Category Archives: Mary Thissen

Nov 22 2024

Sacred Spaces / Espacios Sagrados

Click here for daily readings “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” With that line, Jesus is condemning those who are both in the Temple area, making money their f...

Nov 04 2024

Many Gifts, Many Givers / Muchos Dones, Muchos Dadores

Click here for daily readings In today’s Gospel, Jesus isn’t just giving us marching orders for being disciples – He is doing that, since we are all called to be generous to the poor and those who are bu...

Oct 07 2024

Imitate Mary, the Good Samaritan / Imitar a María, la Buena Samaritana

Click here for daily readings In today’s Gospel, we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan. The scholar questioning Jesus wishes to clarify who his neighbor is, no doubt to exclude some people he sees as unworthy. J...

Sep 27 2024

Who Do You Say He Is? / ¿Quién dices que es Jesús?

Click here for daily readings In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks who people say he is. Some people think he is Elijah or another prophet. But then Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter t...

Sep 06 2024

Doing What is Necessary / Hacer lo Necesario

Click here for daily readings Have you ever been questioned about your Catholic practices, told “you’re too Catholic” or “not Catholic enough”? A common objection to Catholicism is often &ldq...

Aug 27 2024

Healthy Hearts / Corazones Sanos

Click here for daily readings Is your heart healthy? No, I’m not talking about the organ, though that’s important too. I’m talking about the part of you that shows mercy, justice, faithfulness – al...

Aug 15 2024

Maternal Love and Care / Amor y Cuidado Maternal

Click here for daily readings My relationship and understanding of Mary, the Mother of God wasn’t always great. (And I was even named after her!) I understood that I needed to respect her in a Fourth Commandment typ...

Jul 31 2024

Go Away – For the Sake of the Kingdom / Vete – Por el Bien del Reino

Click here for daily readings When I was reading and reflecting on the Gospel for today, I was struck by words I’d never noticed before. The man who found the treasure in the field “hid it again and went away&...

Jul 23 2024

We Are Family / Somos Familia

Click here for daily readings Do you have friends who are more like family? I’ve known some people in my life who I’m pretty sure I’m actually related to. No, we aren’t biological relations, but we...

Jun 30 2024

The Head and the Heart / La Cabeza y el Corazón

Click here for daily readings Have you ever known something intellectually, with your mind, yet not really believe it with your whole heart and soul? I love to try and see if I can figure out the connections between the S...

Jun 18 2024

Vertical and Horizontal / Vertical y Horizontal

Click here for daily readings “The Cross is both vertical and horizontal.” These words stirred me. “Wow, God really thought of everything,” I thought. I’m reminded of both orientations of the...

May 22 2024

A Puff of Smoke / Una Nube de Humo

Click here for daily readings As I read today’s First Reading, all I can think is “Ouch.” Because this one hits a little too close to home for me. I’m a planner, a “J” on the Myers-Brig...

May 14 2024

Truth in Memes and Choices / La Verdad en los Memes y las Elecciones

Click here for daily readings Recently, I saw a meme that actually made me laugh out loud. The meme said that God factors in a person’s stupidity when putting a calling on one’s life. It went on to say t...

Apr 25 2024

Encouragement at Work in the World / La Motivación Obrando en el Mundo

Click here for daily readings It’s great to see some results for the work you put in. For example, if you are trying to get to a healthier weight, it’s quite rewarding to know that your efforts to improv...

Apr 02 2024

Known by Name / Conocido por Nombre

Click here for daily readings Do you remember a time when your name was uttered and you felt pure joy? Maybe it was a friend across the street. Maybe it was someone you ran into out and about. Maybe it was a family member...

Mar 26 2024

Uncomfortable Questions and Answers / Preguntas y Respuestas Incómodas

Click here for daily readings It’s been said that you shouldn’t ask questions you don’t want an honest answer to. Did you notice in the Gospel how the curiosity of Peter leads to another revelation ...

Mar 13 2024

What’s New with God? / ¿Qué Hay de Nuevo con Dios?

Click here for daily readings When was the last time you learned something new about God? For me, it was when my twin boys became toddlers. They were starting to become “big boys” and get more independent. The...

Feb 24 2024

Be Perfect? Be Different. / ¿Ser perfecto? Ser Diferente.

Click here for daily readings “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” When I read these words of Jesus, I’m always a little confused. I am, after all, human. How can I be perfect? &l...

Feb 03 2024

Busyness, Rest, and Transformation/ Estar Ocupados, el Descanso y la Transformación

Click here for daily readings When I read today’s Gospel, I thought, “I’m sure glad rest is holy.” After a more intense day than normal, I was exhausted. It was an annual event for which I no...

Jan 22 2024

An Eye for an Eye?/ ¿Ojo por ojo?

Click here for daily readings When I read about something in the news that makes me angry, I have an overwhelming feeling to respond to the evil. For about a microsecond, though, I sometimes think of repaying evil with ev...