Sirach 3:1718,20,28-29; Hebrews 12:18-23; Luke 14:1,7-14 It is through pride that sin and suffering came into this world.  Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were faced with the very temptation that resulted in the fall of the tempter.  As faith teaches us, Satan began as an angel named Lucifer.  Created as a pure spirit,...
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Isaiah 66: 18-21; Hebrews 12: 5-7,11-13; Luke 13: 22-30 One of the greatest gifts I have received as a priest is the gift of people’s lives.  People share with me their innermost thoughts, their innermost fears, their innermost hopes and dreams.  It is a gift to be able to walk with people on their...
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Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6,10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56 The Magnificat, Mary’s Hymn of Praise, has been a part of the Church’s liturgy since the 6th century of Christianity.  Religious and ordained ministers pray this canticle every day during evening vespers.  It also has been chosen as the prayer for different religious organizations through the...
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Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19; Luke 12:32-48 “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). This statement of faith, given us by the author of Hebrews, is perhaps the best definition of faith that I have ever heard. We are living in a time in which...
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1] Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23;  Colossians 3:1-5,9-11;  Luke 12:13-21 It was not uncommon for people in Palestine to take their unsettled disputes to respected Rabbis;  but Jesus refused to be mixed up in anyone’s disputes about money.  Instead, Jesus used this request as an opportunity to teach a lesson about the proper attitude his followers...
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Genesis 18:20-32;  Colossians 2:12-14;  Luke 11:1-13 The disciples came to Jesus with the request, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In reply Jesus gave us some of the most familiar words to Christians, “The Lord’s Prayer.”  Luke’s version is worded differently than Matthew’s from which we derive the memorized prayer.  But the first lesson we...
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Deuteronomy 30: 10-14; Colossians 1: 15-20; Luke 10: 25-37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself,” What does it mean to love God with our whole heart, soul, strength, and mind?  How...
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Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20 For many years I traveled to the Canadian Rockies of Western Alberta, Canada.  Unlike the disciples in today’s gospel I did not travel so lightly.  I brought with me my camping gear, a tent, sleeping bag, food, clothing, maps, prayer books, and my copy of the Woodall’s Camping...
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1 Kings 19: 16,19-21;  Galatians 5: 1,13-18;  Luke 9: 51-62 “Jesus resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, (9:51)” It is important to note how Luke began this sentence.  “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled.” He knew that the time for him to return to heaven was near.  This meant that...
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2 Samuel 12:7-10,13; Galatians 2:16,19-21; Luke 7:36-8:3 “I am sorry;” three simple words; three very easy words to pronounce.  But when put together into one sentence three of the hardest words to utter.  “I am sorry,” is hard to say for a variety of reasons.  First of all it means swallowing our pride and...
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