Category: Daily Reflections

We are like coins. The image of God was stamped on us at Baptism. We were sealed with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation. The image and seal proves to the world that God owns us. Mass Readings: June 6 First: Tobit 2:9-14; Resp: Psalm 112:1-2,7-9;Gospel: Mark 12:13-17 Listen to the Mass Readings Like cattle branded with the mark of their owner, people who saw the Roman coin could tell whose image was on it, and to whom it ultimately belonged. The Roman coin was stamped with Caesar’s image. Therefore, Jesus said it ultimately belonged to Caesar and should be given...

“He still had One to send – the Son Whom He loved. He sent Him to them as a last resort, thinking, ‘They will have to respect My Son.’ ” –Mark 12:6 Mass Readings: June 5 First: Tobit 1:3; 2:1-8; Resp: Psalm 112:1-6;Gospel: Mark 12:1-12 Listen to the Mass Readings God, the Good Master, digs out a vat for tenants who will soon mock His messengers and murder His Son (Mk 12:1-8). The tenant farmers were entrusted to run the vineyard for the Master in His absence. They have been given much, and therefore much will be required of them...

Jesus “breathed on them.” –John 20:22 In the beginning, “the Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being” (Gn 2:7). The breath of the Father gives life where previously there was no life. On His Resurrection evening, Jesus “breathed on” His disciples “and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (Jn 20:22). The breath of Jesus brought the Holy Spirit and peace where previously there had been turmoil and fear. On the day of Pentecost, “suddenly from up in the sky there...

“How does that concern you?” –John 21:22 Mass Readings: June 3 First: Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Resp: Psalm 11:4-5,7; Gospel: John 21:20-25 Listen to the Mass Readings Our modern society must be one of the nosiest groups of people in history. We have talk radio shows, gossip columns, tabloid and people magazines, soap operas, “reality TV” shows, social media, etc. It seems like we mind everyone’s business but our own. While our society peers into everyone else’s lives, our own lives are falling apart. Our own marriages deteriorate due to neglect, unfaithfulness, and unforgiveness. Children are running around unsupervised and fall in...

“I issued orders that [Paul] be kept in custody until I could send him to the emperor.” —Acts 25:21 Mass Readings: June 2 First: Acts 25:13-21; Resp: Psalm 103:1-2,11-12,19-20; Gospel: John 21:15-19 Listen to the Mass Readings The goal of Acts of the Apostles is that the Gospel message reach to the ends of the earth. Acts considers Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, to be “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The last seven chapters of Acts record a series of extremely messy events which led St. Paul to Rome. In order for the Gospel to reach...