Luke 23:35-43: The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,“He saved others, let him save himselfif he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out,“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that [...]
Archive for Category: "Cycle C"
How Sweet to my Taste is your Promise! (Reflection on Mass Readings)
Today’s First Reading comes from Revelation 10:8-11: I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me.Then the voice spoke to me and said:“Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angelwho is standing on the sea and on the land.”So I went up to the angel and told him to [...]
Holy, Holy, Holy (Reflection on Mass Readings)
Today’s First Reading at Mass comes from Revelation 4:1-11: I, John, had a vision of an open door to heaven,and I heard the trumpetlike voicethat had spoken to me before, saying,“Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.”At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, [...]
A Thought on Keeping Good Company (Reflection on Mass Readings)
Today’s Second Reading at Mass comes from 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12: Brothers and sisters:You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and daywe worked, so as not to burden any [...]
If Jesus were my Facebook Friend (Reflection on Mass Readings)
I noticed a few days ago that the social-media website ‘Facebook’ has a new featured called “See Friendship”. This little gadget appears beneath comments posted on your ‘Wall’ by your Facebook ‘Friends’. When you click on it – it shows you photos that you two may have taken together, public Facebook conversations between the both [...]
A Comment on Resurrection, Marriage, Angels, and Intercessory Prayer with the Saints (Reflection Readings at Mass)
The Gospel Reading from today’s Mass comes from Luke 20:27-38: Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,his brother must take the wifeand raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were [...]
On Prudence (Reflection Readings at Mass)
The Readings at Today’s Mass (Philippians 3:17—4:1; Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5; and Luke 16:1-8) all have something to say about how we ought to rightly discern the hour and act prudently in regards to it. We don’t hear a whole lot about the Cardinal Virtue of Prudence in this secular society, where the only absolute [...]
Solemnity of All Saints (Reflection Readings at Mass)
Today we Catholics celebrate the Feast of All Saints. All Saints Day is when the Church commemorates all saints, known and unknown. I believe that the words Tertullian in his Apology (197 C.E.), best describe what this day means to our two thousand year old community of God making His children holy: “Crucify us, torture [...]
A Thought about Zacchaeus and the Tree (Reflection Readings at Mass)
Today’s Gospel Reading at Mass comes from Luke 19:1-10: At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus,who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,was seeking to see who Jesus was;but he could not see him because of the crowd,for he [...]
On the Virtues of Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez (Reflection Readings at Mass)
Today’s Gospel Reading at Mass comes from Luke 14:1, 7-11: On a sabbath Jesus went to dineat the home of one of the leading Pharisees,and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited,noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.“When you are [...]
A Short Treament on How to Love your Spouse as Christ Loved You (Reflection Readings at Mass)
Today’s First Reading at Mass comes from Ephesians 5:21-33: Brothers and sisters:Live in love, as Christ loved us.Husbands, love your wives,even as Christ loved the churchand handed himself over for her to sanctify her,cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,that he might present to himself the church in splendor,without spot or wrinkle [...]
On the Benefits of Abandonment and Suffering (Reflection Readings at Mass)
Today’s Second Reading at Mass comes from Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18: Beloved:I am already being poured out like a libation,and the time of my departure is at hand.I have competed well; I have finished the race;I have kept the faith.From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,which the Lord, the just judge,will award to me [...]
Concerning our Preparation for the coming of Satan (Reflection Readings at Mass)
In yesterday’s blog I drew from Wednesday’s Gospel reading to highlight the first of two points that I thought might offer some value in our pilgrimage. “Be sure of this:if the master of the house had known the hourwhen the thief was coming,he would not have let his house be broken into.You also must be [...]