Shawn The Baptist - Sunday Scriptures

Peculiar, Holy, and Perfect

Praying over the scriptures today, I began wondering about what was meant by saying that we a people that God has made "peculiarly" his own. A little research and some dusting off of my Hebrew and Greek led me to some interesting insights into God's plan for our life. We are called to be not only peculiar, but holy, and perfect. That idea of being perfect is often troubling. Yet, if we look at the Greek word that underlies the English we can see how wonderful this call is and also why it makes sense that we have to love our enemies as the Gospel indicates.

The spiritual life develops similar to an Olympic athlete. You don't start with 8 flips and 5 twists skiing downhill. You start small.

Overcoming Spiritual Desolation with St. Ignatius

Many people speak of the great joy they find in their relationship with God. You can see how alive they are with the Spirit. This is a truly beautiful gift from God. However, have you ever felt like God seemed distant, your prayer dry, with no love for the things of God? Sadly, many of us can relate more with the second category than the first. Yet, St. Ignatius of Loyola has some really encouraging news for those who find themselves in this group. He assures us that we all will at times experience this state which he calls spiritual desolation, and it doesn't mean that we've done anything wrong or that God really is absent. Today's homily shares some of the wisdom from St. Ignatius for what to do in desolation, how to overcome it, and how to grow in our faith.

We're On a Mission from God

God tells us today through the prophet Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." John Henry Cardinal Newman reminds us that this means we all have a special mission from God that is given to no other. It would be a great tragedy if we went through life without ever knowing our mission. The recent anniversary of the legalization of abortion in this country is also a tragedy that becomes even greater when you think about all the unique missions that have been lost. A commercial that is set to be shown during the Superbowl this year is creating some interesting controversy in this area. This week's homily explores the unique mission given to each of us and our reasons to have hope for the future.

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

Atop the Washington Monument, the highest stone in the entire city bears the simple message, Laus Deo, "Praise be to God."

Monday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

Rather than focus on one historical event such as Christmas or Easter, this season calls us to journey with Jesus though his public ministry.

Friday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time

Monday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time