When Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”, He is not talking about a cozy campfire on a cool night. He’s talking about a blaze that changes everything it touches. It’s a fire so powerful that it purifies, refines, and…
We tend to put things off when we think there’s still time. For many of us, our human nature is to procrastinate. In the simple things, and in the not-so-simple things. Those more challenging things we put off? We delay apologies, delay forgiveness, delay the changes we know we need to make. Why? Because we…
We spend a lot of time thinking about our retirement. And rightly so. Most of us are told from a young age to start planning early, to be smart with our finances, to invest, to save, and to build a future that’s secure and stable. We work with financial advisors, open up retirement accounts, look…
Every time we hear this story of Martha and Mary, I always find myself thinking that Martha really gets a bad rap here. Let’s look at what’s happening: she’s the one running around, making sure the house is clean, the food is ready, the table is set just right – and all of that is…
Let me first say what a gift it is to be with all of you this weekend. I’m sure many of you are probably wondering who I am. I am Fr. Tom Pringle, and I’m honored to begin my assignment here at St. Timothy this weekend as your new parochial vicar. Now, to be clear…
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We say those words so often. Every prayer, every Mass, every blessing begins and ends in the name of the Trinity. And yet, today, the Church invites us to pause so that we can reflect more deeply on this…
On Friday here at Holy Family, we celebrated the last day of school. If you have ever been on a school campus on that last day, the typical sights we see are students walking out with backpacks half-zipped, a yearbook signing here and there, and maybe a few emotional goodbyes, especially to teachers and assistants.…
Every time we pray – whether it’s a simple whispering of “Jesus, help me” or something a little more formal like the Rosary – we’re doing more than just talking to God. We’re extending an invitation. And sometimes – without even realizing it – we’re praying something that can be a little dangerous and not…
Have you ever had an encounter with someone – whether that be with a friend, family member, coworker, classmate – where you just felt really encouraged? Like someone breathed new life into you? That’s kind of what Paul and Barnabas are doing in this reading from the Acts of the Apostles. After traveling, preaching, and…
Psychology teaches us that our memories can sometimes be very much connected to our senses. A smell, a sound, even the texture of something that we touch can suddenly unlock a long-forgotten memory. Sometimes those memories can be comforting and sometimes they’re a little bit more painful. The smell of freshly cut grass might take…
Fr. Tom Pringle 