Posted by Carol Johnson on 10/13/25
In this Sunday’s Gospel, St. Luke tells us that ten lepers go out to meet the Lord. The group of lepers maintains a distance from the Lord. In Israel at the time, leprosy socially excluded those who suffered from it. The only way these ten lepers can "draw near" ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 10/05/25
The request the Apostles make to the Lord in today's Gospel, "Increase our faith," is a beautiful prayer. The Lord's response is surprising, turning the request on its head. He says, "If only you had faith." The Lord is the one who asks the Apostles to have faith. He ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 9/29/25
This Sunday's Gospel teaches us the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The lives of these two characters could not be more different. The poor character is a degraded man who finds himself in a desperate situation, without the strength to even get up. He is covered in ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 9/22/25
This Sunday's Gospel contains the parable of the dishonest steward. When the steward's master is informed about the steward's misuse of his property, he calls him and asks for a full report on his stewardship because he will soon be removed from his position. God is the master in ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 9/14/25
The recently canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati lived in Italy at the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, people had to choose between being a good Italian or a Catholic. People who made the Sign of the Cross were called morons. St. Pier Giorgio Frassati had the ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 9/07/25
If you think about it in modern terms, the Lord was one of the biggest "influencers" of His time in Israel, due to His significant credibility and substantial audience. Every time He performed a miracle, more people approached Him and wanted to follow Him. In this Sunday's Gospel, we ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 9/01/25
It's no wonder the Lord is the best event planner. Today’s Gospel from St. Luke describes an occasion when the Lord dined at the home of a leading Pharisee. As they always did, the Pharisees observed everything the Lord said and did at dinner. But, as the Lord always ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 8/24/25
As a child, I would occasionally see homeless people in my hometown. Many had mental problems. As children, they can frighten us. I vividly remember watching from my elementary school playground as a homeless man tried to get into a house. The door was narrow, and he could not ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 8/18/25
Anna Maria was the eldest daughter of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She had a short life, 17 years. Like her father, Anna Maria died of tuberculosis. Of St. Elizabeth Ann’s five children, Anna Maria was one of the two who died in her lifetime. Anna Maria learned to love ... Read More »
Posted by Carol Johnson on 8/18/25
The first reading from the First Book of Chronicles (vigil Mass) tells us about the entry of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. This occurred during the time of King David (10th century BC). It was a spectacular celebration. The Ark had been built in the desert approximately ... Read More »