As we begin another season of Lent, our readings speak powerfully about temptation.  But, I’d like to first call your attention to the beginning of today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis where we hear a beautiful story of our creation.  Using three very touching images, we hear about God forming us out of the clay of the ground, breathing life into us and placing us into his lush, fruitful garden.  It’s a very endearing account.  We are invited to see God, the almighty creator of the universe, bend […]

“Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”  “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Today’s readings, which present sermons from both Moses and our Lord, are very challenging, aren’t they?  The law of our land seems so often to be an expression of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” – but we hear our Lord, Jesus, tell us that this is not good enough.  He calls us to take no revenge and cherish no grudge against anyone.  We hear Moses […]

“If you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.”  Of course, fire burns and destroys; water gives life.  Using this very powerful imagery, we hear Sirach in today’s first reading instruct the people of Israel – and us – to trust in God and keep his commandments, for they – and we – will be saved by doing so.  Before us are life and death, good and evil, Sirach says.  Whichever we choose shall […]

As you can tell from the color of my face, I just returned last night from my annual winter get-away, much needed after the busy Christmas season here at our wonderful, very active parish.  While I was enjoying the sun at the beach in San Martin, I read a new biography of our patron saint, Catherine of Siena.  It’s an excellent, critically-written work by Don Brophy, a former editor of the Paulist Press.  I highly recommend it.  In it, you will read about the many metaphors that St. Catherine used […]