July 2025

Yesterday’s Old Testament reading took us to the end of the story of Abraham (Genesis 23:1-4; 19; 24:1-8; 62-67). As the reading opens, we learn that Abraham’s wife Sarah has died at Hebron.  She was 127 years old. Abraham is plunged into mourning for his wife.  Leaving her bedside, he goes to the Hittites who […]

July 4, 2025 Today, we in the United States celebrate the 249th anniversary of our independence to enjoy freedoms that few countries in the world get to enjoy.  Today we have the opportunity to reflect on our freedom and the costs we have paid to have that freedom. I still remember vividly my first visit, with

Today I am going to take some time to catch us up on the Gospel readings that we have been neglecting this week.  In Tuesday’s short Gospel (Matthew 8:23-27), we heard the story of Jesus calming the storm while he and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee. Their destination was a place known

I find the first reading for today (Genesis 21:5, 8-20) somewhat disturbing.  It details how the animosity between the offspring of Ishmael, Abraham’s first son, born of the slave Hagar (the Arabs), and the offspring of Isaac, Abraham’s second son, born of his elderly wife Sarah (the Israelites), came about.  That animosity continues to this

Part II Today’s first reading (Genesis 19:15-129) is the familiar story of the destruction of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as a punishment for their terrible immorality. Omitted is the scene when the two men, who are now being called angels, and who represent God’s own presence, are offered hospitality in Lot’s house.