By Tim Irwin Fourth Sunday of Advent/Dec. 20 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Psalm 89:2-3,4-5,27,29; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-28 Jesus poses two key questions to his followers. The first is: “Who do you say I am?” The Church proclaims its answer in readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The first reading from the Second Book of Samuel […]
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By Tim Irwin Second Sunday of Advent/Dec. 6 Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalm 85:9-10,11-12,13-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Advent seems to be somewhat of a lost season, drowned out by the ever-lengthening time dedicated to the secular side of Christmas. These days, Santa just can’t seem to keep his rotund self on this side of Thanksgiving. So, […]
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Sister Rachel Bergschneider, OSB
By Sister Rachel Bergschneider, OSB Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe/Nov. 22 Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17; Psalm 23:1-2,2-3,5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28; Matthew 25:31-46 A young boy was walking through the park after attending religion classes. He couldn’t stop thinking about the lesson for that day on Jesus’ parable about the last judgment. What impressed […]
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Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time/Nov. 8 Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63:2,3-4,5-6,7-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 Wisdom is a topic that has, on the surface of it, great appeal. Who would not want wisdom? How do I gain wisdom? We can think in our minds of a person who exemplifies it. But what is wisdom? Many years […]
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Father Timothy Hepner
By Father Timothy Hepner Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time/Oct. 25 Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18:2-3,3-4,47,51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40 “I have made this letter longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter,” wrote Blaise Pascal. Real simplicity requires genius. The holy grail of physics is the “theory of everything” that will […]
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By Father Timothy Hepner Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time/Oct. 11 Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalm 23:1-3a,3b-4,5,6; Philippians 4:12-14,19-20; Matthew 22:1-14 Sitting with a group of high school boys, I introduced myself: “I’m the vocation director.” They seemed apprehensive. “When I say ‘vocation,’ do you think, ‘priesthood’?” They responded with anxious head nods. “And does that scare you?” The […]
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Father R. Michael Schaab
By Father R. Michael Schaab Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time/Sept. 27 Ezekiel 18:25-28; Psalm 25:4-5,6-7,8-9; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32 Our bodies convert nutrients into tissue. Football teams often attempt a 2-point conversion in close games. Builders convert single family homes into duplexes. This Sunday’s Scripture readings are all about conversion and those who convert, although the […]
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By Father R. Michael Schaab Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time/Sept. 13 Sirach 27:30 — 28:7; Psalm 103:1-2,3-4,9-10,11-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35 Those who study comparative religions often ask what is unique about Christian morality. They point out that the world’s great faiths agree to a large degree on ethical issues, to the extent that the teachings […]
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By Father R. Michael Schaab Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time/Aug. 30 Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2,3-4,5-6,8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 Three words help us understand the readings for this Sunday — contrast, contradiction and paradox. Contrast means one thing is strikingly different from another. Today’s Gospel stands in contrast to last week’s Gospel, Peter’s profession of […]
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By Tim Irwin Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time/Aug. 16 Isaiah 56:1,6-7; Psalm 67:2-3,5,6,8; Romans 11:13-15,29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 A subtle tension permeates the Gospel according to St. Matthew concerning to whom the invitation to enter the Kingdom of God is directed. The Children of Israel certainly top the list of invitees, but since the 11th chapter of […]
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