At the start of Lent, we hung a banner from the loft to remind us that this is “a season of reconciliation and forgiveness.”  It is a time for making peace not only with God but also with others in our lives, friends and enemies alike yet neither undertaking comes easy. Perhaps we are too proud to ask for or seek forgiveness, but Jesus wasn’t.

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” This line more than any other catches my attention.  Having been scourged, whipped, and compelled to drag a heavy beam of wood to which he was nailed, he is now hanging from the cross nearly naked before those bent on seeing him die. In spite of how much he ached and struggled to breathe, Jesus thought first of those standing there, asking his Father to forgive them.

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Palm SundayRead More »

Scripture
1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14
2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel: John 11: 1-45

I would like to start this morning (evening) by giving a quote that was given during a presentation by Fr. Tom Vandenberg at the Deacon Lenten Retreat last weekend. “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change”. For those who missed it; “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change”. First of all, we better watch out how we look at things, and others, If you know what I mean!!!!!!!!!

Now, let us take a real close look at Jesus in our Gospel today. How do you see Jesus? Do you see Jesus grieving the loss of a friend or the sympathy he has for Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, His friend who has died? Maybe you see Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God? Or maybe you see Jesus foretelling his own paschal mystery?

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5th Sunday of LentRead More »

Many people struggle with the idea of devils, like the one we encounter in today’s Gospel. Do they really exist? However we feel about devils, we know that evil is real. We see it daily in the lost lives of innocent people killed in wars, acts of terrorism or murdered, in greedy people who abuse power, in the oppression of the poor. There’s evil with the big capital-E and there are the many little evils that lure us daily, in the form of temptations.

A shopkeeper, seeing a boy hanging about outside where there was a tempting display of various fruits, asked him, “What are you trying to do, young man? Steal my apples?” The boy replied,“No, sir, I’m trying not to!” That is the challenge we face daily.

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1st Sunday of LentRead More »

Last weekend, the movie, Les Miserables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, was showing at the Clyde Theater. I didn’t see it, but years ago, I did see the play and I was moved by its drama, which, like today’s readings, deals with new beginnings.

Jean Valjean was imprisoned for stealing a small loaf of bread to feed his niece. Paroled after 20 years of hard labor and brutal treatment, he is a bitter and broken man. He is desperate for work but no one would hire him. Cold and hungry, he is taken in by a kind bishop. That night, Valjean steals the bishop’s silver plate, but soon he is arrested. The police bring him to the bishop’s home and ask the bishop to identify the thief and his silver. Indeed, it is his silver, the bishop says but then he explains that he gave Valjean the silver. He thanks the police for bringing Valjean to him because he was concerned that his guest had forgotten to take the silver candlesticks as well.

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5th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

SCRIPTURE; 1ST READING– JEREMIAH 1:4-5, 17-19
2ND READING– 1 CORINTHIANS 12: 31–13:13
GOSPEL– LUKE 4: 21–30

Mr. Johnson’s son Timmy, was outside shooting some hoops when one of his contact lenses popped out. Timmy spent the good part of his time outside looking for his missing lens without any luck. He went into the house and told his father that he had lost one of his lens, and he could not find it after almost an hour.

Mr. Johnson went outside and in about one minute came back into the house and gave his son his missing lens. Timmy said; “Dad, how did you find it so fast? I was on my hands and knees for almost an hour and I could not find it.” Mr. Johnson answered, “Son, you were looking for a piece of plastic. I was looking for $150.00”.

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4th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »