Author name: Essjay Peatoo

In today’s first reading (Genesis 16:1-12,15-16), Abram, Sarai, and their entourage have been living in Canaan for 10 years.   Sarai is aware of how she has disappointed her husband by not giving him a son.  In keeping with the culture of the time, an infertile wife could offer one of her female slaves to […]

So far this week, our first readings are excerpts from the Book of Genesis introducing us to the relationship that God had with a man named Abram of Ur (Genesis 12-15).  This Chaldean, from one of the great “metropolitan” areas of the ancient world, will become the father of three great faiths:  Judaism, Christianity, and

Apart from Mary and Joseph, John the Baptist is the only saint who has two feasts to himself: One, in August, that celebrates his death; and one, in June, that celebrates his birth. This is as it should be, for as Christ himself said, John was the greatest of the sons of men.  John, it

After a 6-week hiatus, our first readings at Mass return to the Book of Genesis. Today we take up where we left off, after the pre-historical stories of the Creation and the Fall.  Starting today, we begin following the datable history of Israel, starting approximately 1,800-years before Christ was born.  We will hear the stories

Solemnity While today’s Solemnity was not celebrated in the Church until the 13th Century, the reason for the celebration dates back to the very beginnings of our faith, Holy Thursday.    On that occasion, the emphasis was on the institution, the gift of the Eucharist to us as one of Jesus’ last acts before his suffering

Today we come to the final reading from this letter as Paul continues to defend his credentials as an Apostle of Christ to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12:1-10). Paul says: “It is necessary to boast…” He says this though “nothing is to be gained by it”. It doesn’t do any good in itself, but he sees

We academics all have something called a “curriculum vitae” (CV) – a form of resume listing our training, our faculty and administrative appointments, the papers we have written, the grants we have successfully competed for, the honors and prizes we have received. We use a CV to support grant requests, job searches or requests for

It is clear in today’s first reading (2 Corinthians 11:1-11) that Paul is feeling misunderstood in his mission of preaching the good news, frustrated in his attempts to invite us into a personal relationship with Christ, and through Christ, to God.  It is no wonder he is defensive, even sarcastic. Take a moment to think

In today’s first reading (2 Corinthians 9:6-11) Paul continues his exhortation to the Corinthians to be generous. He begins with a kind of proverb: skimpy sowing means skimpy reaping: “…the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” He further adds that each one should make

In today’s gospel story, Jesus tells his disciples to be “unusual”. (Matthew 5:43-48). “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he