Today, from Matthew’s Gospel we hear the familiar, “Greatest Commandment” description that Jesus utters to silence the Pharisees. A little background… Take a look at the first reading from Exodus. In that reading you can get a sense of what the Jewish people, of the time, thought the greatest commandment...
The first reading is from the Prophet Isaiah. It is one of the more famous writings of his and it talks about, what St. Thomas Aquinas would have called “The Beatific Vision.” This is the vision of how things will be when the Lord comes again, when the Kingdom of...
Today’s Gospel is all about lack of trust, greed and selfishness, even when it comes to religion and faith. It seems as though anything which can be had will be coveted and anything coveted can be stolen. It seems as though human nature leads us to the temptation of taking...
Friends help friends! We met for a two mile fun walk/run on September 30 at Scotch Ridge Nature Park in Carlisle. The walk began at the Carlisle Middle School and all attending enjoyed live music, food and beverages. The two trails are beautiful. For those who went all the way through to the West end and did not...
It seems as though there are more examples of the second son, from Jesus’ “two sons” parable in today’s Gospel. How many of us are quick to say “yes, I will do the work of the Lord,” but have trouble following through? How many examples are there in the world...
Today’s Gospel is not so much about the seeming injustice of the land owner and how he pays his laborers, it is more about the inflated sense of worth that his laborers seem to have. The underlying issue is, “the longer I work, the more pay I should receive or...
Families staying at the St. Joseph Family Shelter in Des Moines have an ongoing need for transportation to job interviews, doctor appointments, work, etc. You can help by purchasing bus tokens (10 for $17.50) at any Hy-Vee store and bringing them to church by October 22nd. There will be a collection basket in the church entry. The...
I think too often we confuse forgiving with forgetting. The old saying goes, “forgive and forget.” Well “forgive” yes, “forget” not so fast. Let’s put into context the question Peter asks in today’s Gospel, “how often must I forgive?” The Gospel story goes on from there. Jesus, goes on to...
Bring your appetite and a lawn chair! Great food, bonfire, live music by Opus Taylor, delicious pork loin by Dr. Lane, salads, baked beans, chips, and delicious desserts. It is all happening on Saturday, September 16th following the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Free will offering. Face painting, wine tasting, inflatables and...
Communication is something that continues to evolve. Ever since humans began writing on the walls of caves, communication has become more creative, sometimes simpler, sometimes more complex. For generations, communication has continue to evolve, but no matter what form communication takes on or changes into, the same principles apply. There...