Dry Bones

Dry Bones

Today’s first reading is the prophet Ezekiel’s great vision of dry bones.  As we hear at the beginning of today’s reading “and of the LORD came upon me and led me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the center of the plain, which was now filled with bones.”...
Forgiveness

Forgiveness

How many times?  Peter’s question to Jesus in today’s Gospel is probably a question  all of us have asked.  “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often must I forgive?  As many as seven times?”  While Peter thinks he is being generous Jesus tells him...
Dying we are Born to Eternal Life

Dying we are Born to Eternal Life

It is quite natural to have a little fear or anxiety as we think about death and particularly as we think about our own death.  The Peace Prayer of St. Francis helps us to understand and even embrace the mystery of death: “For it is in giving that we receive, it is in...
Transfigure Us, O Lord!

Transfigure Us, O Lord!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.  Today’s Gospel describes Jesus’ transfiguration this way: “his [Jesus’] face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.”  Jesus’ divinity shines forth to Peter, James, and John.  God the...
Lord, have mercy

Lord, have mercy

In today’s Gospel a Canaanite woman makes the prayer or plea that we use each week at mass: “Lord, have mercy!” or “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!”  This non-Jewish woman comes seeking healing for her daughter: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!  My daughter...