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The Good Shepherd Early Italian Christian Painter [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel    John 10:11-18     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.   He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.   He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.   I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,   just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.   And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.   For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I

      Just a quick thought for today . . . Who do you need to forgive, and who do you need to ask for forgiveness? I was praying for a dear friend who, knowing that his death was near, diligently prepared himself for it.  He made amends where necessary. Now that he is gone, I was thinking about him and wondering if he had been able to shorten his time in purgatory because of his careful attention to readiness, here on earth. Hopefully, you don't have the wrong idea about purgatory.  It is simply a state for purification, since entering the "joy of heaven" requires us to be in a state of holiness. It is solid teaching that comes from scripture as well. Here is a great place to learn more about it:  http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a12.htm I thought I would copy the text here for your convenience.  It's a good read!  It comes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY 1030 All who die in God's grace and frien

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    Do you remember in the Book of Exodus, the story about the grumbling  Israelites in the desert? (Exodus, 15) They were upset because they had followed Moses into the desert, only to find themselves in bad circumstances, hungry and feeling like they had journeyed to their death. When Moses turned to God about their situation, God promised to send them ("rain down") bread from heaven, which came in the form of manna. If you jump ahead today to the Gospel of John (Chapter 6), Jesus is telling everyone that HE is the Bread of Life "come down from heaven."  Do you see the connection between the Old Testament (manna) and the New Testament (Jesus)? The manna that the Israelites received would satisfy their hunger temporarily, but Jesus is more than that--if you eat his Body, you will live forever. These scripture passages are Eucharistic, revealing a great deal about who Jesus is and why he was sent by the Father.  During this Easter season, we have some r

Our number-two daughter is still getting radiation therapy for her cancer: and not enjoying the process. Well, of course not. If she sincerely enjoyed nausea, I’d have yet another reason for concern on her behalf. Our son-in-law called today.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A very quick update on my family and health concerns, with an even quicker look at types of prayer.)

      Have you ever worked with someone who seems to have it all together? Or maybe a family member whose confidence you simply cannot match? We need to be careful not to become jealous in these situations, staying confident that we are doing exactly what God wants us to do with the skills he has given us. There is something called "imposter syndrome," which, despite your qualifications and giftedness, can leave you feeling inadequate and interiorly doubting yourself. The term "imposter syndrome" refers to the idea that you think you are a fraud, or "imposter," because of how you feel internally, compared to your external "performance." The sad result of the syndrome is that it might prevent you from doing all you are capable of doing because you are paralyzed by the tension between how you feel and what you do. If this is something you are dealing with, here is a link with more information that you may find helpful: https://www.cro

      I was reading a post from some people who were complaining that milk purchased at my local grocery store was always going bad before its expiration date. I am thinking they are right, because when my milk seemed a little off, I questioned it, but then, noticing it was not expired, assumed my nose must be off. When the idea of "perishing" came up in the Gospel of John (Chapter 6:27), Jesus wasn't talking about milk when he said, "Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life."  Surely, none of us would ever work hard for something that is just going to go away in time, would we?   Well, uh, maybe.  I would suggest that too often we do focus all of our energy on those very things that will not lead us to eternal life. Jesus told the group that the "work of God" (the food that endures for eternal life) is to "believe in the one he sent."  In other words, believe in him.  Jesus knew, as we do,

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      We will soon be entering the season of invitations.  Weddings and graduations will quickly be upon us. Many people struggle with various events, having to decide whether they can attend, or even want to attend.  Should I go?  Must I go?  What if I do? What if I don't? Some of you, however, may be among the defiant. You've made up your mind without so much as giving it a second thought. You're simply not going.  You have your reasons, and you've made your decision.  There's no changing your mind. When it comes to faith, we, too, can fall into either of these two categories.  I was listening to a podcast the other day that talked about the difference between defiance and struggling. Are you defiant against faith, or are you struggling to understand and believe? In matters of faith, it is better to be in the struggle, where you wonder about things and keep the door open to listen. Those who are in defiance--while not necessarily lost--can be harder to r

There's more than sex change and gender theory in the Vatican's new "ethics document": assuming that what hit the fan this week is the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's "Dignitas Infinita", on Human Dignity. "Dignitas Infinita", "Infinite Dignity", runs to a little over 12,600 words in my language. " Dignitas Infinita " on Human Dignity ("Infinite Dignity") Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (April 2, 2024) ( from https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/.../rc_ddf_doc_20240402_dignitas-infinita_en.html (April 10, 2024) ) I'll be taking a very, very quick look at it. But I'll get started with something Pope Francis said a month ago. Pope Francis, Gender Ideology, and Being Human Rules I Live With, and an Explanation New "Ethics Document", Old Ideas "Dignitas Infinita": "Balanced, Challenging" More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Why a new ethics

  What are the difficult questions you need to answer in order to enter Heaven? Do YOU know the answers? To find out, CLICK HERE .

  Una gran reflexión sobre lo que las raíces religiosas dentro de las culturas y sus valores dieron historicamente a los pueblos en términos de progreso, desarrollo y LIBERTAD.  Sobre todo la contribución ,hoy minimizada, de la religión católica a la construcción de la civilización occidental y el capitalismo. Sólo con el cultivo de la LIBERTAD que las culturas cristianas arropan, se pudo dar el grado de progreso que la humnaidad alcanzó. El Prof. Miguel Anxo Bastos, economista español, católico y politólogo, en una entrevista en la Universidad Francisco Marroquín en 2024 .

Supper at Emmaus , c.1629 Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in  the breaking of the bread  (Luke 24:35; Gospel).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel     Luke 24:35-48     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Then [the two disciples] told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them,  “Peace to you!”   But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.   And he said to them,  “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?   See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”   And when he had said this, he showed them his hands a

  It's like a domino effect.  At least that's the way it is laid out by St. Paul in The First Letter to the Corinthians (Chapter 15), for people who deny the resurrection. He preached that Christ was raised from the dead, and if you don't believe that, everything falls apart. No resurrection means empty preaching; empty preaching means empty faith.  No resurrection means false witnesses and the dead not being raised. If the dead are not raised, faith is in vain, and sins have not been conquered. All of this leads to the dead, perishing, which makes us "the most pitiable people of all" if our hope in Christ was for this life only. When I read his words, I thought how sad it would be to think that our earthly life is all there is and that our loved ones have perished. Now, of course, we know that Jesus was raised from the dead, and none of the above is our path, but St. Paul was pointing out how dangerous it is to not believe in the resurrection. St. Pau

    In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Jesus tells us the Father " does not ration his gift of the Spirit." What might that mean for you and me? When I teach about Confirmation, I stress that the Holy Spirit is not parceled out to us, as if we get a little at Baptism, and the rest at Confirmation. No, that is not the case at all. When we are baptized, we fully receive the Holy Spirit, and what a gift this is to us!  One, I think, we under-utilize, for sure. I recently had something come up that probably would have caused me some stress, but because of a renewed sense of the Holy Spirit in my life, I found myself surprisingly un-stressed. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is with you, and fully trusting in that, brings you to a uniquely, blessed place, often of peace. Take some time during this Easter season, as we lead up to Pentecost on May 19th, and reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus gave to us when he ascended into Heaven. Ascension is 40 days after

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Nicodemus, a Jewish leader asks Jesus for some clarification about what it means to be "born from above." Taking Jesus literally, Nicodemus asks, "How can a person once grown old be born again?  Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" Jesus had to correct him because Nicodemus thought Jesus was speaking literally, when he was speaking figuratively. One being "born from above" is not the same as reentering one's mother physically. Interestingly, this is one of those passages that actually affirms the Eucharist, where bread and wine are transformed into the actual body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. How, you ask? Jesus told Nicodemus that he was not speaking literally about being born again, that someone cannot return to his mother's womb. And, when the apostles in Chapter 6, supposed that Jesus must be speaking figuratively when he told them he was giving them &qu

  Oh brother.  I just heard Whoopi Goldberg defend the right to an abortion using the Ten Commandments! ( The View, April 8, 2024) When one of her co-anchors on The View brought up "You shall not kill," Whoopi said that it doesn't hold up in this situation (abortion), because we allow killing in so many other ways, such as the death penalty, wars and the use of guns. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.  The anchors talked about how it's clearly not okay to lie or commit adultery, but then when the question of the Fifth Commandment came up, they rationalized it by saying that we allow killing to happen elsewhere, so you can't really apply that Commandment to abortion. Whaaaat? Apparently, Whoopi, who hopes "no one ever has to have an abortion" supports the right to choose abortion by using the tired old tripe that it is between a woman, her doctor and God. If abortion--intentionally taking an innocent life--is not okay generall

    Today we celebrate the beautiful Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord! This is the day when we ponder the coming of Jesus as he is conceived in the womb of his mother, Mary.  This miraculous conception changed the world and transformed each of our lives as it led to the birth of Jesus. Today might not be Christmas, when Jesus was born and came in the flesh, but it is the beginning of his journey to life, death and resurrection. Key is Mary's Fiat.  Her Yes!  In imitation of Mary, we, too, carry Jesus within us and give birth to him whenever we proclaim his name to all the world. In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, verse 26-38, we hear the good news of the announcement to Mary that she will conceive a child, Jesus. Don't let this day pass you by--no matter which faith tradition you follow--without thanking Mary for accepting this special gift of motherhood. Praise God that we can share in God's creative nature in our human lives, and say Yes! to all life.

      I was watching the television show "The Good Doctor" and one of the characters was shocked to learn, in her adulthood, that her mother was an interesting person.   You see, she had thought of her mother as "just a homemaker" and was shocked to learn that she had a full, adventurous life and had even studied a foreign language. Please allow me to vent. While that all sounds well and good, I really resent that the story line attempted to elevate the mom's "ordinary homemaker" role by tacking on all of these other things about her life. Here's my problem . . . why can't being a homemaker or stay-at-home mom (or dad) be enough?  Can't it be amazing in its own right? Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to moms (and dads) fully enjoying all aspects of their life, but shaping the lives of children, sacrificing for them, being present to them, is equal to, if not greater than, learning a foreign language or having an ad

Next week's total solar eclipse won't be total here in central Minnesota. I'm not terribly disappointed, since the odds are that I couldn't see it anyway. There's rain in the five-day forecast. We need rain a great deal more than I need to see a total eclipse of the sun, so I've got at least two reasons for not being terribly disappointed. Eclipses: Predictable, But Not Locally Frequent Headlines, Religion, and Me NASA's Eclipse Chasers God, This Universe, and "Even Greater Admiration" More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A very quick look at eclipses, the news, and how I see science and religion. Plus an embedded NASA eclipse chasers video.)

The Incredulity of St Thomas Caravaggio [ Web Galleryof Art ] My Lord and my God!  (John 20:28; Gospel) Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel    John 20:19-31     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,  “Peace be with you.”   When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.   Jesus said to them again,  “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”   And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,  “Receive the Holy Spirit.   If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Th

  I was flipping channels the other day and I came across an episode of the old Golden Girls television show. In this episode, one of the characters, Blanche, had to deal with the passing of her father.  At the end of the episode, as she was walking away from his burial site at the cemetery, she said, "I am nobody's little girl anymore." I was reminded of what it is like when your last parent dies.  It sort of makes you feel like an orphan.  But, curiously, my first reaction to Blanche's comment, was to disagree with her. We do not cease being our parents' child, or "little girl," just because they have died. I think it is because so much of who we are comes from our parents, due not simply to genetics, but because of all of the other ways we have developed under them. We continue to carry a part of them with us in our mannerisms, the way we think and process the things of life, and so much more.  I have noticed over the years that vocal in

  "If we are the Body of Christ," my husband pondered, "then we are each like cells in the body, and if the body is a combination of healthy and sick cells, how do unhealthy cells find healing? It's a good question. If you are a disciple who strives to follow Jesus and do what we are supposed to do, what is your responsibility to those who have strayed? What is the treatment?  I was reading in the March, 2024 issue of Columbia (the Knights of Columbus publication) about three families who experienced extraordinary healings. (" If you need a miracle , pg. 22, online) These stories remind us of the power of God to heal, which, in turn, reminds us that God can bring healing and unity to his body when it is broken, fragmented by his children who live as if he doesn't exist. If you have a physical problem, you go to the doctor.  As members of the Body of Christ, when we are in need of healing, we go to the Divine Physician as well.   When following