Jesus is Coming Soon

We are very quickly approaching the end of the liturgical year. In just a couple of weeks, we’re going to begin the season of Advent, the official start of the new liturgical calendar. But before we get there, the Church is reminding us somewhat of a sobering reality. In her wisdom, She turns our attention…

The Example of Bartimaeus

We have just heard one of my favorite stories found in the Gospels. I love this story of Bartimaeus. He’s a blind beggar, sitting by the roadside. When he hears that Jesus is passing by, he shouts, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” It’s a desperate cry from someone who knows that he…

Great is the Servant

In our Gospel for today, we hear a rather bold request from James and John. These two apostles approach Jesus with a desire that reveals something very human: ambition. “Teacher,” they say, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you” (Mark 10:35). I imagine Jesus is probably thinking this is going…

Sacrament of Marriage

Last week in my homily, I spoke about the great gift and the beauty of the priesthood. Today, we focus on another vocation in the Church, the vocation of marriage. In our readings, we’re given this beautiful vision of marriage, a vision that speaks not just to the relationship between a husband and wife, but…

The Light Within Us

The theme of our readings for today somewhat connects to the theme that we heard in our readings at Mass this past Sunday. Remember, in the Gospel yesterday, the disciples were arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest in their number. We know that Jesus came back and says: "If anyone wishes to be…

True Greatness

What does it mean to be truly great? I think that is the main question that our readings for this weekend call us to reflect on. When we look at the ways of the world, society and culture tells us that greatness comes from power, status, or self-promotion. Yet, Scripture and our faith gives us…

Give All to the Lord

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. John Chrysostom, a Doctor of the Church and a Bishop, who authored many homilies, letters, treatises, essays, and commentaries on the Scriptures and various other aspects of our faith. He is known for his great skills as an orator; in fact, Chrysostom means "gold mouthed." In one of…