2026

Just as in the Synoptic Gospels, in the Gospel of John, Jesus three times solemnly prophesies his passion. But the passion predictions in John are unique in that Jesus speaks of his crucifixion as a “lifting up,” alluding to the biblical story of the bronze seraph (serpent) lifted up on a pole. Of all the […]

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he

The stories that lead up to the end of Lent, the gospels, and the beginning of Holy Week, are really some of the best stories, not only from the gospel, not only from the Bible, but are well known throughout the secular world. One reason is the great skill of the author, St. John the

Today (John 7:40-53) we see very mixed responses to Jesus’ message.  Some people grumble that the Messiah is supposed to come from Bethlehem, yet this Jesus is speaking to us in Galilee.  Is he, then, just a prophet?  Or is he a con man, a deceiver?  The Pharisees think that anyone gullible enough to believe

Today’s Old Testament reading (Wisdom 2:1, 12-22) is a passage that describes life as seen by the godless.  We erroneously feel that if we are good and virtuous, people will be inspired to follow and imitate our good example. Experience tells us that the opposite frequently is true.   The narrative applies perfectly to Jesus

Solemnity, March 19, 2026 Several years ago, I came across the following reflection on St. Joseph by Fr. Francis Peffley.  Each section is based on the six letters in Joseph’s name: Joseph the Just Man St. John Paul II, in his apostolic exhortation “The Guardian of the Redeemer,” calls Joseph the just man. What does that mean?

As I approach today’s Gospel reading (John 5:17-30), I am reminded of the story about a man sitting beside a campfire while he roasts some kind of bird over the fire with eager anticipation.  About this time, a forest ranger comes along and asks the camper what he is preparing for dinner.  The camper replies

In today’s Gospel (John 5:1-16), we have a man with some unknown illness hoping to get into the “Bethesda” pool near the Sheep Gate into the city of Jerusalem.  This guy wasn’t just looking for a nice dip in the pool, though.  This pool was a center for healing.  Pilgrims to the pool waited for

As strange as it may seem, today’s readings remind us that Lent, while a season of prayer, penance, and almsgiving, also is a season that is filled with joy. Today, Isaiah speaks of a coming Utopia, a totally new world full of joy and gladness (Isaiah 65:17-21). It is a world without pain or sadness,

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, named after the entrance antiphon for today: Laetare Jerusalem et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam; gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis, ut exsultetis et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. Psalm: Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. Rejoice, Jerusalem,