There is a Longing

    Jesus asks us the same question he asked Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel, “(Insert your name here), what do you want me to do for you?” We reply, “Master, I want to see.” Yes, Lord, I desire to see where I can help those in need.  Open my eyes to see the dignity of each individual, regardless of their race, religion, political party, etc.  Show me the beauty you’ve created each day, whether the sky is full of sunshine or covered by a canopy of clouds.  Give me the ability to see the world with the eyes of a child, from the tiny caterpillar on the sidewalk to the majestic trees in the forest.  Help me to see the path you have laid out for me and to trust in You to guide me.   Lord, guide me to see the times in my life where I’ve offended you or my loved ones.  Give me the eyes of forgiveness to look past the bitterness and anger I feel toward those who have hurt me.  Grant me the strength and fortitude to see through this trial I’m endur...

In our humanness, we all aspire to greatness on some level.  Children want to be first in line to reach the playground.  Athletes strive for the win in championship games or the gold medal in the Olympics.  Musicians compete with one another for the honor of first chair within their instrument section.  My examples could go on and on! Here in today’s Gospel, we hear James and John vying for places of honor on either side of Jesus.  Once again, Jesus has to admonish his disciples!  He explains that those seats are not for Him to give and asks if they will be able to drink the cup He will drink and endure the baptism He will face.  They say they can, but still do not comprehend His mission.  He was not to rebel against the kingdoms of Earth and be served by others, but to establish a Heavenly Kingdom and serve mankind through His love and mercy.   Jesus lowered Himself to the point of humility, dying a violent death on the cross so that we...

  Mark 10:17-30 In last week’s bulletin reflection, I wrote about keepsakes and how we take extra care of them because they mean something special to us.  By itself, that’s not a bad thing.  However, when we begin to place unhealthy attachments on those possessions, we become distracted from our true calling…our eternal inheritance.   We see this in today’s Gospel.  This man who approached Jesus already kept the commandments and was looking for anything else that might help him on his path to eternal life.  He probably thought Jesus would give him some extra prayers, studies, or tasks to perform.  However, Jesus’ response was NOT what he was expecting.  “Go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor….”   That task was extremely difficult for him to do.  He had formed an attachment to his belongings, placing love of things over love of God.  What he didn’t realize was that, while he would have to give up all his possessio...

Genesis 2:18-24 & Mark 10:2-16 Both the first reading and the Gospel speak to the sanctity of the bonds of marriage and family.  In the first reading, we hear about God creating Eve to be a suitable partner for Adam.  The two become one flesh, man and woman joined together to not only keep one another company, but to procreate and tend to the land.  In the Gospel, once again those Pharisees are trying to trip up Jesus.  His reply is an admonishment to their hardened hearts, reaffirming that marriage is for one man and one woman and that no human can separate what God has joined.   Unfortunately, we have become a throwaway society.  We overbuy food that ends up spoiled and tossed.  Clothing and furniture tears or breaks and rather than repairing them, we throw them out.  We get rid of things in good condition when the newest model is released (game systems, cell phone).  The same applies even to marriages and friendships.  I have...

On May 17, 2024, four pilgrimage routes began in Mississippi, Connecticut, Wisconsin, & California. The purpose was to cross our nation, presenting Jesus to the people of America, & meeting in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress July 17. Along the way, with Jesus present in the monstrance, the perpetual pilgrims made stops at parishes, schools, & prisons. You can read more about the pilgrimage HERE . About 60,000 people gathered at The National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21, to adore our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, attend Mass daily, pray together, & listen to great speakers.  Fr. Mike Schmitz, Monsignor James Shea, Bishop Robert Barron, Jonathan Roumie, Sr. Bethany Madonna, Chris Stefanik, & more shared their great love of our Lord & how much of an impact the Eucharist has had in their lives.  Unfortunately , I couldn't make it to Indiana, but I was able to watch many of the speakers live & on YouTube....

Like their ancestors' flight from Egypt, the crowds followed Our Lord and were led to a deserted place.  Now, instead of fleeing from the Egyptians, perhaps they are seeking freedom from their slavery to the Romans.  In Jesus they have found a refuge amidst political turmoil, mistreatment under the Roman hand, and even disunity among their own people. Yet this refuge is found in a deserted place, not in a fortress or barricade, where provisions are stored.   There is no food and the hour grows late.  But what is there to fear?  As He provided manna for the Israelites in the desert, so too does God now provide food for the hungry crowd.  They have followed Jesus, and now He is almost unwilling to let them go! Neither is He willing to let us go.  We are all invited to follow Our Lord into the desert.  We especially keep this in mind during the season of Lent, but it is true throughout the rest of the liturgical year as well.  The desert might s...

After carrying out their first mission, the Apostles gather again with Jesus to give their reports.  They didn’t just witness miracles, they worked them.  Profound teaching they did not receive, but rather they gave it.  We can imagine what wonder they might have felt.  And now Our Lord has a new mission for them: to follow Him into a deserted place.  Quite a contrast from the awe inspiring journey they have just returned from! Perhaps they were a bit annoyed, when arriving at their destination, they found it crowded with people seeking Jesus’ attention.  Especially if they were looking forward to some rest after their labor, we can almost picture them complaining about it and telling Jesus to dismiss the crowds.  But instead, what is His reaction?  His heart was moved with pity for them .   There is no trouble of ours that does not move His heart.  No sorrow, no pain, no suffering, that He does not feel, and in His infinite l...