Sunday Soundbites

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle ASeptember 24, 2023 I once heard a quotation, and I’m sorry I don’t remember its source. But it went: “To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair, and …

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle ASeptember 17, 2023 Today’s Gospel story is a favorite of mine. It’s a parable about forgiveness, but what I like is Peter’s question to Christ before the parable. You remember the question I’m sure: …

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle ASeptember 10, 2023 Belonging to a religious order is like belonging to a family. We Franciscans try to treat each other in the same fashion—as family. And that goes for tough times as well …

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle ASeptember 3, 2023 A Franciscan story tells how St. Francis was about to send some of his brothers to preach in a hostile, pagan land. Everyone expected them to suffer martyrdom, and so those …

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle AAugust 27, 2023 This Sunday’s readings have a common element—Davidic keys as a symbol of authority. The reading from Isaiah narrates that Eliakim is in the line of David and that he will be …

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle AAugust 20, 2023 What’s behind a story? Specifically, what’s behind today’s Gospel story? There Jesus meets a Gentile mother who pleads for an exorcism for her daughter. Surprisingly, Jesus says that his mission is …