Category: past Deacon Mike’s Weekly Reflections

He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.” Today’s gospel story of the Prodigal Son Read More …

God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” In the first reading from the Book of Exodus, Moses seems to be having an ordinary day – taking care Read More …

While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah…      “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.” Just Read More …

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. Today we hear from St. Luke’s account of Jesus’s Temptation in the Read More …

Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested. (Sir27:7) Our first reading invites us to reflect on how speech reveals the nature of our heart.  The connection of the lips with the heart can be found elsewhere in Read More …

To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  This seems like a “hard” saying and in stark contrast to the words of Abishai to David Read More …

Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Perhaps when we read Jesus’s opening to the Beatitudes, we may focus on the financially poor. Do you think Jesus is telling us to be without money Read More …

We read in today’s first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah when he encounters the thrice holy God: Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean Read More …

We read in today’s first reading that Jeremiah received his calling to be a prophet from the Lord. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations Read More …

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Some translations use the phrase “a year of favor” Read More …