I love Lent. I am always happy to hear that I am dust, and that to dust I shall return. When I close my eyes to pray, I can really tell I am dust. In here where I live, it’s quiet and dark. Simple. Nothing to it. Who am I? Dust. Clay. Nothing. Everything. Inwardly… [Read More]
Meditation and Emotions (Part II)
This is a follow up to my last post, Meditation and Decisive Times, where I attempted to sketch the basics of what it means to meditate on life, as a way to grow in love and closeness to God, and a way to help foster a deep and integrated inner life. Out of this deep inner… [Read More]
Meditation and Decisive Times
We live in decisive times. And while perhaps that’s always true in some way, I think we can say that in a particle way about our times today. I don’t have to describe it for you too much, because you live it as well. Tensions are high. The pace of available information is frenetic. And… [Read More]
Five Minute Guided Meditation with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
Join me and my daughter, Roise, in this five minute, guided prayer break with the newly canonized St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, feast day November 8. (see below) [powerpress] “May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions. O my Master, I would so love to live with You in silence. But… [Read More]
Seven Minute Break With the Holy Spirit
Take a 7 minute break to join me in prayer with the Holy Spirit in this guided meditation. [powerpress] Finding a still, quiet place for your prayer time is recommended. It seems that with all the tumult in the world, and all the urgent prayer requests I have been receiving lately, we could all… [Read More]
Sunday Says – April 17, 2016 Mass Readings and Refletion
Fourth Sunday of Easter Lectionary: 51 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 ACTS 13:14, 43-52 This week’s first reading from the book of Acts of the Apostles picks up in an exciting time for the Church. Paul and Barnabas bring almost an entire population of Gentiles to hear the Gospel, but it strikes anger and jealousy into… [Read More]
How to Stay Motivated During Lent
If you’re anything like me, you get to Day 6 of Lent and you start amending your sacrifices, making them easier and less painful. You may even have a conversation with yourself that looks like this: Scene: I’m quietly engaged in a task. My brain is wandering in thought. Suddenly, Brain taps me on the… [Read More]
Need a Break? Top 3 Sites for Relaxation
Are you overwhelmed by work? Exhausted from life’s demands? Maybe you feel frenzied by your list of to-do’s, or super-anxious about an upcoming event. Maybe you’ve just watched/read the news and now you’re in a funk. Sometimes (a lot of times) you need a break. I’d venture to guess that you need more breaks than… [Read More]
Sunday Says – July 19, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 107 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Jeremiah 23:1-6 This week’s first reading from the prophet Jeremiah is a call out of leaders in the church. God has given us many different forms of leadership in the Church. Any form of shepherding requires a closeness with the Lord that helps to… [Read More]
Sunday Says – April 26, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection
Fourth Sunday of Easter – Good Shepherd Sunday Lectionary: 50 (NAB Readings) (Jerusalem Bible Readings) Reading 1 ACTS 4:8-12 This week’s first reading continues in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. In this section of the story, Peter is speaking before the Sanhedrin to address his healing of the cripple beggar. St Peter’s… [Read More]
Sunday Says – April 12, 2015 – Mass Readings and Reflection
Second Sunday of Easter Sunday of Divine Mercy [powerpress] Lectionary: 44 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) This is the great feast of Mercy which was proclaimed by John Paul II to fulfill the desires of Jesus as expressed to St Faustina. It’s a beautiful day to focus on the Divine Mercy of Jesus that seeks to… [Read More]
Sunday Says – December 28, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection
December 28, 2014 Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Lectionary: 17 (NAB Readings) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) This is a Sunday mass that has several options for the each of the readings, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Gospel lengths. The version or length could vary grately from parish to parish, but the… [Read More]
Sunday Says – December 7, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection
Sunday December 7, 2014 Second Sunday of Advent Lectionary: 5 Reading 1 Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 This week’s first reading from the Prophet Isaiah takes place in an high point for the Hebrews. At this time, this was a whole generation that had never lived in Jerusalem, and they were on a return journey to… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – October 19, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection
Sunday Says October 19, 2014 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A Lectionary: 145 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Reading 1 Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 This week’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah starts out with an unexpected note calling the pagan king God’s instrument. During the Babylonian, he planned to free the captives and… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – October 12, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflection
Sunday October 12, 2014 Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 142 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Reading 1 Isaiah 25:6-10A This week’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah, is a great setup for this week’s Gospel, but it also stand alone as a beautiful prophetic vision of what the Lord promises. The prophet promises that… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – August 17, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday August 17 2014 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 118 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible) Reading 1 Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 The first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we hear a message about God’s intention to have a select people. Israel was centered around their identity of their faith and inheritance as God’s chosen people. At… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – July 27, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday July 27, 2014 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 109 (NAB Translation) ( Jerusalem Bible Translation) [powerpress] Reading 1 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 This first reading from the first book of Kings is a classic favorite, and it is hopefully familiar to you. Solomon was son of the great King David and had of… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – July 13, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday July 13, 2014 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 103 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) [powerpress] Reading 1 Isaiah 55:10-11 In this week’s first reading from Isaiah, it’s important to remember where we are in this story. The Hebrews were at a point of transition to return to their land of Judah, and it… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – June 29, 2014 Mass Readings and Reflections
Sunday June 29, 2014 Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Mass during the Day – Lectionary: 591 (NAB Readings) [powerpress] This is a great treat to celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul on a Sunday. Most saints get overwritten by the regular calendar of the Sunday, but these two Apostles are a… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast: July 21, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflection
[powerpress] Reflection starts at 3:50 minute mark. Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary First Reading GN 18:1-10A This is a fascinating story that hides some supernatural details. On the surface, this looks like a very simple lesson about the importance of good hospitality, especially in contrast to the difficult times Abraham and Sarah experienced in Egypt… [Read More]
Stay With Me: How to Find Comfort in Chaos
Have you ever had one of those moments when life seems to be truckin’ along as usual – then BAM – something comes out of left field, leaving your world completely shaken? You stand there blinking, looking around like nothing looks or feels the same anymore. Suddenly you remember, with 3D technicolor clarity, that life… [Read More]
Meditation: A Lot Harder Than It Looks
Whenever I think of meditation, I immediately have thoughts of old, wizened yogis, sitting in lotus position, possibly floating off the ground, and saying “Huuummmm…”. Which then reminds me of the Red Robin commercials because I’m convinced they’re saying, “Red Robin, HUUUUMMM!!!” Which then reminds me of how someone recently told me that the commercials… [Read More]
Growth in Sober Consideration
“As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts are above your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) There often seems to be a subliminal attitude, which originates in Protestant circles but pervades many Catholic parishes. Because Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have already brought us full assurance… [Read More]
