Jesus’ disciples were enamored with the brilliance and beauty of the temple’s architecture and liturgy. They noticed how expensive the edifice must have been to construct and maintain. The “costly stones” adorned the place and the “votive offerings” attested to the people’s dedication to the holy site. Who wouldn’t have…

Today’s liturgical Gospel reading comes from Luke 21:1–4. Jesus looks at the people in the temple putting their donations into the collection, and he sees an impoverished widow giving her last two small coins. He looks at her and announces, “This poor widow put in more put in more than…

Today’s liturgical Gospel reading comes from Luke 17:20–25. Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ …

“When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” The Gospel reading for Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time comes from Luke 17:7–10. This passage is usually applied to Jesus being the master and…

“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite poor people, people who cannot walk, and people who are blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Today’s gospel comes from Luke 14:12–14, and it builds…

Luke 13:18–21. “Jesus said, ‘What is the Kingdom of God like?’” Romans 8:18–25. “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” There are two categories of Halloween costumes. One is the kind where you can tell immediately…

October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, and today’s Gospel reading comes from Luke 9: 57–62. “As Jesus and his disciples travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ …

Jesus’ disciples are angry that a Samaritan village refuses to welcome Jesus (and them). So, James and John ask Jesus if he wants them to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans. Luke 9:51–56. “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”…

“As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The…