Monthly Archives: January 2007

Monday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

Today’s readings We could look at today’s Gospel reading as an interesting miracle story of Jesus casting a demon out of a long-possessed man. But I think we should dig a little deeper than that this morning. Because many of … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time: Speaking the Truth in Love

Today’s Readings Today’s opening prayer gave us a kind of theme for today’s Liturgy of the Word. That theme is love. Listen to the words of that prayer again: “Lord our God, help us to love you with all our … Continue reading

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The Conversion of St. Paul

Today’s readings | today’s feast If we think that we are the ones who get to determine the direction of our lives, we are dead wrong. Look at Saul: educated in all the finest Jewish schools, well-versed in the Law … Continue reading

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Tuesday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time

Today’s readings I’ve never liked going to the dentist. All my life I’ve dreaded it, and all my life I’ve had terrible teeth. I inherited that from both sides of my family. During seminary, I had very lousy dental insurance … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Ordinary Time: Fulfilled in your hearing!

Today’s readings I want to begin this morning by reminding you of what we just heard in the first reading from Nehemiah: He read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, … Continue reading

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Saturday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Today’s readings “He is out of his mind.” Well that’s a fine way for relatives to receive a person, especially Jesus. But maybe everyone has relatives with whom they don’t see eye-to-eye. People who, it would seem, should know us … Continue reading

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Thursday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Today’s readings There is something about this Gospel reading that I think makes us feel a little breathless, a little claustrophobic even. Jesus really had to love human contact in order to keep on going when he was pressed in … Continue reading

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Tuesday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Today’s readings It must have been frustrating, I think, for Jesus to see how the people who should be getting religion right to so often get it wrong. The Pharisees – those men who were so intent on the careful … Continue reading

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Monday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time: The transforming power of vocations

Today's readings The vocational call is a call that is not about me, not about you, but only about the God who makes the call. Just as the ancient high priests that the author of our first reading speaks about … Continue reading

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Thursday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

Today’s readings My niece is now eight years old, going on thirty. But back when she was little, she knew how to wrap Uncle Patrick around her little finger. I remember one time when we were out at the mall, … Continue reading

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