Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
Jesus tells the story of a farmer who planted wheat in a field and suddenly discovered someone had sown weeds there. Questions abound: Who done it? Where did he come from?
Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
With all the talk of sowing and seeds in today’s Readings, I was reminded of a man who’s driving down a country road, when he spots a farmer standing in the middle of a huge field.
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
All of us have received invitations to weddings, graduations, baptisms, significant anniversaries and birthdays. I think most of us would agree that we enjoy receiving these invitations.
Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
In today’s gospel there are four words that I find quite unnerving. They occur three times in rapid succession, so there’s no missing them: “not worthy of me.”
Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
We can take inspiration from our Holy Father Saint Augustine when he exhorted his community: “You say the times are troublesome, the times are burdensome, the times are miserable.
Second Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
Here I am Lord! I’m right over here waiting to find out what I need to do! Although we do not always use those words, we often feel we have to call out to God to let him know we are here.The Psalmist in the Scripture today gets excited about the call of the Lord. He has experienced the presence of God and wants to serve the Lord. We often want to feel the presence of God, but less often do we get excited about serving the Lord. Our own needs seem to be so many that we forget the call to serve.
Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C
A couple of Decembers ago a friend of mine, named Pat, and his son took part in a “toys for tots” campaign in the inner city. The idea was that needy families would write a list of some of the things they might need or want around the holidays, and other people would receive these lists, shop for the items and deliver them to the families. Pat and his son had spent all day Saturday and Sunday going around delivering various items to poor families all over the city.
Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C
I know what the end times are like.
I know the feelings, the anxiety, the worry, the chaos, being overwhelmed, trying to keep my head above water, sleepless nights, restlessness.
Yes, I know what the end is like – the end of the semester, that is.
I’m not that far removed from college and grad school, all the papers, additional assignments, all coming at once.
Certainly it can feel like the end of our world.
Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C
The experience of moving to a new home can be traumatic for many people. Perhaps, however, the trauma does not necessarily come from the “moving to” experience. Rather, it is the “moving from” which can be the cause for stress, anxiety and sadness. Yes, there is quite often an angst that accompanies entering into what is basically unknown. Questions come to our consciousness regarding the unfamiliarity of the newness ahead: “Will I know anyone in my new neighborhood?” “Will the kids at school like me”? “Will I get along with my new neighbors?”
Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem for the last time. He had about eight days to live. As he was passing through the business community of Jericho he paused for a day to have dinner with a new found friend named Zacchaeus.
It was an unusual event. Zacchaeus was far from a religious zealot. He was in fact the chief tax collector of the area, a man involved in many businesses, and very, very rich. He was not a terribly bad man, only very busy about business. Probably 7/8 of his fortune had been made honestly and that made him almost a saint in that wheeling/dealing town. He never was against God, mind you; he just didn’t have time for him. Thus it was quite strange that he should feel a need to see the God-man Jesus as he passed by.