Today’s gospel from Mark stretches us to consider the ways in which we might “defile” the Lord—the things we do, or fail to do, (sins of commission and omission) that separate our lives from the life of discipleship. In chapter 7 the Pharisees and Scribes seem to be worried about why some of Jesus’ followers do not honor the traditions of the elders—specifically the washing of hands prior to the eating of meals. This concern seems to have the Pharisees and Scribes upset and so they confront Jesus and ask Him why He tolerates this.

We are finalizing our design for the new Stations of the Cross. They will form a journey of the Way of the Cross around our church, beginning at the flags near the rear wall and the windows and follow along to the break of the Church, across the front of the rear pews and over to theReconciliation Room. The Stations will be made of stone, approximately 38” high and having a depiction of the Station on the top.

Have you ever wanted to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France, to receive a blessing , a potential healing, to pray with others and experience the power of prayer, the celebration of an outdoor Mass, the blessing of the sick, and Exposition of the Holy Eucharist…but just can’t make it to France?

We hear of concerns by John for the Jew’s “disbelief” of Christ’s divinity and equality to God. John speaks of the Jews as not believing in this key element of Christianity but we must be careful not to condemn “all Jews in all times.” After all, many knew Jesus and His parents…wasn’t He just another ordinary Jew?

Christ is all about our healing—and nothing is more important to God then the healing of our soul and the creation of a right relationship between us and the Father, so that we may be with Him forever in the Kingdom. The Sacrament of Reconciliation— or Confession in today’s culture— might be considered the least “used” Sacrament of the Catholic Church...

What’s our role in the Effects of God’s Mercy? That’s the question we need to deal with as individual followers of Christ as well as a parish or institutional church. The readings are all about “those people” –whom faithful Sunday Mass attendees might think of as unchurched—even unworthy—especially at Christmas and Easter time. Here is the irony: throughout the whole liturgical year, especially in the summer season, some Catholics including “me, myself and I” might wonder where have they all gone?