Sunday’s Readings: Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35 FORGIVENESSNearly ten years before, a son and father had parted ways when the business they shared went bankrupt. The son blamed the father. They did not speak to each other again.Then the father became seriously ill. The mother called the son and told…

Sunday’s Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20 A MESSAGE OF LOVE In the final verses of today’s Gospel reading Jesus says that when two or three are gathered in his name, “there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). So we understand that fraternal correction is always undertaken with…

Sunday’s Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 THE CROSS OF JESUS The perception of a cross changed dramatically after Jesus’ crucifixion. Before that event, death on a cross was not only horrible, it was degrading. It was a penalty reserved only for the most wretched of criminals. The word “glory”…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20 TRUSTKeys hold great significance for those who carry them. They represent the trust and authority of the owner when given to another person. We may give our house key to a trusted friend to take care of our matters while we are away.…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 WHY PRAY? The “foreigners” as Isaiah calls them, the “Gentiles” as Paul calls them, or the “Canaanites” as Matthew calls them are called to worship the one true God in prayer. As we listen to today’s readings, perhaps we are tempted…

Sunday’s Readings: 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A; Psalms 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33 THE PRESENCE OF GOD After the miracle of Jesus walking on water, the disciples exclaimed, “Truly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). Most Christians will probably never experience such a dramatic miracle. Like Elijah, we await the manifestation of…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3, Psalms 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21 OUR DEEPEST NEEDS The word of God serves up a tremendous feast for us today. Isaiah beckons all who hunger and thirst to come to the Lord for satisfaction. The psalmist cries out, “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs” (Psalm…

Sunday’s Readings: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Psalms 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52 A SHARE IN GOD’S KINGDOMToday concludes a three-week series of Gospel texts in which we have listened to a total of seven parables about the Kingdom. The believer is asked to consider the request that God made of Solomon in today’s first reading:…