Category Archives: Ordinary Time

Jul 28 2018

Harvesting Weeds and Wheat

Click here for daily readings In Dante’s Inferno, he passes through the gates of hell above which are inscribed these words, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” That’s almost the situation we find in t...

Jul 27 2018

Shepherds After My Own Heart

Click here for daily readings “I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.” Jer 3:15 Today’s readings are full of imagery: rebellious children, sheph...

Jul 26 2018

Parables Of Truth

Click here for daily readings Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was unable to see what seemed so obvious to you? This can be a frustrating experience. One way to open their eyes is to offer them a chance to accep...

Jul 25 2018

Do The Right Thing

Click here for daily readings “They’ll do the right thing if I have to drag them kicking and screaming all the way!” Ever said anything like this? I know I have and if you are like me, we are in good company wi...

Jul 24 2018

The Good Shepherd

Click here for daily readings “Shepherd your people with your staff…” As I read these initial words of today’s first reading I recall one of my favorite images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. I love looki...

Jul 23 2018

Contemplative Prayer In An Impatient Culture

Click here for daily readings “Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ He said to them in reply, ‘An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no...

Jul 22 2018

For His Name’s Sake

Click here for daily readings The Lord is my Shepherd… but sometimes I wonder what He wants. And why He is leading me where He is. In late 2015, life was good. My relationships were good, my professional life was ok; thin...

Jul 21 2018

Hope In A Name

Click here for daily readings “And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” – Matthew 12:21 “I plead with you! Never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid...

Jul 20 2018

I Know This Place – I’m Home

Click here for daily readings Have you ever contemplated your death? Sat quietly and wondered what it would be like? I have. I have had thoughts of missing my life here on earth; thoughts of missing those I love. I’ve even...

Jul 19 2018

The Comfort Of His Sacred Heart: Rest

Click here for daily readings Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew tells us the inner comfort of the heart of God. When I read Jesus’ words, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light”, I couldn’t help bu...

Jul 18 2018

Daughters And Sons Of The King

Click here for daily readings Ah-hoy! There are a series of short oracles or prophesies, which are called the “hoy” oracles, because each one begins with the word “hoy” or “Ah!”. Sometimes tra...

Jul 17 2018

Faith Keeps Hope Alive

Click here for daily readings The readings today are harsh. In the Gospel, Jesus is reproaching the towns in which many of his miracles had been done. Many of those in the towns did not repent and change their ways. They saw peo...

Jul 16 2018

Jesus IS Lord

Click here for daily readings You might be scratching your head or recoiling in dismay when you read or hear the Readings for today. Isaiah’s word from the Lord is jarring: “Trample my courts no more! Bring no more w...

Jul 15 2018

The Greatest Gift Of Grace

Click here for daily readings If the only Catholic Doctrine question for my students was, “What is Ms. Ciancibello’s favorite word?”, than the majority of my students would get an A+ in their religion class.&nb...

Jul 14 2018

May We Thrive On The Cross

Click here for daily readings As I type, a heatwave has descended upon Western Michigan and surely much of the country. Mid-July is not known for the most pleasant of weather, especially for one who sports a 30–week pregna...

Jul 13 2018

Sheep In The Midst Of Wolves

Click here for daily readings “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” -Matthew 10:16 I am on the road currently for some parish visits. I spent...

Jul 12 2018

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

Click here for daily readings Sometimes that’s hard to believe. It’s easy to look out over the landscape of what humanity has done to the world and believe that this isn’t what God had in mind for us. We’...

Jul 11 2018

Trust

Click here for daily readings Since they do not fear the LORD, what can the king do for them? I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the times in my life that are marked by providence are also the times that I chose...

Jul 10 2018

Called To Preach

Click here for daily readings St. Augustine calls Matthew the Teaching Gospel. Jesus is our teacher, the Incarnate Word, the Logos. So what are we to learn from today’s Gospel reading? At first glance, it appears more like...

Jul 09 2018

Risen From The Dead!

Click here for daily readings We know that we must believe in order to be saved. Sometimes, we must admit that our belief is little more than lip-service. But we owe God all of us, as the Sh’ma states: “the Lord is o...