Readings: Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53 Preacher: Sr. Catherine Kanick, SSJ “I have come to set the world on fire.” Some years back at Nazareth College, one of my religious studies professors emphasized, often, that the message of the gospels stays just as applicable today as they did centuries ago. So, what is the meaning of Jesus’… read more →

Readings: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Luke 9:28b-36 Preacher: Michael Stanley Today’s Gospel reading from Luke recounting the glorious Transfiguration of Jesus on top of Mt. Tabor before a trilogy of disciples has held a very special, pivotal and meaningful place in my life. Jesus appeared in dazzling glory with Moses and Elijah before Peter, James, and John as a… read more →

Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12: 13-21 Preacher: Theresa Stanley Isn’t it curious that during this season of summer leisure for many of us, when many spend time at summer cottages, family reunions, picnics, and various travel experiences, that our Sunday readings remind us of our death, the inheritance that we receive and all that we must… read more →

Readings: Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13 Preacher: Fr. Paul English In 1987, I went in search of cousins in Ireland. I met some who immediately invited me to stay. They were wonderfully hospitable to this unplanned guest with the same last name. One day Patrick, the dad, took me to a sheep sale. He saw a few “hoggets” he… read more →

Readings: Genesis 18:1-10a; Colossians 1: 24-28; Luke 10: 38-42 Preacher: Nora Bradbury Haehl For me this Gospel reading is personal. It’s personal not only because I’m a little sister as well as a big sister (number 5 out of 7 girls), but also because I know what it feels like to want an equal place and have someone else say,… read more →

Readings: Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37 Preacher: Sheryl Zabel Today we hear once again the famous parable of the “Good Samaritan,” as we recall how shocking it must have been to Jesus’ first hearers. The one who was a true neighbor was the Samaritan—at a time when the Jewish people and the Samaritans had little love for one another.… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14c; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 Preacher: Sr. Grace Miller “The harvest is rich but the laborers are few, therefore, ask the harvest-master to send workers into his harvest.” Immediately, what comes to my mind are the words of Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, who urged her Sisters to, “Go out quickly into the… read more →

Readings: 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; Luke 9: 51-62 Preacher: Lourdes Perez-Albuerne Today’s reading from the Book of Kings and the passage from Luke’s gospel talk about the call that every human being receives and the conditions that are required to respond to that call. Every one of us receives that call, which we refer to as “our… read more →

Readings: Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1; Galatians 3:26-29; Luke 9:18-24 Preacher: Alice Miller Nation I recently read a story…it went something like this: In a Spanish newspaper, there was an article about a teen aged boy and his very wealthy father. They had a falling out and the young man ran away from home. The father was crushed. After a few days,… read more →

Readings: 2 Samuel 12:7-10,13; Galatians 2:16, 19-21; Luke 7: 36-8:3 Preacher: Rose Marie Lombard This Gospel story, found only in Luke, is a perfect example of what we Christians have come to know—that the world’s message, the world’s ways, are often the direct opposite of God’s message, and God’s kingdom. This is a story of contrasts. One contrast is the… read more →