Date: Wednesday of the 33 rd  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 19:11-28 While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So, he said, "A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until

Recently, things have been a bit hectic with lots of surprises, some not as good as others. I must admit, on a scale of overload from 1-10, this past week has felt like a nine. Last evening, as I shared the last two chapters of 1 Corinthians with a group at our parish, I felt both the joy of the scriptures and the regret of knowing the study was over. While there would be no fretting about being prepared next week, there also would be no faith sharing with friends. And it mad

Date: Tuesday of the 33 rd  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 19:1-10 At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was ;but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.  So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place,

Date: Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Scripture Text:   Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Then Jesus stopped and ord

Yesterday was Cookie Day at our parish church. We distributed cookies Saturday after church. I’d lined up four other people to help hand them out. But I hadn’t had a chance to line up help for Sunday’s distribution. When I got to church, I knew I needed to draft volunteers to help me distribute cookies after the Mass. It was the highlight of my day because to the person, everyone I asked said “Yes” without hesitation.   First, I asked a woman who was helping with setting up f

It’s Cookie Day at our parish church this weekend. A couple of we women bake up several batches of cookies, and everyone is offered a cookie as they leave church. As you would guess, it is one of the most popular weekends for children.  But you’d be wrong if you thought it was only the children that look forward to this weekend every year. The adults appear to have broader smiles than usual. And there isn’t the usual dash for the parking lot. Yep, cookie day is a favorite for

Date: 33 rd  Sunday in Ordinary Time Scripture Text: Malachi 3:19-20a Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.         Breaking the text open – background and summary: The first reading for today from the minor prophet Ma

We don’t remember our first steps; however, we know how to walk. We instinctively understand that it involves putting one foot in front of the other and repeating that process until we arrive at our destinations. Are we as instinctive about reaching our ultimate destination? Are we taking all the steps in life we should?   Step 1: Anything worth doing is worth beginning with prayer. Anything worth wanting merits prayer. When we say the prayer our Savior taught us, and we utte

Date: Saturday of the 32 nd  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time, the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true t

November is a month for remembering: All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving. This morning as I went from my porch time with the LORD to this computer, I passed through my family room where a simple box on my coffee table caught my eye. And it made me smile because it brought back so many memories.   My husband and I discovered Door County in the mid-90s. It became one of my favorite places; we made annual trips for decades. On one of our early trips togethe

Date: Friday of the 32 nd  Week in Ordinary Time Scripture Text:   Wisdom 13:1-9 All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan; But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their beauty t

I am old-fashioned. I would prefer to pay cash rather than use a credit card because I feel it is better for the merchants and the staff who depend on tips. But recently, I was told that many get irritated by cash paying customers because our transactions take longer than a simple swipe. However, regardless of modern sentiments, I’m planning on keeping my “pay as I go” habit.  I must admit that it is my universal approach to life. I try to “pay as I go” materially, but also p

Date: Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Scripture Text:   Luke 17:20-25 Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, "The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or, 'There it is.' For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you." Then he said to his disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those w

It was 1998, and it had been a bad day at the office. I left early and went home. It was no surprise that I found myself outside, on my porch, high above the rest of the neighborhood and the world around me. I started to cry, which was unusual for me. And I started to talk to the LORD, telling Him all about it. “Are You there?” I asked.   I’d never asked that before. But that day I felt completely alone. That quickly changed when I asked that question. Immediately my whole be

Date: Memorial of Saint Josaphat Scripture Text:   Wisdom 6:1-11 Hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse! Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples! Because authority was given you by the Lord and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels. Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk accord

Today is Veteran’s Day here in the U.S. It’s a special day at our house. My husband is a veteran. He will be going to the middle school this morning for a special program honoring the veterans. He’s looking forward to it; our grandson who is an 8 th  grader asked his grandpa to participate. And on his way home he’ll be stopping at Kwik Trip for his free sandwich and drink.   We should honor those who have served our country and us. During my lifetime, I’ve known veterans from

Date: Memorial of St. Martin of Tours Scripture Text:   Wisdom 2:23–3:9 God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made them. But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter dest

This weekend, I made a quiche which started with a pie crust. As I was rolling out the dough, I remembered the first time I ever made a pie crust. I taught myself. And I found myself smiling as I whispered to myself, “It’s harder than it looks!”   I found the recipe in my cookbook, and it looked simple enough. But I learned quickly that reading a recipe and actually creating the item are two separate things. It took me some time, perhaps a year, to make a pie crust from scrat

Date: Monday of the 32 nd  Week in Ordinary Time/Memorial of St. Leo the Great Scripture Text:   Wisdom 1:1-7 Love justice, you who judge the earth; think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart; Because he is found by those who test him not, and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him. For perverse counsels separate a man from God, and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy; Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters no

I walked to the kitchen and switched on my coffee maker.  When I turned around and looked out the sliding door to the porch, there it was! Snow. Not a lot of snow, but enough to cover the ground and make the outdoors visible even though the sun hadn’t risen yet. And I must admit that the little girl in me came out. I love snow.   I grew up in the south (Texas for five years and then Georgia for ten years). Snow was something we never had except for that one day. I will always