Daily Reflections

  Since the Gospels coming from their oral tradition were never intended to have a “camera in their face” style of reporting there is always room to use your imagination and your intuition. We believe that this is how the Holy Spirit actually touches both the writer and the reader of the Gospel and the…

  With a nod toward nostalgia, most of us can remember and appreciate knowing our many relatives. We grew up exchanging and enjoying time spent with our “cousins by the dozens.” As we grew older it was important to know who was related to whom. The underlying point here is that relationships whether they be…

  Have you ever heard the interesting question: “How do you peel an onion?” The answer is: “One layer at a time, and sometimes you cry!” The moral of the question is clarified when we come to a moment of decision at a crossroads with many possibilities in front of us. In the light of…

  Today’s gospel passage is one of the shortest in the entire Lectionary for Mass. And yet, in just a few words, these two verses carry a message of great importance. The crowd, amazed at Jesus’ cures and display of divine power, cry out in praise of his mother: “Blessed is the womb that carried…

  At the center of today’s gospel from St. Luke, we hear the well-known phrase “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Lk 11:23). Jesus poses this reply to his opponents who question the source of his power over demons. “By the power of Beelzebul, the…

  Our gospel passage from St. Luke continues our reflection this week on prayer. Today we read the well-known story of the man who knocks on the door of his friend’s house at midnight to ask to for a loaf of bread for a hungry traveler who has just arrived at his home. Jesus follows…

  It is easy to bypass the opening words of today’s gospel and focus immediately on the famous prayer that Jesus gave us: “Our Father, who art in heaven…” Let’s back up and focus our attention on the very first words of the sentence: “Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had…

  Today, St. Luke presents us with the beautiful account of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha and Mary, a favorite scripture passage for Benedictine monks. In the gospel we hear of Martha, who is distressed because of the heavy burden of serving her guests and of Mary, who sits at the Lord’s feet,…

  Today, Benedictines celebrate the memorial of St. Bruno, an 11th century monk who became the founder of the Carthusian Order. The opening words of St. Luke’s gospel are certainly appropriate for this feast: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Lk 10:25). Born of a wealthy family in Cologne and having received…

  Today’s gospel passage from St. Luke begins with the apostles’ request of Jesus: “Increase our faith” (Lk 17:5). Does their simple petition not capture the deepest longing of our own hearts? Isn’t that our prayer as well? “Lord, increase my faith.” How do we go about increasing our faith? Wait, let’s stop right there!…

  When I first visited Conception Abbey, while I was discerning the possibility of a monastic vocation, the vocation director, Fr. John Sheley, took me out to the cemetery near the monastery and showed me all the graves of the monks. He told me there that this was the goal of monastic life. However, he…

  In today’s gospel Jesus is expressing a deep level of frustration: “Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida!” “As for you Capernaum, ‘will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’” The reason for his frustration is that the residents of these cities have been unresponsive to his message:…

  Back when I was young, one of the biggest movies around was Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extraterrestrial. This movie became one of the biggest movies of all time. One of the reasons the movie became so big is because it purported to answer a question that has always been on humanity’s mind and did…

  In today’s gospel Jesus meets three potential/would-be disciples, and points out potential challenges or pitfalls that each of them faces in their pursuit of discipleship. Since we are all striving to be good disciples of Jesus, it would be good to look at each of these challenges so that we might avoid them. Jesus’…

  In today’s gospel, Jesus resolutely journeys towards Jerusalem, knowing that his day is almost at hand. This means that he goes towards Jerusalem knowing that he will be betrayed there, arrested, tortured, put to death on the cross, and rise again. On his way, his disciples went ahead of him into a Samaritan village…

  The creation of the angels is not recounted explicitly in Chapter 1 of Genesis. However, according to St. Augustine in his book, City of God, book IX, chapter IX, their creation occurs implicitly either in verse 1 with the creation of the earth and heavens, or in verse 3, when God says, “let there…

  One of the more interesting details in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, is that the dogs that come and lick Lazarus’ sores. I was wondering if this was a good thing or a bad thing, so I googled it. According to Google, it can be interpreted either way: either the dogs…

  “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.’ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it. They were afraid to ask him about this saying.” If…

  Today in our responsorial psalm, we hear “Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.” Today is the optional memorial of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, medical doctors who acted out of charity by not charging anyone for their medical services—only bringing those who they served closer to Jesus. In today’s…

  The whole gospel is short and sweet it says: “Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, ‘John has been raised from the dead’; others were saying, ‘Elijah has appeared’; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ But Herod said, ‘John I…

  Today’s gospel reading is summed up in two words: Divine Mercy! “[Jesus] gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Afterwards, and I am paraphrasing, if people are mean to you, shake the dust from…

  Today is the great feast of St. Padre Pio. And the gospel readings today go along with this feast day perfectly! Those who do my will are my mother, brother and sister, says the Lord! Jesus doesn’t shut them out but accepts them also, just as he accepts us if we do his will…

  In our Alleluia verse today, we read, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” At our baptism we are given the baptismal candle to go out and shed light in this darkened world. More recently we can see a lot of darkness and…

  When Abbot Benedict was first elected back in 2016, he said in his first conference to the community, “I choose as my motto from chapter 64 The Election of an Abbot, “The strong have something to strive for, and the weak have nothing to run from.’” In my first one-on-one meeting with Abbot Benedict, I told…

  Conviction On a day like this, I must admit. In private moments and in various circumstances, I have waffled and waned in my ten-plus years as a monk. The romantic feelings have certainly faded, and the honeymoon phase is but a fond memory. My monastic life in Northwest Missouri has been relatively calm and…

  Journey “Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another” (Luke 8:1). Oh, let’s take a walk with Jesus. From town to town, from place to place, we share the love of Christ with our feet and with our face. What are we preaching today? “Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven…

  Lavish In today’s Gospel from St. Luke (7:36-50), we hear of a woman who comes into the house of Simon the Pharisee and shows great repentance and love to Jesus. Forgetting herself and her reputation in the eyes of men, she weeps at Jesus’ feet, kissing them and anointing them. She has no words,…

  Devotion For some reason I have a fondness for this poetic, hymn-like verse in today’s first reading: Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh, Vindicated in the spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed to the Gentiles, Believed in throughout the world, Taken up in glory. Perhaps I like it…

  Manager In today’s reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to Timothy, we hear about the desired traits of bishops and deacons. I’d say the qualities listed for these church officials are desirable for any Christian. What strikes me is the quality of being a good manager of one’s household. As a monk, I don’t…

  Sorrow Yesterday, we celebrated Jesus’ Exaltation on the Cross, which is the focal point of our salvation. Today, however, we turn to his Blessed Mother, who has become our Mother also. For Jesus said from the Cross, “Behold, your mother” (see John 19:27). In my time as a monk at a monastery dedicated to…

  Cross How many times do I cross myself in a day? As a monk, it’s a lot. Some years ago, before I entered the monastery, I was in the house chapel of some contemplative Missionaries of Charity in a poor neighborhood of Washington, DC. Attending early morning Mass before the day’s work of ministry,…

  I would guess that very few people reading this reflection have ever heard of St. John Chrysostom who was born around 470 at Antioch, part of what we call the Holy Land. The Church honors this early teacher and theologian on this his feast day because of his many sermons and practical reflections on…

  Some years ago, there were high school courses which provided high school students with brief but intensive real-life experiences in dealing with physical special needs. This included something as elaborate as a student being assigned to 24 hours of personal care for a life-sized infant doll. This doll just happened to be fully wired…

  No matter what our personality, there are times when we’re called to celebrate and dance with abandon! This “abandon” factor does not mean that we lose control but rather the special meaning of the event or occasion calls for a special celebration of joy. It’s the difference between the short-term exuberance of winning a…

  We can wonder what it was like for St. Paul to be a prisoner in Rome between the years 60-62. Today we would likely refer to him as a political prisoner under house arrest. At any rate, he must have had a certain amount of access to writing materials and visitors. The more important…

  Are you willing to become a lighthouse? Today we commemorate St. Peter Claver who became a lighthouse in his own way in his own time. Born in Spain, he became a Jesuit and was ordained a priest in 1615 in the center of the slave trade flourishing in the Columbian city of Cartagena. He…

  Who is it, who doesn’t like birthdays? The iconic “Happy Birthday Song” can draw even the most reluctant “non-singer” into joining in both the song and the smiles of the moment. Remembering a birthday not only highlights the beginning of life but also the whole package of gifts and significant memories included in that…

  What would it be like to receive a surprise letter from someone you’ve known through the years? Having shared both wonderful and difficult times, you know that this is more than a mere letter. It could be very personal and important thoughts from your friend, thoughts that have matured over time. You would open…

  “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” I find paragraph 4—among many—in St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini, to be a helpful commentary on the above text.   The disciples of Christ, … are asked to avoid any confusion between the celebration of Sunday, which should truly be a way…

  Our Gospel today talks about the contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. It has to do with the plans of God’s heart. Jesus is the supreme prophet, sent by God to reveal to us the marvelous newness of His Father’s love. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is but…