Author name: Essjay Peatoo

The parable in today’s Gospel (Luke 16:19-31) is one of contrasts, contrasts that should make us feel very uncomfortable and move us to action.  On the one hand we have the rich man whose lifestyle is opulent.   He wears expensive clothes and dines sumptuously with his friends every day.  In sharp contrast there is […]

Solemnity, March 19, 2024 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 have said many times in these Daily Reflections, the Scriptures are not just talking about events that happened long ago, they also are talking about what is happening to us today.  This is, in part, because God inspired the authors, but also in part because human nature has not changed all that much

“Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings,

Today’s Gospel (Luke 9:28-36)), for the Second Sunday of Lent, tells us of the Transfiguration of Jesus.  St. Luke did not write his account in a bubble, far removed the Jewish traditions of his day.  It is not by coincidence that Jesus brought three of his apostles with him into the mountains for His identity

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have heard that it was said: You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to

Thus says the Lord God: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue

(Part Two) Today we continue our Reflection on the story of Nineveh.  Recall that Jonah was sent by God to get the people of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh to repent from their sins.  Recall also that Jonah was not happy when the people of the city responded to his call and actually repented.  He

(Part One) There are many Bible stories that even those who have never read the Bible know.  Or think they know.  Jonah and the whale is one such story. Many seem to be familiar with the hapless Jonah who gets swallowed by a whale, in whose belly he lives for three days. Some might even

The imagery in our first reading (Isaiah 55:10-11) evokes one of the central Lenten themes: Lent is a time to plant the word of God deep within you, to water it, to nurture it and let it fruitful. The word of God never returns to its source void; it achieves the end for which it