Reflections

“I remember … how you loved me as a bride.” Early in her history, Israel enjoyed a close and cordial relationship with the Lord, who is often described figuratively as Israel’s husband. Hosea loves to use this image. But it was a love that did not last and later was transferred to “foreign gods”.  In […]

The woman we remember in today’s feast has had so much imposed upon her since she was first introduced to us in the pages of scripture, that it is difficult to untangle the things that we really know of her, from the things that have been assumed, that have been conflated with others and with

Have you ever looked back at your life?  How does it appear to you – as a success, or as a failure? In the last chapter of the prophet Micah, we see Micah reflect on the entirety of his ministry in Judah. Micah saw the reign of three kings, one of whom was lukewarm; one

The prophet Micah, featured in the last few days’ Old Testament readings, is one of the twelve minor prophets whose books appear in the Old Testament.  Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea.   He prophesied during the momentous years surrounding the tragic fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire (722 BC), an event

Today we have a continuation of last Sunday’s Gospel reading on the parables describing the Kingdom. Matthew, in these parables, speaks consistently of the “kingdom of heaven” and it could be, for some people, a misleading phrase because it seems to refer to the afterlife, a future existence. On many occasions, I have stated that

The prophet Micah, featured in today’s first reading (Micah 2:1‑5), is one of the twelve minor prophets whose books appear in the Old Testament.  Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea.   He prophesied during the momentous years surrounding the tragic fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire (722 BC), an event he also

The individual who is not interested in the well-being of his fellow man has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.  It is when we are not interested in others that can be the source of our own failure

July 16 Carmelmeans “vineyard,” “orchard,” or “garden” and reflects the fertile beauty of Mount Carmel’s picturesque slopes. The mountainous ridge starts on the Mediterranean coast in the northwest part of Israel, at the south shore of the Bay of Acre. From there, the range runs southeast down to the plain of Dothan. Running along the

Like most of Isaiah, the excerpt used for today (Isaiah 10:5‑7, 13‑16) makes more sense (at least to me) when I read the whole chapter. It is the time of the Assyrian invasion of the southern kingdom of Judah. The “he” the Lord refers to is the Assyrian king. The Lord has sent/allowed the Assyrians

ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA1656 to 17 April 1680Feast Day 14 July (US) or 17 April (Canada) Kateri Tekakwitha is called the Lily of the Mohawks. Her name Tekakwitha means “putting things in order.” Indeed, she did put her life in order in a short time. Kateri was a Mohawk Indian born in Ossemenon, what is now