There is something really shocking about the feast we celebrate today. We call Jesus the King of the Universe, but the Gospel we have heard takes us to a place that looks nothing like royalty. Instead of a throne, we see a Cross. Instead of crowds shouting praise, we hear abuse. Instead of a king…
What if everything we cling to – our routines, our plans, our friends, our families, even the world as we know it – what if all those things crumbled? That is definitely not a comfortable question, but it’s one that today’s readings make us think about. In the Gospel, the disciples are so impressed by…
There is something that connects every one of us at Mass today. It’s something that is true no matter who we are, how old we are, or how we have lived our lives. Every single one of us has either experienced the loss of a loved one or one day we will. It is one…
It’s possible for us to look like we’re praying while never actually speaking to God at all. That’s the example we see in the parable that Jesus has just shared in the Gospel. The Pharisee begins his prayer by thanking God, but before we know it, he starts listing all of his accomplishments. He shares…
In the Gospel today, we hear a story that is quite familiar to all of us. Jesus encounters ten lepers who cry out to Him: “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” We can imagine how desperate they were, how isolated, how unclean, how unworthy. Because of this condition, they were cut off from their families,…
If we take an honest look at our hearts, I think we would find that fear can be one of the strongest influences on some of the decisions that we have made in our lives. Fear can paralyze us at times, keeping us silent when we know we should speak, and holding us back from…
His name was Lazarus. In all the parables that Jesus shares throughout His ministry, this is the only character He ever names. Think about that. That says something, doesn’t it? The rich man has no name, but Lazarus does. To God, the rich man is a cautionary tale, but Lazarus is a son. We can…
When I was younger, I remember hearing this Gospel about the “dishonest steward” and thinking, “Wait! What’s happening here? Is Jesus really praising a crook?!” It almost sounds like He’s telling us to embrace a way of life where others are being taken advantage of and cheated. But as always, if we sit with this…
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. And if we really think about it, that title is kind of strange, isn’t it? We’re celebrating and honoring a cross. We’re celebrating an ancient instrument of torture and death. To the world, it’s a symbol of humiliation; but to us as…
I once heard someone describe the Christian life this way: “It’s free, but it’s not cheap.” Yes, the salvation that we are offered from the Lord is pure gift. We know that Jesus has already paid the price by His sacrifice on the Cross. But following Him, truly following Him, truly giving our lives to…
Fr. Tom Pringle 