As we all learned in grade school in the USA, the Spaniards arrived in the new world in 1492. They attempted to establish settlements and colonies throughout the Caribbean Islands, Santo Domingo,...
In today’s Responsorial Psalm we proclaim: “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.” These words are taken from Psalm 145. These words and this psalm remind us that...
Jesus issues a personal invitation to each of us today. We hear this invitation in the words of today’s Gospel: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my...
Isaiah certainly has away with words. In the first reading for today’s Mass, Isaiah describes mountains being leveled, valleys being filled, and rough places being made smooth. It is a complete...
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This feast is a celebration of Mary who was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus and therefore the mother of God. This message is...
In today’s reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful vision: “The deaf shall hear… the eyes of the blind shall see… the lowly will find joy in the Lord.” These words are full of hope, and we rightly...
In today’s Gospel Jesus is coming to the end of his Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:28). In this Sermon Jesus teaches us God’s Will and the Way to God’s Kingdom (“Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done…”):...
In difficult times just before the Exile, Isaiah writes about conversion and of new times of consolation. His vision and message are based in profound hope. He is the prophet par excellence for this...
Our first reading gives us one of the most hope-filled visions in all of Scripture: “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom” (Is 11:1). Why hope-filled?...
The words of the centurion in today’s Gospel are very familiar to us since we pronounce these words right before we receive communion: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but...
Over the last several weeks as we near the end of the liturgical year, the Church has chosen readings that are quite apocalyptic. The readings from the Book of Daniel and the gospels - are they...
Today we gather to give thanks for many things, for our family, our friends and parishioners and for our country. The most important thing that we give thanks for is the gift of God’s grace...