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Showing posts from October, 2018

A Coincidence, or an Answer to a Prayer? - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B

Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102818.cfm A coincidence, or an answer to prayer?   I’ve found many situations in my life when I’ve considered this question.   Take this past Tuesday evening for instance, when I was back in Omaha for a few days and met up with a friend for supper.   I walked into the restaurant he recommended, and immediately I recognized a friend from the Catholic Newman Center.   As I went to a table, she came over and said hello, and she began speaking about how cool it was to see me, since she had just been thinking and praying about contacting me.   She asked if I was meeting someone there, and I mentioned my other friend coming too, and she said, “No way!   I was going to message the two of you!”   At that moment, he came in, and she was visibly surprised and began to tell us what she would have messaged us.   What struck me most is when she said, “Wow, I was praying about doing this, and it’s clear...

The Look of Love - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B

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From biography.com Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/101418.cfm How do ordinary people become saints?  How can we go from surviving to thriving in the spiritual life?  There’s a key difference between just getting by and coming to know the Lord deeply, and I’m sure that many of us have wondered what that difference may be.  We hear stories about so many saints and the incredible things they did, but far too often they seem like mythical figures rather than relatable men and women.  So we either get frustrated, or we just choose to not think about it and live ordinary lives.  We may think, “Well, I can follow Jesus in some ways, but I’m not good enough to follow him all the way, so I’ll just hope to make it purgatory!” We find this same contrast within today’s Gospel passage. Jesus asks this rich young man, “Are you following the commandments?” and he says yes.  Then Jesus asks, “Will you sell everything you have and follo...

The Blessings of Marriage - 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, B

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From  www.uncutmountainsupply.com Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100718.cfm There's a  true story I know about a boy who was in junior high, sitting in his room on an ordinary Saturday morning, when his father walked in the room.  His dad began explaining that he and his wife were going through a very difficult time in their marriage.   Particularly, his work was requiring him to spend a lot of extra time there, and his wife was upset that he wasn’t around for the family.   As he said this, he began crying, and he told his son that he was sorry for being distant from him and that he wanted to change.   Of course, the son was shocked, but he did what he could to console and embrace his father, to tell him that he forgave him and that he loved him.   The father  left the room, and the son went back to his normal activities, but he never forget his dad's humility in that moment. Of course, the son was a bit afraid a...