, I knew pretty much nothing about plumbing, painting, carpentry, electrical work. But I learned and I learned from hands-on, side by side experience from my Dad (in-law). I rewired outlets, painted rooms, rebuilt the front porch and poured concrete. A lot of it wasn’t easy and there were plenty of mistakes but I learned from simple, dirty, practical hands-on experience.

And that is what resonates with me in today’s Gospel. Jesus cures a deaf man with a speech impediment and He does it in a very hands-on way, touching his tongue, spitting in his ears. It’s not just about His words of healing (Ephphatha) but His actions as well! Of course, it reminds me of the Sacrament of Baptism where the deacon/priest (pre-Covid) would also touch the ears and mouth of the child and pray that they not only hear the Word but profess the Faith.

It reminds me that our Faith is not only prayerful words but also charitable actions, a combination of spiritual and corporal works of mercy. We should expect that there will be times when we have to get down and dirty to practice our Faith! If we truly love our God and our neighbor, then let us keep our eyes and ears open to the needs of others. And let our hands be ready to do God’s work!


February 11, 2021 - 5th Thursday in Ordinary Time

Israel from the Air

Israel from the Air

Mark 7:24-30

Wanna Get Away?

At this point in our pandemic journey, I think it’s fair to say we all want to get away. It doesn’t really matter where at this point, just away anywhere. Somewhere I can catch my breath, restore my soul, appreciate the beauty all around me, and step aside from the worries of the world. That’s what the Southwest Airline slogan is saying to me!

And that’s what Jesus is trying to do in today’s Gospel – get away! And He goes to a curious place – Tyre! Tyre is a Gentile city, a pagan city, and a bitter enemy of the Jews. It stands to reason that any of His Jewish followers would be very reluctant to search for Him there.

But it doesn’t work out that way. A woman comes to Him, drops to her knees and begs Him to cure her daughter! She is a resident of Tyre, a Gentile and a Greek. And yet she has heard of Jesus and believes He can help. And she is willing to fight for her daughter, to debate with Jesus for a cure.

Just in a few short verses, consider her qualities. She is humble, willing to bow before a Jew. She gives as much as she gets from Jesus and isn’t willing to take ‘no’ for an answer. That speaks of a woman of courage and persistence! And she is a woman of faith, not just believing Jesus can cure her daughter but accepting Him at His word that her daughter has been freed of her demons.

Wanna get away? Don’t you think that woman had the same idea? Don’t you think she wished, at times, that she could catch her breath. And yet her faith, her love for her daughter, kept her right where she needed to be, right where she wanted to be!

Do I wanna get away? Of course! That favorite restaurant down in New Orleans! Revisiting Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons! That little summer cottage in South Haven! And back again to the Holy Land? You bet! But you know what, I’ll settle for being right where I am – close to family and loved ones, close to my faith which challenges me every day to be courageous, to be humble, to be persistent, to be living out my faith in my daily life!


February 10, 2021 - Feast of St. Scholastica

Dinner Time, Mediterranean Sea

Dinner Time, Mediterranean Sea

Mark 7:14-23

A Recipe For Success?

One Sunday morning at a small Southern church, the new pastor called on one of his deacons to lead in the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, “Lord I hate buttermilk.”

The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going. The deacon continued, “Lord I hate lard.” Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, “Lord, I ain’t too crazy about plain flour. But after you mix ‘em all together and bake ‘em in a hot oven, I love what come out – I love biscuits.”

In the end, it doesn’t matter what ingredients go in; what matters is what you do with those ingredients. What matters is what you do with what you are given. That’s the message of today’s Gospel when Jesus continues to call out the Pharisees for focusing on the wrong things. They complain about the disciples eating with unwashed hands, thereby making the food unclean. Jesus makes it clear – it’s not what goes into your body that makes you unclean; it’s what comes out of you!

We get hit with all sorts of unpleasantness and trials every single day. The boss yells at us unfairly. That homeless man comes up to us asking for money. Our neighbor struggles with his grocery bags. Our daughter asks for help with her homework. That driver cuts us off from that prime parking space. What matters is how we respond! How do we act? What do we do with those God-given gifts and talents?

With all that is happening in the world, we are all swamped with an odd mix of ingredients. What do we do with them? How will we respond? What will come out of the oven today?


February 9, 2021 - 5th Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi

Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi

Mark 7:1-13

Wash Your Hands!

I never would have imagined that “Did you wash your hand?” would have become a part of my (our) daily routine again after all these years. Back when I was little, I heard it before every meal and, I admit, I was not always conscientious with the ‘washing’ part. It was more like a quick run a few drops of water in the vicinity of my fingers. Sorry, Mom!

Today and for the past 11 months, we have gotten into the routine of washing/sanitizing our hands as soon as we return home from shopping or whatever. I have also gotten rather tired of singing ‘happy birthday’ at the same time. I may not have always gotten the point when I was little but I certainly understand the importance of washing and sanitizing during this time of the pandemic. It’s more than just keeping up appearances; there is a deeper meaning.

That is exactly what the Pharisees in today’s Gospel don’t get! They are so incensed that the disciples don’t always wash their hands before meals as the Law provides. They are so focused on the letter of the Law that they seem to have forgotten the meaning behind it. As Jesus says:

“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” They are only concerned with appearances and have lost the spirit of the Law.

I doubt that, as children, we realized that my dirty fingers could taint the food for others. But we certainly understand it today – what we do as individuals affects others! Washing hands is just the outward physical sign. What comes from the heart is our concern for others, our compassion for our neighbor, our realization that what I do really does have an effect on others.

So even though I have to be reminded (nagged) at times, I will wash my hands more often and more conscientiously simply because it’s not just a silly rule. It’s not just about me and it’s not just about going through the motions. It’s not just about washing hands; it’s about recognizing the deeper meaning of our religious rituals. It’s about reflecting on meeting Jesus in the Eucharist and not about noticing whether someone forgot to bow when they came up for Communion. It’s about thankful and loving hearts and not merely the physical appearances.


Mass at Gethsemane

Mass at Gethsemane

February 8, 2021 - 5th Monday in Ordinary Time

Mark 6:53-56

Scurrying Around

I’m guessing that for most of you one of your fondest childhood memories is when Gramma would come for an extended visit. It was a time of story-telling and game-playing, baking cookies and cuddling, a time of being spoiled rotten! But I wonder if you also remember all the time spent just before the visit. All the cleaning and preparation, the flurry and rush of getting everything ready for Gramma’s visit! Sure, it took time and effort and work. But it was also a time of great anticipation and joy, of excitement about what was to come!

There is one word that resonates with me in today’s Gospel. SCURRIES! Jesus arrives in the land of Gennesaret and the people are scurrying about at His appearance. Think about that. Jesus is here! Jesus is HERE! OMG! That preacher and teacher and healer is HERE! And so they rush around in a frenzy of activity to prepare for His arrival, to welcome Him and to bring their sick to be healed. What joy they must have felt! And what faith they must have had!

Do we feel that same joy and excitement in the Eucharist? Do we find that same faith in the words of the Gospel? Jesus is HERE! Right here with us in the Eucharist! Right here in the Scriptures! Right here in the comforting touch of a stranger or in the snow-cleaning actions of our neighbor! Jesus truly is right here! Are we scurrying about? Are we cleaning up our lives and preparing for His presence? Are we excited about what is to come?


February 7, 2021 - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sea of Galilee, Capernaum

Sea of Galilee, Capernaum

Mark 1:29-39

A Different Perspective / A Change of Scenery

One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be poor. They spent a few days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

After their return from the trip, the father asked his son how he liked the trip. “It was great, Dad,” the son replied. “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Oh Yeah,” said the son.

“So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.”

“We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “It showed me just how poor we really are.

From time to time, whether we realize it or not, we all need to step away! We all need a change of scenery and a fresh perspective. Think about it! Think about yourself right now! Are you tired? Not sleepless-night or household-work tired but bone-tired, exhausted but not from any physical work. You lack the energy, the drive, the motivation to do anything. That kind of tired! Weighed down by the events of the past week/year and filled with concern for your family, yourself, your world! Sound familiar?

In today’s Gospel, there is a lot going on! Jesus has just preached in the synagogue in Capernaum and then he goes to Peter’s home and cures his mother-in-law of a fever. And once people hear about it, it seems the entire town comes knocking on the door bringing with them the sick and the possessed. And He cured them all.

Later the next day, Jesus goes off on an extended tour of all the towns in Galilee, preaching and curing and casting out demons. What’s worth noting is where it is that the people encounter Jesus, where they hear His words and feel His healing touch – in their houses of worship and prayer, in their homes, in their towns! Jesus meets them in the midst of their daily lives!

But what strikes me the most are not these 2 events but what happens in-between.

In spite of all He had done in one day and all He planned to do the next, Jesus gets up early in the morning and goes off to a quiet place to pray. Think about it! This is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the divine Lord! And even He needs some quiet time – to prepare, to recharge, to talk with His Father! He must be tired from the day before and yet He gets up before dawn to pray!

Jesus knew He needed to step away for a bit, gain a fresh perspective, a change of scenery. That dad in the story thought he was teaching his son a lesson, giving him a different point of view. In the end, it was both the dad and the son who gained a new perspective and they returned home with a new appreciation for what they have and who they are.

Now I’m not suggesting that we all should be getting up at 4am for prayer or Gospel reflection But shouldn’t we all find the time(s) throughout the day to just step aside from this crazy mixed-up world, catch our breath and offer a simple prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Father. It can give us a fresh perspective, a change of scenery if you will. If nothing else, it can help to clear our minds and re-center our lives and our worries around the love of God. It can remind us all that we are not alone.

Great Spirit – remind me today that I am not a physical being having a spiritual experience, I am a spiritual being having a physicial experience. Help me to find the time today to give rest to my physical self and a spark of energy and inspiration to my spirit!


February 6, 2021 - Feast of St. Paul Miki and Companions

Desert Near the Dead Sea

Desert Near the Dead Sea

Mark 6:30-34

Gimme A Break!

Ginger and I have gotten into a bit of a routine over the past few years. We will usually sit down on Sunday evening and compare our calendars. It gives us a chance to see what meetings, services, funerals, baptisms, etc. are coming up. A year ago, it was also the only way to see if we had any weekday evenings home together to share a meal. Now we just try to plan things around a myriad of Zoom meetings and, perhaps, find some time when we are both free!

And what have we learned? Nothing is set in stone, not even staff meetings or Zoom meetings to plan Lent and Triduum. All events are ‘possible’ but anything can come up at the last minute that will take precedence and singular attention. Be prepared to not be prepared! And take what time presents itself to catch our breath!

And that is what we hear in today’s Gospel. You can almost read between the lines. Jesus and the Apostles are exhausted. The Apostles have just returned from their missionary journies and are eager to share their stories with Jesus. Jesus, in their absence, has continued to teach and preach and heal. Jesus recognizes their exhaustion and convinces them to go with Him to a desert place – to pray, refresh their souls and restore their physical energy.

But no such luck! The crowd follows them and Jesus, out of compassion, sees their need and begins again to preach to them. Aah, the best laid plans, eh?

That is a pointed reminder to all of us who call ourselves disciples! Take care of yourself – get rest when you can; recharge those spiritual batteries! But don’t plan too far ahead. Be prepared at a moment’s notice to offer prayers, consolation, assistance to those in need. Being a disciple is a 24/7 mission. God sets the hours! God reminds us daily – I have a better idea!


February 5, 2021 - Feast of St. Agatha

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Mark 6:14-29

Speak The Truth

In one episode of the long-running sci-fi series, Doctor Who gives what amounts to a closing speech to his companions. The words that ring ‘true’ today are these: “Speak the truth and be kind; above all else, be kind.”

John the Baptist does indeed speak the truth but it certainly does not come across as kind. He is blunt and to the point, telling people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. It is a necessary part of his mission to call people back to repentance. And that is what he is doing with Herod, telling him in no uncertain terms that marrying his brother’s wife is wrong!

Herod seems to be on the other side of the truth, saying only what he thinks people want to hear. He is interested only in his popularity and his power. He is a prideful man, only concerned with his image and his reputation. In the end, even though he seems to be drawn to John’s words, he gives in to his baser temptations and fears and has John beheaded.

We seem to be living in a world where truth is abundant but actually listening and living a truthful life is in short supply. Whether it’s out of fear or pride, we falter at times. Face it, we are all imperfect beings. But even today John the Baptist calls us to repentance! We are called to acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness. We are called to seek the truth, speak the truth and live the truth. We pray today to the Creator for the strength and the grace to follow the Lord who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.


February 4, 2021 - 4th Thursday in Ordinary Time

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Mark 6:7-13

Have A Little Faith

I was thinking about my Sophomore Year at the University of Maryland and the day that I moved into my very first apartment. My parents and I had spent a lot of time cleaning and prepping the place. They dropped me off and then suddenly I realized – I’m now on my own! It’s all up to me – the cleaning, the laundry, shopping, cooking – it was now all up to me. That was, to say the least, scary! Now what do I do? I didn’t realize then but I do now – I wasn’t alone and it wasn’t all that scary. My parents had been preparing me for this since the day I was born, teaching me life skills. Of course at the time I didn’t realize it but all those “clean your room” and “set the table” and “do the dishes” and “help me make dinner” – all of them prepped me for this. And I realize they trusted that I had learned all those life lessons!

Something similar is happening in today’s Gospel! Jesus is sending His disciples off to other towns, two by two, to preach, to teach and to heal. And what does He tell them to take with them? Nothing, literally nothing! No extra clothes, no food, no money, no sack! Just a walking stick! How scary is that?

And yet, when you think about it, they are carrying something with them, something vital and assuring. They are carrying His trust in them! Think about that for a minute. We reflect a lot on how much the disciples trusted Jesus, how deep their faith in Him was. And yet consider today His faith in them! He trusted that they learned their lessons well by listening to His teachings. He trusted that they would heal and teach and spread the Word!

And will there be times when they falter or even fail? Of course! But they could always return to Him for encouragement and support! And so it is for us! Jesus trusts in us; He trusts that we are learning His message and living a life of love and compassion. We think we are being sent out into the world completely on our own. But His love and faith sustains us. And when we fall, and we surely will from time to time, we can always return to Him and seek His comfort. His faith, His love for us will never falter! Trust in that and have a little faith!


February 3, 2021 - 4th Wednesday in ORdinary Time

Site of Synagogue, Nazareth

Site of Synagogue, Nazareth

Mark 6:1-6

Homecoming

As most of you know, I spent all of high school and most of college in the seminary. What you may not know is that it was not as simple as a daily ride on the bus to school and then home for dinner and homework. We lived at the seminary for the school year, only returning home for the summer. Since it was down in Virginia, about 180 miles from home, even family visits were extremely limited.

After I graduated from high school and returned home for the summer, I decided to visit my former classmates and attend their high school graduation. Bad decision! It was as if I was invisible at best, still an 8th grader at worst. My former classmates, my former friends, looked at me and saw me as I used to be and not as I had grown to be. It was difficult to say the least. They saw what they wanted to see and not who I really was. They didn’t allow for a person to change, to grow, to mature! And that was hard to accept.

We have all had moments when we returned ‘home’ and were greeted by family or friends we haven’t seen in many years. And it’s as if you never grew up; you were still that ‘little kid’. And any effort to show how you have changed might have been met with ‘well, isn’t that nice.’

Jesus travels home to Nazareth in today’s Gospel and it does not go well. He begins to preach in His home synagogue and it goes from bad to worse. He is met with narrow-mindedness and preconceived notions of who He is. They look at Him the way He was and not who He is! People have already made up their minds about who He is and they are too stubborn to change their perception. They thought they knew Jesus and they just couldn’t move beyond that outdated knowledge. Unwilling to change, they are also resistant to faith! They have closed their minds and hearts to the Good News. Faith requires an open mind and an open heart, a willingness to listen and learn!

Jesus must have known this could have happened when He returned home. He knew there was a real chance of rejection and closed minds. And yet He still came; He still preached; He still hoped! Isn’t the same true for all of us? Somehow somewhere we encounter Jesus every day. And every day Jesus hopes that we will open our minds and our hearts to His message, to His healing touch!


February 2, 2021 - Feast of the Presentation

Church of St. Joseph, Nazareth

Church of St. Joseph, Nazareth

Luke 2:22-40

We Are Family

We are now well past the Christmas Season. Hopefully it was a time of peace and joy. If nothing else, hopefully it was a time to smile with a warm heart, reflecting on all the Christmases of the past when we gathered as a family. Hopefully it gave us the time to give thanks for the love and closeness of family.

Today’s Gospel tells us of another family – the Holy Family going up to Jerusalem with the baby Jesus to present Him to the Lord in the Temple, a religious tradition that takes place 40 days after the birth of the first-born. Parents would present their first-born as an offering to the Lord and then redeem him back with a sacrifice of 2 turtledoves or young pigeons.

And it is there that they meet the Prophet Simeon who rejoices that his eyes have beheld the Savior of the world! He held Him in his arms, blessed Him and blessed Mary and Joseph. And then he predicted that this child would be the glory for His people Israel and a light of revelation for the Gentiles

The Gospel ends with a curious line. “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him”. And that’s it! Except for one other story of Jesus being lost in the Temple, we know nothing else about His early life, nothing! Nothing until He is about 30 years old. Those ‘hidden years’ are summed up in that one sentence. It seems unsatisfying; we want to know more.

But maybe that really is all we need to know! He grew, become strong, filled with wisdom. Under the guidance of His parents, he grew, became strong and wise! And through it all, the favor of God was upon Him! And that is what we can celebrate today – Jesus being presented to His Heavenly Father in the Temple and then, under the guidance of the Spirt, being raised by His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, in wisdom, in grace and in faith.

For all us struggling in the darkness of winter, of sickness and separation, of despair and loss, may the Lord grace us, just like Jesus, Mary and Joseph, with that same hope and faith to make Him the center of our own family’s life!


February 1, 2021 - 4th Monday in Ordinary Time

Mount Precipice, Nazareth (Mount Tabor in the distance)

Mount Precipice, Nazareth (Mount Tabor in the distance)

Mark 5:1-20

Good vs Evil

As most of you know, Mark is the shortest, by far, of all the Gospels. He does not spend a lot of time on details; he gives you the basics and then moves on. He doesn’t even include the Nativity story. He cuts right to the important stuff!

That’s what makes today’s Gospel reading so unique. It is so rich in detail – the name of the demon, the long history of the efforts of the people to control the possessed man and his terrifying struggle with evil.

And yet look at how Jesus deals with him – with compassion and tenderness. See what happens when evil (Legion) is confronted with good (Jesus). He actually prostrates himself before Jesus. Just by His presence, evil is bows before Him. And look at the effect on the man after he is released from his demons. He wants nothing more than to be with Jesus, to continue to be in the presence of good. The Power of Good!

Truth be told, we all, at some point in our lives, have our own personal demons. We all are shackled and tormented, possessed and consumed by evil in our life. But Jesus reminds us today of the power of good over evil, the healing power of His presence and His actions. That man has been freed from his shackles, literally and figuratively. He has been restored to his life and his family through the power of Jesus’ presence and words of healing.

Perhaps today we can take the time to remind ourselves that, even in the worst of times when we feel the chains and pains of sin, Jesus is still here, still present with us, still offering love and forgiveness, mercy and healing.


January 31, 2021 - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Greek Mosaic At Anointing Stone, Church of Holy Sepulchre (Wikipedia)

Greek Mosaic At Anointing Stone, Church of Holy Sepulchre (Wikipedia)

Mark 1:21-28

Don’t I Know You?

It’s a running joke in our house – Ginger and I can’t go anywhere without us running into one of my former students. After 40 years of teaching, I guess that is to be expected. But I still seem to have a good enough memory that I invariable not just recognize their face but also remember their name and can still come up with stories about their time in high school. The students always amazed that I remember them especially if it’s just a chance encounter on the street (right, Fabi!). Ginger’s reaction tends to be a nod of the head, a roll of the eyes, and a simple ‘yes, dear’!

I’m afraid I subject Ginger to the same barrage of useless knowledge when we are watching TV. I insist on not only recognizing the actor but I proceed to list all the other shows and movies they were in and then end it with “You remember them, don’t you”. More nods of the head and a simple “No, dear, I don’t”. In some ways, that’s quite a remarkable achievement, especially when I think about all the times I walk from one room to another and completely forget what I was looking for! Some things we remember or recognize, others, not so much!

The people in the synagogue in today’s Gospel recognize Jesus in the power of His words; they are amazed that He speaks with such authority. And they recognize the miraculous effect of His actions, the healing of the man possessed! But it’s the unclean spirit that truly sees Jesus for what He is – the Holy One of God – and he declares that fact in a loud voice! Imagine that! Even the demons recognize Jesus as divine, as the Son of God.

A week or so ago, a friend of mine sent me a video clip of when we entered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem last January. And as I’m sitting there watching, I’m like – look, there’s the stairs leading up to Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion. And there in front of me is the Anointing Stone, where Joseph of Arimathea prepared Jesus’ body for burial.

And as I’m watching, I see this huge gorgeous colorful mosaic right beyond the Anointing Stone! And I’m like – where did that come from? I don’t remember this at all! How in the world could I have missed this. I mean, I’ve been to the Holy Land 3 times. Conservatively I’ve been in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre probably 10 different times, prayed at the Stone easily 5 times. How did I miss this? For the record, that mosaic is the photo today for this homily.

Why is it that we can remember some things and not others, recognize one face and not another, commit some words to memory and others fall by the wayside?

And maybe that is the question we need to ask ourselves today. How many opportunities to recognize Jesus have we missed already today? Would we even recognize Jesus if we passed Him on the street?

Do we see Him in our encounters with the poor and the needy and the sick, the homeless and the lost, the forgotten and the ignored? Did we miss Him because we were focused on something we thought more important? Or maybe we just couldn’t be bothered!

Or maybe the better question is this: can others see Jesus in their encounters with us? Can they recognize His love and compassion in our words? In our actions?

So we pray. Great Spirit, you are my peace and You dwell within me. Let me look for you within myself! Aho!


January 30, 2021 - 3rd Saturday in Ordinary Time

Sea of Galilee, Tiberias

Sea of Galilee, Tiberias

Mark 4:35-41

Calming The Storm Within

I’m holding in my hand an 8oz cup filled with about 4oz of water – what am I going to say next? Half full? Half empty? HAA! No, actually it doesn’t really matter if it’s half empty or full. The weight doesn’t matter at all! What matters is HOW LONG I hold it! If I hold it for an hour, my arm starts to ache. If I hold it for a day, you better call for an ambulance! In every case, it’s the same weight. But the longer I hold it, the more it weighs me down, the more it hurts!

And so it is with stress, with fear, with anxiety! And let’s face it, we are all stressed about something. Whether it’s school, or family, or our health, or the world in general, we are all stressed! And the longer we hold on to it, the more it hurts, the more it hurts us! And the more it drags us down! The longer we keep it inside, the heavier it gets!

In today’s Gospel, the Apostles find themselves on the Sea of Galilee, caught in a storm. Question – aren’t they fishermen? Shouldn’t they be used to storms and rough weather? And yet they’re still afraid. What does that tell us? Sometimes we all get scared, no matter who we are! School kids and adults, brothers and sister, parents, teachers, and even Apostles! And yet, if you think of it, they aren’t facing the fear all by themselves; they aren’t alone in that boat! That tells us something too – even when we’re scared and we think we are all alone, we aren’t! A lot of our family/friends are feeling scared too!

And what does Jesus do? He not only calms the storm on the Sea; He calms the storm in their hearts! He says to them – have faith! Don’t be afraid! I am with you always. And if He can calm the storm of wind and rain, don’t you think He can also calm the storms inside of us.

This story tells me everything I need to know about fear and about gaining a sense of peace. We all get scared! But we aren’t alone!

And most importantly as Jesus tells us – don’t be afraid! Just let it go and trust in Me! If you want peace in your heart, peace with your family and neighbors, peace in your world - have faith in Me. Have faith that I am right there with you! Set aside that cup full of stress and worry and be not afraid!


January 29, 2021 - 3rd Friday in Ordinary Time

Walking the Streets of Jerusalem

Walking the Streets of Jerusalem

Mark 4:26-34

Look At Me Now!

For most of us, these many months of self-imposed exile from the world have been a source of opportunity! For some of us, there has been the chance for growth. We have developed new hobbies and pursuits. We’ve learned to bake bread, started knitting, or enjoyed the quiet pleasure of reading a good book or assembling a jigsaw puzzle. Or maybe it was just playing a simple game of cards with a loved one. Perhaps we have even rediscovered the art of conversation.

For others, it was not just growth but transformation. We went on a frenzy of cleaning the house, room by room, top to bottom. We reorganized and de-cluttered, simplified and tossed out all the ‘stuff’ we used to think was so important and necessary.

And in the process, we may also have come across those long-forgotten boxes of old photographs. And we spent days looking through them, reminiscing about the old days and reflecting! Wow, look at me now! Look at how far I (we) have come! Look at how much I have grown and changed!

A time of growth and transformation, a time of reflection! And isn’t that exactly what today’s Gospel is addressing? You take a seed, even something as small as a mustard seed. You plant it, it splits, grows, develops, and miraculously transforms into a bud, a flower, a plant, a source of beauty and sustenance. Growth and transformation!

We have had so much time to work on our physical selves and our physical home these past 10 months. What about our spiritual selves? Have we taken the time to reflect on our spiritual growth, our spiritual transformation from that little baby at the moment of our Baptism!

How have we grown? How have we been transformed? How have we been graced by God’s presence in our lives? How has the sacramental life transformed us into disciples of Christ? Have we taken the time to reflect, to read the ‘good book’? Can we honestly look back (and forward) and say – Wow, look at me now!


January 28, 2021 - Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Mark 4:21-25

There’s a Light in the Hallway

When we were little, I remember my bedroom was always filled with a number of religious objects and statues – a cross on the wall, images of Jesus and, most apropos today, a foot tall white statue of the Blessed Virgin. I am sure my parents believed they would bring me comfort and protection. Truth be told, that was far from the reality.

That statue of Mary glowed in the dark, literally! So when I would wake up in the middle of the night, there it was, seemingly hovering in mid-air. Comfort was the last thing on my mind! Today’s Gospel speaks of placing a lamp on the lampstand and not under a bed. I guess I should have thought of that way back then!

Of course, Jesus is speaking of the lamp of faith, not only keeping it lit but keeping it bright enough for all to see! It is not merely a lamp of faith; it is the gift of faith, something to share with others, something for all to see and not something to hide away in fear. It is a reminder to us all that we are not alone, that we are protected and loved by our Creator. But it is also a challenge to us to keep burning brightly.

I share with you (again) Light in the Hallway by Pentatonix!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlppyBJhLnc

Close your eyes, lay your head down

Now it's time to sleep

May you find great adventure

As you lie and dream

If you're scared of the darkness

I will calm your fear

There's a light in the hallway

So you know I'm here

So count your blessings every day

It makes the monsters go away

And everything will be okay

You are not alone

You are right at home

Goodnight, goodnight


January 27, 2021 - 3rd Wednesday in Ordinary Time

The Fields of Galilee

The Fields of Galilee

Mark 4:1-20

The Worst Sower Ever!

We have certainly spent a lot of time over the years reflecting on the seed (the Word) in today’s Gospel and how it is received! Some on rocky ground, some among thorns, some on the path and some on rich soil. Most of it withers and dies!

But what about the sower? I have to wonder whether Jesus’ audience were more focused on the actions of the Sower! I mean this has to be the worst Sower ever. He scatters seed everywhere! He seems to have no concern where it lands or how much seed he has. He is wasting seed left and right! No Sower in their right mind would waste precious seed like that. A real sower would be careful, even individually placing seeds in the rich soil to get the best results! But not this guy! He throws it everywhere as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. Just get the job done and leave!

Or maybe not! Maybe the Sower (God) is not so much wasteful in His efforts but extravagant in His love! Maybe the message here is that God loves every single one of us; He wants all of us to hear His Word and respond! Maybe this is a lesson of how boundless God’s love and generosity is for us!

This is not your normal everyday Sower! This is our Father! This is a God who pours out His love to all of us, no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in – good soil, weeds, or rocks. He loves each and every one of us. And He shares that love and compassion with us all.


January 26, 2021 - 3rd Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Church of St. Catherine, Bethlehem

Church of St. Catherine, Bethlehem

Mark 3:31-35

Who’s Your Daddy (Mommy)?

Given Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, there is one thing I know for certain. If I ever said anything similar about or to my parents, my ability to sit in a chair would be painful for about a week. But this is Jesus and we know that there is something else going on here.

Iu truth, Jesus is not rejecting his parents, his family. Instead He is offering an invitation to all of us to be a part of His family if we only believe and do the Father’s will. Imagine that, Jesus invites each of us to be His brother or sister! Isn’t that exactly what we were baptized into? Aren’t we all part of a family of faith, a family beyond blood and ethnicity!

We celebrate today the feasts of Saints Timothy and Titus. They were both companions of St. Paul; they traveled with him to minister to the Thessalonians, the Ephesians and the Corinthians. At one point, Paul even calls Titus his ‘dear child’.

And that is the family that Jesus speaks of today. We are all brothers and sister in Christ. We are all part of one family – one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism in Christ!


January 25, 2021 - 3rd Monday in Ordinary Time

At The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem

At The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem

Mark 16:15-18

Good News For All

We celebrate today the Conversion of St. Paul. His story is familiar – journeying to Damascus to continue his persecution of the early Church, blinded by a bright light, struck down off his horse and Jesus’ words – why are you persecuting me?

It is hard to imagine what the Church would look like today if it weren’t for the missionary efforts of St. Paul. He is truly the Apostle to the Gentiles; he is the one who brought the Good News to the non-Jewish population and it is through him that the message spread throughout the known world.

There is one line in today’s Gospel that should strike at our hearts – Go out into the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature! It is a message that should resonant with all of us, not just the Apostles after the Ascension, not just with Paul, but with all of us. If Jesus’ message is one of love, to love our neighbor, to love everyone, then the message is for everyone and the message must be spread by everyone!

We are all called to share the message of love, to bring the Good News to people in our own time and place, each of us in our own way! So let’s take some time today in prayer asking the Lord to help us appreciate the unique gifts He has given each one of us and to give us the strength to share the Good News with our neighbors.

Great Spirit, help me today to teach only love, to learn only love!


January 24, 2021 - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Casting Nets, Sea of Galilee

Casting Nets, Sea of Galilee

Mark 1:14-20

A Wake-Up Call

So, a question for you. What do you think was the greatest technological advance/invention in the past 50 years? Some might say the Internet and its seeming limitless access to information in a moment’s notice. Others might say the smart phone and its ability to keep us connected to friends and family. Or maybe it’s all the comfort and safety features that cars and SUV’s have today – heated seats, rear view cameras, blind spot warnings.

Those are all certainly terrific but I’m thinking of something even smaller and more basic. I think it’s the snooze bar on our alarm clocks. Let’s face it, nobody like alarms and we certainly don’t like to be told when to get up in the morning. That moment when we can just hit that bar and convince ourselves we can sleep longer, we don’t have to rush and we won’t be late for work – well, that’s real power, real freedom.

And anything that shuts off that annoying alarm is even more precious. Let’s face it, we hate alarms of any kind; they terrify us, throw us into a panic and we tend to lose control of rational thought. We burned a pizza in the oven a few weeks ago and everything went nuts! The alarm was so loud we couldn’t hear each other and we forgot how to turn it off. By the time we got everything all sorted out, the fire department had already arrived and we had to embarrassingly apologize for the non- emergency. I think that’s how we all tend to deal with alarms – we either choose to ignore them or we go straight into a panic.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sounds the alarm. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” These are the very first words Jesus speaks in Mark’s Gospel. He didn’t speak at His Baptism; He didn’t challenge the Devil while He was in the desert. These are His very first words and they are words of warning, Time is up; the kingdom is here! Repent and believe! There is no time to hit the snooze bar, to turn over and pretend everything’s ok. The time to respond is NOW!

And as soon as Jesus makes that pronouncement, He begins to call His disciples. Peter and Andrew, James and John – all of them fishermen, busy with their nets, trying to catch fish for their family, their livelihood. And yet they respond and they do so immediately. There is no hesitation, no rationalizing, no, eh, I’ll think about it later or I have better things to do. Imagine that, the alarm goes off and they respond without hesitation!

For most of us, I think we always questioned their sanity for just up and leaving everything behind and following Jesus. Aren’t they just a bit crazy? And yet maybe they are the most reasonable. They heard the call, the alarm bell. They didn’t panic! They didn’t ignore the alarm! They didn’t hit the snooze bar to give themselves another 10 minutes to think about what to do! They responded! They trusted! They followed!

Something tells me God sends us alarm bells every day, little nudges to not just avoid the evil but to follow the path to good! Sometimes it might be that proverbial lightning bolt that jolts our senses and causes us to stop and think. Other times it could be a subtle hint to remind us that we are straying from the path. Either way, God calls us every day to follow Him with faith and with love.

How do we respond? Do we ignore the call altogether? Do we tell ourselves maybe later and never re-visit the call? Do we panic and find ourselves too worried to respond? Do we pretend the alarm never happened? Or do we answer the alarm with faith and love? Do we trust in the Lord?


January 23, 2021 - 2nd Saturday in ORdinary Time

Sacred and Profane, Nazareth

Sacred and Profane, Nazareth

Mark 3:20-21

Crazy!

“He is out of his mind”. At some point, I am sure all of my students have said something similar about me! Whether it was the religious feast days cook book or board game, a child’s world religions book of prayers or tracing their religious roots scrapbook or a photo album of Chicago houses of worship, or trying to figure out my method of creating seating charts, they must have muttered words like that under their breath. And I have to admit, they were right. There was always this sense of unique (they wouldn’t call it that) and creative ideas that they were never really prepared for. But it made them think and look at things from a different perspective. The projects and wacky tests were never really easy but they did make my kids really reflect on what they learned and to frame that knowledge into something new!

Crazy! Out of His mind! That is what we hear the people of Capernaum call Jesus! And aren’t they correct? He speaks to and casts out demons. He now has a following of 12 men, most of whom are simple fishermen and neighbors, poor and uneducated who have left home and family to follow Him. He eats with tax collectors and sinners and has the gall to interact with lepers and women! He preaches love of neighbor, of enemies and even Gentiles! He says to call God our Father! Don’t judge and turn the other cheek! Take care of the poor and live out the Beatitudes! Crazy! Seriously crazy!

And yet, when you think about it, aren’t we all a bit crazy? To be a practicing Christian in this world of power and greed and excess, is it that hard to imagine that the rest of the world sees us as out of our minds?

No one ever said being Christian would be easy! Christianity preaches a radical message of love and respect for all people, all life. It calls us to live a self-less life and believe that suffering is redemptive and transformative. Bishop Barron once reflected that “it is not about modernizing the Church but Christifying the world.” That means staying faithful to Jesus' message in spite of a world that challenges our beliefs at every turn and mocks Christianity as being too difficult, too impractical to follow.

So here’s to the craziness in all of us who call ourselves disciples of Christ!


January 22, 2021 - 2nd Friday in Ordinary Time

Mount of Beatitudes, Galilee

Mount of Beatitudes, Galilee

Mark 3:13-19

Go Climb A Mountain

A little context! Jesus has already ‘called’ His disciples to follow Him. Today, however, we hear in the Gospel what amounts to a Commissioning Ceremony. Jesus summons His soon-to-be-Apostles and gives them their mission – to preach and to cast out demons. What is most significant is where this takes place.

Mountains, for the Jews, were always places to encounter the Divine, to meet God. Moses and the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, Noah and the Ark on Mount Ararat, the Temple on Mount Zion. They were holy places where one felt closer to God. So it should be no surprise that the Apostles are solemnly commissioned on a mountain, probably Mount of the Beatitudes which would have been close by. And Jesus selected 12, re-establishing the 12 Tribes of Israel.

We know from other stories in the Gospels that Jesus spends a good deal of time on mountains – to get away, to retreat from the world, to pray and to re-charge His spiritual batteries. Perhaps that should be our goal today – to climb that mountain, virtual or otherwise, to step aside from the weight of the world and to pause and reflect on our own spiritual mission/commission.

And while we are there, let us offer up a prayer to the Creator of all life, on this Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.

God our Creator, we give thanks to you, who alone have the power to impart the breath of life as you form each of us in our mother's womb; grant, we pray, that we, whom you have made stewards of creation, may remain faithful to this sacred trust and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect Prayer for the Day


January 21, 2021 - 2nd Thursday in ORdinary Time

Church of All Nations, Mount of Olives

Church of All Nations, Mount of Olives

Mark 3:7-12

Don’t Tell Anyone!

We don’t know much about the life of St. Agnes or the details of her martyrdom, We do know she lived around 291-304AD during the persecutions of Diocletian and that she was martyred around the age of 13. She had many suitors, all of them she refused to marry. She suffered greatly for her devotion to the Faith and her vow to consecrate her life to Jesus.

Today’s Gospel shows Jesus enduring the crush of the crowds, looking for a place of relief and rest and yet never denying people the opportunity to come to Him for healing. But what strikes me most is Jesus’ command to the unclean spirits “not to make Him known.” There are numerous times in Mark’s Gospel where Jesus sends the same message – tell no one! Many scholars talk about this as the “Messianic Secret.” It reminds me a bit of a good friend telling me a great story but asking me not to tell anyone. Yeah, right! That’s the perfect line for people to do the exact opposite! Ssshh, it’s a secret; don’t tell anyone!

St. Agnes had plenty of opportunities to do just that – to tell no one, to say nothing about her Faith! She had many chances to renounce her Faith! In fact, she did the exact opposite. She proclaimed loud and clear that she was the bride of Christ and her life was dedicated to Him. In her words and her actions, she professed her Faith!

Opportunities to express and profess our Faith happen on a daily basis, although not necessarily with the threat of martyrdom. Would people know that we are Christian? By our words? By our actions? If being a Christian was a crime, as in the time of the Roman persecutions, would there be any evidence to convict us?? Would we speak up or would we tell no one?


January 20, 2021 - 2nd Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Chapel, Mount of Beatitudes

Chapel, Mount of Beatitudes

Mark 3:1-6

Counting to Ten!

In all my years of teaching, one of the nicest compliments I ever got was a student remarking that they had never really seen me upset! Hmm! I’m guessing that either they had a very short memory or all the time I spent teaching Buddhism and how to meditate was well spent! Either way, I know it wasn’t necessarily true, especially my first year at St. Pat’s. I had spent over 30 years teaching girls and now I was teaching boys. Everything was different; everything was frustrating! And I do recall getting so upset that I raised my voice and yelled at them. But my brain was still in all-girls mode; so I didn’t say ‘boys’ or ‘gentlemen’. I said ‘ladies’. It worked amazingly well! They thought it was the worst insult and immediately shut up.

I am sure we have all had our moments when we didn’t count to 10, when we literally lost it, when our anger spilled out into harsh words and even action which we may have regretted later. Today’s Gospel shows Jesus apparently ready to explode. He is angry and very upset over the Pharisees’ hardness of heart. But He doesn’t yell; He doesn’t throw things! He doesn’t lash out at the Pharisees.

Instead He focused on the man with the withered hand; He focused on doing the right thing – curing him. And He let His actions speak for themselves. He knew the right thing to do and He did it, even though He also realized His actions would have consequences further down the road. He didn’t let anger get in the way of His mission. He did the right thing no matter what the cost.

Perhaps that is the lesson for us today. Yes, we all get angry but we can’t let the anger control us or prevent us from doing the right thing or distract us from staying true to the Mission! So take a good deep breath, exhale, count to ten if you have to, and follow the Lord! As one of my former students said on a post yesterday - Love wins, Anger destroys!


January 19, 2021 - 2nd Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Dad’s Store, Maryland

Dad’s Store, Maryland

Mark 2:23-28

Charity Begins at Home

Just to be clear, today’s photo is NOT from the Holy Land What you see is my dad’s little country store set in the farmland of Southern Maryland surrounded by forests and tobacco/corn fields, with our home just a few steps to the left. It was not just a grocery store; it was a gas station, post office, deli, meat market, ice cream shop and liquor store for the countryside. That front porch was a regular meeting spot, outdoor café if you will! And somehow that modest establishment got my brother, 2 sisters and myself not only through high school but college as well. I still can’t figure out how he did it.

There was a sign posted on the door listing hours that he was open. But I always thought they were more suggestions than hard and fast rules. It didn’t matter to Dad whether the store was open or not or if it was the dead of night; if someone came by and needed something, he would generously open the store and take care of them. Even on Sunday’s when he really was closed, many’s the time he would stop what he was doing (playing softball with us) and he would unlock the store because they needed a quart of milk or some eggs or something for their sick child. He never felt imposed upon or resented what we might have thought was an imposition. It was in his nature to care for others, willingly and cheerfully.

Today’s Gospel has the Pharisees complaining that the disciples are breaking the Sabbath law of no work by picking grain to eat. I think you can see where I’m going with this. Jesus responds quite pointedly – the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,.

I learned a lot of things from my Dad, some from his words, most from his actions. And today’s lesson couldn’t be clearer. Charity has no restrictions or time limits. And charity really does begin at home!


January 18, 2021 - 2nd Monday in Ordinary Time

Mass in Cave at Gethsemane

Mass in Cave at Gethsemane

Mark 2:18-22

The Love of God

After reading over today’s Gospel, I keep getting this image of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Yes, I know, seriously warped! Anyway, it’s the scene where a group of hooded monks process through the village, chanting over and over “Pie Iesu Domine, dona eis requiem.” And then they go and smack their foreheads with a wooden board again and again. It leaves you with the impression that God is essentially a God of pain and punishment, where we have to inflict pain on ourselves for Him to notice and forgive.

That’s why the people are complaining to Jesus – why aren’t your disciples fasting and atoning for sin? That is when Jesus sets them straight! God is not so much a vengeful God; He is a God of Love. He is our Father and that is a cause for celebration and joy, not sadness and fear. Just like a wedding feast! Weddings and wedding receptions are time to set aside fasting; they are moments of hope and promise, of a love professed and a bond unshakeable.

Does that mean that they won’t be times of trial and upset in a marriage? Of course not! But what sustains a marriage, what helps it to grow, is that mutual love of husband and wife. And so it is with our relationship with God. There are moments of great celebration and joy; there are moments of doubt and upset. But through it all, it is God’s love that is constant and eternal.

So in spite of all the hardships and sacrifices we are experiencing these days, let’s not forget to spread a little joy as well. God loves us! And that is cause for celebration!


January 17, 2021 - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Capernaum, along the Sea of Galilee

Capernaum, along the Sea of Galilee

John 1:35-42

Lost and Found

As we entered this New Year, I spent a good deal of time sorting through all of the past year’s receipts, bills and documents, trying to close the book on last year’s finances. One thing in particular I was looking for were our property tax bills. They weren’t where they were supposed to be and I was worried that I had somehow lost them. But while I was searching, I found something else. I found 2 photographs, 2 rather old ones. One was of our daughter Jaime, all dressed up and posed when she was 3 years old, so cute! And the other was a photo of Ginger and myself, probably very early 80’s. So young, so full of life and happiness! And a lot less gray and a lot more hair than now!

What I was looking for was some tax bills, a simple stack of papers. What I found was a reminder of a simpler time when love and family were barely beginning. What I found was an appreciation for the past, a love for where we are and a hope for time ahead.

Jesus asks a similar question in today’s Gospel – what are you looking for? John the Baptist has just pointed out Jesus to two of his disciples and they began to follow Jesus. So He naturally asks – what are you looking for! And their response – zip! Nothing, they don’t answer Jesus’ question. It’s as if they aren’t sure; they haven’t made up their mind yet. There is doubt and uncertainty! All they do is respond with a question of their own – where are you staying? It’s a tentative reply, kind of “I’m not sure” but let’s at least check Him out!” They aren’t sure what they are looking for much less decided who Jesus really is. That will take time! And Faith!

This is not the only time in John’s Gospel that Jesus asks this or a similar question – what are you looking for? Or “Whom do you seek?” Jesus asks this of the soldiers who come to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane – whom do you seek? Their response – Jesus of Nazareth. And when He says “I am He”, they fall to the ground. They came in the middle of the night looking for a rabble-rouser, a trouble-maker. What they found was someone to be reverenced and paid homage to.

And then early in the morning on the first day of the week after Jesus’ Crucifixion, Mary Magdalene came and found an empty tomb. And Jesus appears and asks her – who are you looking for! Mary came looking for the body of Jesus, her friend and teacher, to anoint with oils. What she found instead was her Risen Lord!

Sometimes this journey we call life isn’t really about what we are searching for; it’s about what we find! We search for a lot of things we think are so important, so critical for our happiness. But in the end what and who we find in the midst of that search are what’s truly important and valuable. We look for success, popularity, financial or career success. We look for awards and pats on the back! We look for happiness in many of the wrong places.

So instead of asking what are we looking for, maybe we should ask what have we found! I was looking for some ordinary financial documents; what I found was a reminder of a lifetime of love and affection. Those 2 disciples of John were looking for a new teacher; they found the Messiah. The soldiers were looking for a criminal to arrest; they found someone to bow down to. Mary Magdalene was looking for the body of her teacher, Jesus; what she found was the Risen Lord.

Throughout our lives, we search for meaning, for purpose. And so in the midst of that search, let us pray that we find Jesus, right by our side, particularly in those moments of doubt, those moments of trial!


January 16, 2021 - 1st Saturday in Ordinary Time

Rosary Procession, Nazareth

Rosary Procession, Nazareth

Mark 2:13-17

Broken

I know I’ve said it before but, given today’s Gospel, I think it bears repeating – every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. So what is it that links the two; what lifts us up from sinner to saint, from pain to healing? Compassion! The compassion of Christ! And that is what we see in today’s Gospel – Jesus spending time with the outcasts, the sinners, tax collectors, the sick and the forgotten! And in His own house!

It is a clear reminder to us of what Pope Francis has said time and time again: “The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else. Heal the wounds, heal the wounds. ... And you have to start from the ground up”.

Christian singer Matthew West addresses this need for compassion in his song “Truth Be Told”. I share with you the lyrics and the music video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4wYkS8Z3Io

Lie number one - you're supposed to have it all together

And when they ask how you're doing

Just smile and tell them, "Never better"

Lie number 2 - everybody's life is perfect except yours

So keep your messes and your wounds

And your secrets safe with you behind closed doors

Truth be told, the truth is rarely told

I say I'm fine, yeah I'm fine oh I'm fine, hey I'm fine but I'm not

I'm broken

And when it's out of control I say it's under control but it's not

And you know it

I don't know why it's so hard to admit it

When being honest is the only way to fix it

There's no failure, no fall

There's no sin you don't already know

So let the truth be told

There's a sign on the door, says, "Come as you are" but I doubt it

'Cause if we lived like it was true, every Sunday morning pew would be crowded

But didn't you say the church should look more like a hospital

A safe place for the sick, the sinner and the scarred and the prodigals

Like me

There's no sin you don't already know

So let the truth be told

Can I really stand here unashamed

Knowin' that your love for me won't change?

Oh God if that's really true

Then let the truth be told

We are all, in some way, broken. We are all in need of a word of forgiveness or a simple act of kindness. And, if we aren’t there now, then we were there yesterday or the day before. Sometimes we are the patient, sometimes the doctor. Either way, we are called to the path of love and compassion that Jesus lives out in today’s Gospel!


January 15, 2021 - 1st Friday in ORdinary Time

St. Peter’s Church, Capernaum

St. Peter’s Church, Capernaum

Mark 2:1-12

Persistent Faith and Friendship

I keep getting this image of Jesus as some sort of rock star. He’s been away on tour for the past few days, preaching, curing and casting out demons all throughout Galilee. And now He’s come back home to Capernaum, I imagine, to catch His breath and get some rest. Not gonna happen! He is mobbed, so much so that He can’t even get out of His own house; even the doorway is blocked with people. So now He preaches and teaches at home; essentially He works from home!

And now 4 men arrive carrying their friend who is paralyzed. There is no way to see Him. You would think they would give up but not so. They climb the roof, open a hole and then lower their friend down! Creative? Yes! Persistent? Most definitely!

Consider what this tells us. How deep and loving is their friendship for their sick friend! The lengths they will go to in order to even meet Jesus! And consider their faith in Jesus, their obviously unshaken belief that He can cure their friend. Even Jesus is amazed and recognizes their deep faith!

They heard the Good News! They believed what they heard! And they acted on that belief! They changed their routine, their life, out of love for their friend and faith in the Lord. Can we say the same? Aren’t we all believers? Don’t we all have a friend who is struggling, in this time of pandemic, to stay upright? So what’s stopping us?

Maybe that’s our mission today (and in the days ahead) – to reach out to those we call friend and put our Christian beliefs into action - to support them in their time of need, carry them on our shoulders if necessary, to be persistent in our friendship and in our faith!


January 14, 2021 - 1st Thursday in Ordinary Time

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Mark 1:40-45

Father Knows Best

I am a die-hard sci-fi fan ever since I was little. Star Wars, Star Trek, you name it! But my all time favorite is Doctor Who. It’s about this alien who travels through time and space in a blue police phone box. The box (Tardis) is intelligent and the Doctor has numerous conversations with it. At one point, he has gotten quite frustrated and complains “You never take me where I want to be.” The Tardis replies “True, but I always take you where you need to be.”

Isn’t that true for us in our prayer life? Doesn’t it seem that prayer too often consists of asking God for something, thinking that we know what’s best for ourselves. And then we get upset when we don’t get it! Kind of like a child not getting everything they want for Christmas.

God doesn’t always give us everything we ask for but He does give us everything we really need, even if we don’t recognize or acknowledge it! The leper is today’s Gospel reading certainly understands that. In 3 simple words, he accepts that God knows best. IF YOU WISH! If it is Your will, You can make me clean. He doesn’t demand or pleads; he puts it in God’s hands and is willing to accept God’s decision.

We hear the same theme in the Lord’s Prayer – Thy Will Be Done! Maybe it takes us a while to realize and accept it but Father really does know best!

My Creator, make my eyes and my heart open to Your Will! Aho!


January 13, 2021 - 1st Wednesday in Ordinary Time

St. Peter’s House

St. Peter’s House

Mark 1:29-39

Taking A Break

Point of reference – today’s Gospel reading picks up right after the events of yesterday. Jesus preaches in the synagogue in Capernaum and then cures the man with a demon. He then goes to Peter’s house (first photo). Today a magnificent modern church rests on top of Peter’s house (2nd photo) . You can look down inside the church and see those ruins (3rd photo). The synagogue is just to the left, a short walk of barely 100 feet.

St. Peter’s House

St. Peter’s House

Are you tired? Not sleepless night or household work tired but bone-tired, exhausted but not from any physical work. You lack the energy, the drive, the motivation to do anything. That kind of tired! Weighed down by the events of the past week and filled with concern for your family, yourself, your world! Sound familiar?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus cures Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever and then goes off on an extended tour of all the towns in Galilee, preaching and curing. But what strikes me the most are not these 2 events but what happens in-between.

In spite of all He has done and all He plans to do, He gets up early in the morning and goes off to a quiet place to pray. Think about it! This is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the divine Lord! And even He needs some quiet time – to prepare, to recharge, to talk with His Father! He must be tired from the day before and yet He gets up before dawn to pray!

St. Peter’s Church, Capernaum

St. Peter’s Church, Capernaum

Now I’m not suggesting that we all should be getting up at 4am for prayer or Gospel reflection ;) But shouldn’t we all have the time(s) throughout the day to just step aside from this crazy mixed-up world, catch our breath and offer a simple prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Father. If nothing else, it can help to re-center our lives and our worries around the love of God. It can remind us all that we are not alone.

Great Spirit – remind me today that I am spiritual. Help me to realize today what I am really made of!


January 12, 2021 - 1st Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Synagogue, Capernaum

Synagogue, Capernaum

Mark 1:21-28

The Word of God

What you see in today’s photo is the ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum. Dating back to the 4th Century AD, it was built over the ruins of another synagogue, the one mentioned in today’s Gospel, Jesus’ synagogue! People often talk about wanting to visit the Holy Land and walk in Jesus’ footsteps. Well, you can’t get much closer than this!

Even today the synagogue is a house of prayer for the Jews, a place to hear the Word of God as set out in the Torah, our Old Testament. So the Jews in today’s Gospel not only hear the Word of God; they see the Word of God (Jesus) and they witness the power of the Word of God.

We don’t know what exactly Jesus said, what Scripture He preached from. We do know that the man with the unclean spirit hears the Word and immediately recognizes Jesus for who He is – the Divine Son of God! Imagine that! He hears the Word and then he experiences the power of the Word as Jesus calls the unclean spirit out of the man!

The Word of God! Jesus doesn’t just speak; He commands! And the people don’t just hear the Word; they are amazed! They hear, they see, they witness! That is a powerful lesson for all of us. The Gospel acclamation speaks quite plainly – “Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God”. How do we receive the Word of God? We hear the Word of God at every Mass! What effect does it have on us? Are we amazed? Are we changed or filled with joy? Are we so overcome with awe that we spread that Word in our daily lives? What effect has it made on us?


January 11, 2021 - 1st Monday in Ordinary Time

Jesus Boat Museum, Capernaum

Jesus Boat Museum, Capernaum

Mark 1:14-20

Who? Me?

It’s a familiar story. Jesus has just been baptized by His cousin John. His ministry is just getting started. And as He is walking along the Sea of Galilee, He calls Peter and Andrew, James and John to follow Him. And they do! They said yes! Immediately! And they leave everything behind – friends, family, work - everything!

At this point, I’m supposed to say – what about us? Have we said YES to Jesus? Are we willing and able to follow Jesus? I am sure we have all heard that homily before, many times. So let’s try something different and look at the story from Jesus’ perspective.

Instead of asking whether we can answer His call, ask ourselves what leads Jesus to invite these men on the mission in the first place? Why does Jesus pick these poor uneducated fishermen? What the heck does He see in them that they probably don’t see in themselves?

And if Jesus saw potential, faith, courage, possibilities in men like Peter, then what about us? Haven’t we all been called? Hasn’t God chosen each of us by the nature of our Baptism to follow Him? And our response? Who? Me? I’m nobody, nothing special! What is it that Jesus sees in us that He invites us on the journey?

Now that is something worth pondering! So take some time today, step away from your boat and your nets and look deep inside. Appreciate that God sees so much more than we see in ourselves!


January 10, 2021 - Baptism of Our Lord

Site of Jesus’ Baptism, Jordan River

Site of Jesus’ Baptism, Jordan River

Mark 1:7-11

I Am Proud of You

After my ordination to the Diaconate over 5 years ago, I traveled home to Southern Maryland to celebrate with my family and to deacon my first Mass at my family parish. It’s a little country church; it’s where I was baptized and confirmed, where I received my First Communion. It’s where I served as an altar boy for many many years! So it was a bit nerve-wracking to deacon and to preach in front of friends and family, much less my mom!

Afterwards my mom made a point of telling me how proud she was and how proud my dad would have been if he had been there. You see, he passed away years before that; so I never had the chance to share this ‘deacon journey’. And all the time since, my mom has constantly reminded me of his and her pride in what I do!

We’ve all had those moments either as a child or as a parent. Mom/dad saying I’m proud of you for something we did. Maybe we got an A on a math test, maybe I cleaned my room without being asked, maybe I passed my driving test, got my first job, or graduated from college! Whatever it was, it was a recognition that we did something that was good, something that made them proud!

This is what we hear in today’s Gospel: This is my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased!

God the Father expressing His love and support for His Son and the Holy Spirit coming down upon Him in the form of a dove!

The difference here is that God’s words of love and support happen at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry. There have been no miracles, no multiplication of loaves or fishes, no calming of the storm. There have been no parables or Sermon on the Mount. There aren’t any disciples or apostles as yet! Jesus has done and said nothing thus far. And yet God loves Him, is proud of Him and makes it publicly known that He is well pleased with Jesus!

Now we might be thinking – that’s all well and good but that’s Jesus! That’s not us! Really? We celebrate today the Baptism of the Lord! Haven’t we all been baptized by water and the Spirit? Hasn’t God adopted each and every one of us as His son and daughter?

Haven’t our parents not only expressed their pride in our accomplishments afterwards but also offered their confidence and support before the fact? Before that test? Before that job interview? You got this! I know you can do this! Didn’t they love you before, during and after?

So too God has loved us from the moment of our birth. He has loved and supported and guided us every step of the way. He is our greatest cheerleader!

This is my beloved child with whom I am well pleased! Jesus hears these words at the beginning of his ministry. For us – these are the words we hope to hear at the end of our journey!! A welcome into the Kingdom of Heaven!


January 9, 2021 - Saturday After Epiphany

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

John 3:22-30

We Just Light the Fire

After 40 years of teaching high school Religion, I know, in the end, it had nothing to do with the crazy projects, weird presentations or tests; it wasn’t even about deep philosophical and theological discussions about inanimate objects like ‘the chair’. No, as a teacher, I realize that my goal was always a simple one – lighting that candle, creating a moment when a spark of insight and creativity begins to glow. I’ve seen those moments when literally the light bulb goes on and they begin to think, create, and imagine! As a teacher, the hope is always that they will grow beyond me, beyond the classroom. All we do as teachers is light the fire and hope they keep the flame going.

We know that to be true as parents as well! We raise them, feed and clothe them, teach them and correct them in the hope that they will grow beyond us and become something more, something wonderful!

There is one line in today’s Gospel that resonates that thought for me: “He must increase and I must decrease.” John sees it and accepts it even though his disciples are a bit miffed that Jesus’ disciples are baptizing, as if they were in competition with each other. John receives the news with humility and joy because he knows the Messiah has come! He could have been jealous or envious; he could have resented that his mission was being overshadowed (taken over) by Jesus and His followers. Instead he recognizes that he is merely the best man, not the bridegroom.

God has bestowed wondrous gifts and talents on all of us. In a way, we all are called to be teachers, parents, mentors to others. We all have a mission to lead others to Christ, to light the fire of faith and then hope they not only keep it lit but also stoke that fire so that it grows and warms the heart and soul.

A couple of side notes today! Today’s first verse left me a bit bewildered: “Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing”. Really? Jesus was baptizing? How did I not notice this before? But if we read further into Chapter 4, we see “although it was not Jesus Himself but His disciples who were baptizing.” It is still a bit puzzling but maybe these were originally disciples of John who were still in the process of moving on from John’s mission to that of Jesus!

Also a word of thanks – yesterday marked 300 straight days (thus far) of sharing Gospel reflections with you! Thank you for your support and encouragement. And praise to the Holy Spirit for his guidance and inspiration!


January 8, 2021 - Friday After Epiphany

Along the Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem

Along the Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem

Luke 5:12-16

Help Me!

I admit it – most of the time I think I don’t need anyone’s help, that I can do things on my own! Especially around the house, I believe I am Mr. Fix-it and can solve any problem. At least until I realize I need another hand, or something is too heavy or too far away to reach. Those times when I am literally STUCK and have to ask for help! It’s not easy; it takes a great deal of humility and honesty that I am not as independent as I think. To be honest, I should have realized that long ago. I could never have been able to rewire a lamp or repair a front porch or change the oil or unclog a drain without the advice and hands-on example of my dad and my father-in-law.

The man in today’s Gospel understands that! He is afflicted with leprosy, which makes him a social outcast. He cannot associate, talk or approach anyone! He has to remain on the outskirts of town to avoid any contact. He is completely alone in the world, cut off even from his family and friends.

And yet, look what he does. He comes into town, approaches Jesus and starts a conversation. What a display of humility, of honesty, of courage and of faith! He asks Jesus to cure him! He has no expectations, no real hope that Jesus will even notice him, much less respond. Society would have demanded that Jesus just turn his back and pretend the man doesn’t even exist.

But Jesus does respond; He does cure him. And then He sends him off to the priest to certify that he is really cleansed of leprosy. That simple act of Jesus will allow him to rejoin his family, to be re-admitted to society.

In our worst moments, when life gets too heavy to bear, when we get stuck in our own depression and sadness over the state of our life and our world (need I say more?), Jesus reminds us today that we are not alone! All it takes is a good dose of humility, a recognition that we are not as perfect as we think! All it takes is a bit of courage and complete faith in God! Help me; I can’t do this on my own! We hear it even in today's Morning Prayer - "A humble, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn."

Heal us, Lord! Make us clean!


January 7, 2021 - Thursday After Epiphany

Praying, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Praying, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

1 John 4:19-5:4 (First Reading)

Calming the Storm Within

There are no words adequate enough to describe the despicable events we witnessed at the Capitol over the last 24 hours, much less deal with the emotions we all felt and continue to feel right now.

Yesterday’s Gospel spoke of Jesus calming the storm and I related that miracle with the storm we are all experiencing in dealing with the pandemic. I suggested then that we are all in the same storm but in different boats, dealing with the pandemic in our own unique personal and family situations. Today we deal with a different storm. But if we are to find any solace or hope, we must deal with this tragedy as one. As Americans and as Christians we are all in the same boat! We must join together – in reflecting on Scripture, in offering prayer and in trusting in the Lord.

So take some time today to reflect on the words of today’s First Reading:

“This is the commandment we have from him:

Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,

and everyone who loves the Father

loves also the one begotten by him.

In this way we know that we love the children of God

when we love God and obey his commandments.

For the love of God is this,

that we keep his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome”

And then pray in the words of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen! Aho!


January 6, 2021 - Wednesday After Epiphany

Sea of Galilee

Sea of Galilee

Mark 6:45-52

Weather the Storm

A few years ago we went on a summer vacation along with our daughter, son-in-law and 2 grandsons. Early one morning we chartered a boat to go fishing on Lake Michigan. Our daughter had never had the experience before and it turned out to be quite the adventure. It was not a calm lake that morning; it was really rough and choppy and the boat really rocked from side to side. By the time it was Jaime’s turn to grab the rod and reel in a fish, she had turned a lovely shade of green. We kept insisting that we would take the rod and she could go and sit down. But she utterly refused; she was determined to bring in that fish. And she did! In spite of being very sea-sick, she did! That was not a time for the weak of stomach!

The Gospel today tells of another rough time on the water, on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has just fed the 5,000 with loaves and fish. And He has sent the disciples on ahead across the Sea. We have been blessed to have taken a boat on the Sea of Galilee 3 times; every time it was calm and the water was like glass. But the Sea has a reputation for storms quickly appearing. And that is what happens here. And when Jesus sees that they are in trouble, He walks on the water to them and calms the sea and the disciples – do not be afraid!

You would think the disciples would marvel and express their wonder at all this. And yet the Gospel says “their hearts were hardened.” After the miracle of the loaves and fishes, after calming the storm and walking on water, their reaction seems to be a refusal to believe! They aren’t joyful or grateful; they are terrified, not sure what to make of what is happening!

These days it is easy to fall into a state of worry and anxiety, fear and uncertainty. Even when something good, for a change, happens, we seem reluctant to crack a smile or breathe a sigh of relief. In the end, God asks one thing of us – trust Him! Good or bad, happy or sad, trust Him. Someone once said that we are all in the same boat. I beg to differ! We are all in the same storm! But we are all in a different boat, dealing with our own concerns and issues. Trust in the Lord! Be confident that He has the power to calm our storms and to give us the strength to weather the rough seas.


January 5, 2021 - St. John Neumann

The Fields of Galilee

The Fields of Galilee

Mark 6:34-44

Food for Thought

I am guessing we all grew up with 2 dining tables on special occasions – adults and kids table. And I couldn’t wait til I ‘graduated’ to the adult table, I thought it would be something special. But when I did, I realized I was expected to talk and listen, that there was more going on than just eating, and I would try to get excused as soon as I could

I enjoy spending time with 2 grandsons, especially when they were younger and we could sit, share a meal and talk! But it was a lot easier when they were younger. These days the boys bring their phones, their ipads, their headphones and all we do is eat! So before the isolation hit and we were still able to eat together, we instituted the ‘no electronics’ rule at the dinner table. Too often we think the food will bring us together and that the conversation will follow naturally.

Today’s Gospel – we also hear about conversation and food. But it’s not the same – the crowd of people have come to hear Jesus speak – there is no thought of food, they are so taken by his words that they lose track of time and human needs. They feed off his words of comfort and hope. And then, because of his compassion, they all share a meal

So it is every time we attend Mass – we listen to the word of God, Old Testament, New Testament Letter and Gospel. And after reflecting on the Word, we then share a meal – Jesus’ gift of His body and blood

And that is what the celebration of the Mass is – the Word of God for us to reflect on & incorporate into our lives and the opportunity to share the Eucharist, a gift of Jesus’ love and compassion. Nourished by that gift, we are then all called to demonstrate that same love and compassion in our daily lives


January 4, 2021 - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Capernaum, Galilee

Capernaum, Galilee

Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Moving Day

I spent my Sophomore year in college at the University of Maryland, quite an adjustment moving from a class of 13 in the seminary to a student population of 40,000. My parents got me a basement apartment off campus to cut down on commuting. It was small enough to fit in our current living room. I remember my parents and I cleaning the place (probably the only time that happened) and fixing it up before I moved in. I think I subsisted on a diet of fast food, canned soup, fried bologna sandwiches and frozen pot pies. I would make regular weekend runs home to get my laundry cleaned (by mom) and to load up on groceries from my dad’s store (2nd pic). It was tiny, windowless and basic; but it was mine! And it was my first experience of living on my own. Needless to say, I learned a lot, mostly by the mistakes I made.

I don’t think today’s Gospel really sunk in for me until just recently. Jesus is moving out! He leaves His family home in Nazareth and moves to Capernaum. From that time on, Capernaum becomes home for His adult life. Kinda makes you wonder what His new home was like! How did He manage the day to day responsibilities of living on His own? And He didn’t just change His living arrangements; He changed His life, moving from private to public. As soon as He moves to Capernaum, He begins His mission of preaching, teaching and curing people of their illnesses. This was the beginning of His public life; and He never looked back!

2021.01.04.2.jpg

Do we remember that moment when we grew up, when we grew out of living at home? That moment when we became, or tried to be, independent? That moment when we started to make our own decisions instead of asking for permission? That moment when we really considered what we would be doing with our life? No, I don’t necessarily mean when we physically moved away from home. I mean that moment when we consciously started making our own faith decisions! That moment when we were living on our own and it’s a Sunday morning and we got up and went to church, not because we were told to but because we chose to!

When was it that faith and worship and prayer and simple Christian charity became an integral part of your life? When was it that you moved on from your childhood home and moved into the ‘House of God’? That should give you something to ponder on!


january 3, 2021 - Solemnity of the Epiphany

Shepherds’ Field, Bethlehem

Shepherds’ Field, Bethlehem

Matthew 2:1-12

Hope for the Best, Expect the Worst

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the t.v. was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom & gloom pessimist. Just to see what would happen, on Christmas day, their father loaded the pessimist’s room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist’s room he loaded with horse manure. That night the father passed by the pessimist’s room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly. “Why are you crying?” the father asked.

“Because my friends will be jealous, I’ll have to read all of these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I’ll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken,” answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin’s room, the father found him dancing for joy and digging in the pile of manure. “What are you so happy about?” he asked. To which his optimist twin replied, “With all this manure, there’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!”

Such a study in contrasts – one brother so positive and hopeful, the other worried and fearful of the future. As we celebrate today the Feast of the Epiphany, we see something similar. Herod the Great – egotistical and paranoid, selfish and greedy, envious and fearful of anyone who would even dare to challenge his kingship, willing to execute any who stand in his way, even little babies!

And the Magi, 3 wise men, 3 Gentiles, who have travelled for months, following a star, hopeful that it will lead them to the newborn King of the Jews, a Savior of all. And while they bring the infant Jesus gifs of gold, frankincense and myrrh, they recognize that the Child is the real gift, the gift of love and salvation to the world!

Herod has closed his heart to this singular gift; he thinks only of himself and any perceived threats to his power. Instead of being hopeful, he sees the future as an enemy, something to fight against, something to fear!

The Magi, in contrast, have given up the comforts of home in search of this Child King! No matter what hardships they faced on their journey, they remained committed, positive, hopeful! Their journey is not simply one of miles but one of faith! They come to see this Epiphany, this manifestation of the divine into the human world. They see in this infant the future, not one to fear, but to be hopeful! And they face that future with joy and thanksgiving!

These past 10 months, we have all felt overwhelmed and exhausted. We have experienced more than our share of ‘horse manure’. And we have, at times, questioned and doubted, expecting the worst! Like the pessimistic brother, we worry that things won’t get better. And, truth be told, there have been moments where we have lost hope.

Today’s Gospel story is one of expectation and joy, of wonder and hope! As we begin this new year, we pray for the grace to have the hope of the Magi.

Consider this – the Magi were a community of support, 3 men travelling together. They were not alone, not like Herod. That should give us today a sense of hope and courage for the future! We too are not alone! We travel through this life with grace and Spirit of God. We travel with our Savior and our Brother!


January 2, 2021 - St. Basil the Great & St. Gregory of Nazianzen

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John 1:19-28

Who Are You - revisited

Just to make sure you aren’t scratching your head over today’s Gospel, yes indeed, we just visited this reading on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. And I would hate to repeat myself, much less show my age and forget that I was repeating myself

So, in light of today’s Gospel, let’s reflect a bit on our Saints of the Day –Basil and Gregory, both of them Greek Bishops and Doctors of the Church. Basil was Defender of the Faith against the Arian heresy. He was both a pastoral shepherd and a renowned preacher. He founded hospitals for the poor and would preach twice daily. In spite of constantly being ridiculed and misunderstood for much of his life, his nature was both balanced and peaceful,

Gregory, on the other hand, was simple and humble, very uncomfortable with public life. He was a rather reluctant priest and always considered himself unworthy of the calling. Even after becoming a bishop, he much preferred a life of quiet prayer and seclusion. Basil and Gregory, two very different personalities and yet, for much of their lives, they were good friends. But there came a time when Basil, as his bishop, ordered Gregory to a town torn apart by heresy and conflict; Gregory instead retreated to his home town and their friendship grew strained.

If they were posed the question given to John the Baptist in today’s Gospel “who are you?”, there would be 2 very different answers! Two very different personalities, two very different interests and spiritualities – and yet, along with St. Gregory of Nissa, they are recognized as the 3 great Cappadocian Fathers and Doctors of the Church! Two different individuals but still one in spirit and one in faith!

It is a story that should give us all hope and courage! God knows our strengths and our weaknesses; He knows who we are! And He calls each of us to a mission, some with public identity of preaching and some with a private life of prayer and contemplation. So let’s reflect today on that daunting question posed to John – Who Are You? Who does God call you to be?


January 1, 2021 - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Church of Dormition, Jerusalem

Church of Dormition, Jerusalem

Luke 2:16-21

Mother of Us All

I don’t know about you but my mother remembers everything, absolutely everything! Every event in every daughter and son’s life, good and bad, achievement and mis-step. She cherishes them, holds each of them close to her heart as if they happened to her. And in a way, I think it does. Just as we were physically a part of our mother, that connection never seems to break. Our mothers continue to hold us close. And as we go through life’s troubles, its ups and downs, so too do our mothers, mostly in quiet and without words.

We commemorate today the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. And for me, there is one line in today’s Gospel that resonates - And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart! Is there any better description of a mother? Someone who gives us life, brings us into this world and cherishes every moment of our life. She quietly meditates on all we do and she suffers along with us.

There is quite a contrast today between the shepherds and Mary. The shepherds are excited and joyful; they return to their flocks shouting for joy and with thanksgiving. And Mary? She keeps all these thing in her heart. Quite the example for us today as we begin a New Year. Too often we spend the day making good-intentioned resolutions. And then a few weeks later, they are forgotten and set aside.

Perhaps today we could follow Mary’s example. Take the time to reflect, to ponder in our hearts all that has happened these past 12 months. Our successes, our failures, our highs and lows. What is there that is worth remembering? Worth forgetting and moving on? What have we learned about ourselves? What have we learned about our relationships, particularly our relationship with God? And then ask ourselves – what does it matter? How have we changed? And how should we change for this new year?

A Happier New Year, One and All!