Suffering–everyone seems to have their share. It’s a tremendous mystery in our Christian life. Why does God send/permit suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Our human minds cannot comprehend. In today’s first reading Job is near despair. Notice I said near. The entire Book of Job tells…

Do you realize all that Jesus did in today’s Gospel passage? Mark relates the events of a Sabbath day at the beginning of Jesus’ public life. The busy day (and night) for Jesus involved public worship, teaching in the synagogue, healing, driving out evil spirits, and praying privately. Jesus appears…

This winter I made a bird feeding station. First thing in the morning I put out the seed and whistle to the birds to come and eat. Some come in quickly, waiting on the porch rail for me to move aside. Others have been slower to learn that the goodies…

The rich images in today’s readings are simply wonderful for these dreary and cold winter days. Magnificent stars and Celestial light: strange and wonderful gifts from all the known world are brought to the Christ Child. And there’s the beautiful message, “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come!”…

The Christmas “hub bub” is over…well, except for maybe a few football games and their accompanying parties. But even that will be over in a few hours. And we will be left with reflecting on our holiday. We’ll think about our “mad” preparation, how long it took, and how quickly…

When I was a small child, Christmas was a magical time. Surrounded by family, the day was a kaleidoscope of bright lights, good smells, warm feelings, gifts, and gaiety. As a parent, I tried to recreate that wonder by having all the things I loved as a child. But now…

Purity, chastity and loving trust, created a special beauty in Mary that attracted God’s attention and he showed his great love for the world by giving Jesus to her. How can we ever imagine what Mary’s responsibility must have involved? What it must have meant to her to bear God’s…

Today’s readings are some of my favorites… In our first reading, I found it comforting to remember that we’re all “clothed in a robe of salvation” and “wrapped in a mantle of justice.” And that’s a good thing, simply because there’s often a little risk in following Jesus. It’s especially…

Mark’s gospel was the first gospel to be written in about the year 68 A.D. It was a time of great persecution for the followers of Jesus. Mark wrote quickly and to the point hoping to encourage the people to be faithful and to trust in God. His beginning minces…

Opening day of hunting season finds me, like many of our parishioners, watching and waiting for the chance to fill my larder with venison. Watching and waiting, not knowing when a deer might appear, not knowing for sure if it will even happen this season. I focus my full attention…