They were there. They followed along the way that Jesus walked to Calvary, carrying His cross. Veronica wiped His face of blood and sweat. They were there to weep as they witnessed Him struggling under the weight of the cross. Mary, her sister, and Mary Magdalene were there at the foot of the cross as He was lifted up,  and they stood watch with Him until He surrendered His Spirit. They were there. They were the first to learn of His resurrection when they entered the tomb an

Date: Thursday of the 30 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Romans 8:31b-39 Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us

How does one know if one’s succeeding?   In 1973, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show claimed it would land one on the cover of “Rolling Stone” magazine. Today, I’m afraid it is measured in “likes.” But seriously, how does one know if one’s succeeding? Is it one’s bank balance? Is it one’s name recognition? What is the hallmark characteristic of true success in life?   Over the years, I’ve known many people who had grown wealthy but were always looking for additional wealth. I’ve al

Date: Wednesday of the 30 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 13:22-30 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.  Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and say

Last night we met for scripture study at the parish. We call it “Snack and Scripture” with the intention of having munchies for those who didn’t have a chance to eat before they came. Some people sign up to bring dishes/food to share. Others spontaneously show up with desserts or veggies and dip or sandwiches. It is amazing. Every week, I find myself standing and acknowledging to the LORD that I did notice how gracious and generous people can be and are.   I hope that I am ge

Date: Tuesday of 30 th  Week in Ordinary Time/Feasts of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles Scripture Text:   Ephesians 2:19-22 Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you als

She was struggling. She had lost her husband after nearly 50 years of marriage. She was lonely. It was Friday night, and she wasn’t looking forward to the weekend because those days and nights seemed even longer and lonelier. Then the doorbell rang. She almost didn’t answer it. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Who could it be at 8 p.m. on a Friday night? She walked to the door slowly. When she opened it, she was totally surprised to see her 8 grandchildren standing outside with s

Date: Monday of the 30 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 13:10-17 Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping. As I was selecting my heads of lettuce, a father and son stepped up to the peppers beside me. The father gave his son tips for how to select the best pepper for what they were going to cook. And suddenly, I found myself 2000 miles and over 60 years away, as a 12-year-old learning how to cook beside Ethel. She taught me so much more than how to cook. She taught me about life.   I remember her taking me to the kitchen and having me look into

Date: 30 th  Sunday in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 18:9-14 Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. I

Have you ever known something needed to be addressed and put it off? Have you ever ignored something that needed your attention? I have. I try not to, but at times I do. I’ve found that my “ignorer” is actually quite strong. But yesterday morning, as I came in from my morning coffee and conversation with my LORD, it hit me.  As I walked into my office, the crazy scene atop the day bed screamed louder than my ignorer could muffle out, “Girl, you gotta do something about that!”

Date: Saturday of the 29 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 13:1-9 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Silo

Yesterday was packed. I had morning medical appointments, and the afternoon was laundry. I finally took at break around 4 on my porch and opened my phone to check for messages. That’s when I noticed the red alert sign – “Freeze Warning.” I thought I had more time to get my plants inside for the winter. I was planning on doing it this weekend with the help of my older grandchildren. Obviously, it was later than I thought.   And so, for the next two hours, my husband and I work

Date: Friday of the 29 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 12:54-59 Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" Why do you not judge fo

As I child, I dreamt of being gifted with a superpower. I felt it was the only way I was ever going to break out of my niche of ordinary or even invisible. Yep, I wanted a cape. As I grew older, I realized that the superpowers of the cinema and comic books were imaginary, but I must admit I still sort of secretly dreamt of what it would be like if only I could be so gifted.   Thankfully, I’m not a done muffin. I continue to learn daily; I continue to let the LORD inform me. A

Date: Thursday of the 29 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 12:49-53 Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against th

As I sat on my porch in prayer yesterday morning, my hands clutching my warm coffee cup (because it was only 40 degrees and the wind was blowing), the sound of a mower caught my attention. And sure enough, a mower appeared at the top of the fairway hill. I watched as the fellow driving it, wearing coat and gloves and hat, drove it in a straight line, turned it, and went the other way. He was mowing the 8 th  fairway. He was clearly hunkered down, on a mission, there was work

Date: Wednesday of the 29 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 12:39-48 Jesus said to his disciples: "Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward

Sister Michael Anthony had a way of getting us youngsters to do the right thing, the nice thing, the thoughtful thing. She had a strategy for telling us when she caught us doing something kind for a classmate or even a younger student; she’d take us aside and say, “Jesus would be so proud of you for what you did.” And the thought that Jesus was watching and that what we did mattered to God, well, it was quite an incentive for future decisions.   These days, I find myself thin

Date: Tuesday of the 29 th  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 12:35-38 Jesus said to his disciples: "Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or t