Fr. Bob’s Weekly Reflections

They were behind closed doors out of fear. Fear of what? Several things. They were afraid that those responsible for the death of Jesus might hunt them down, afraid of public ridicule.

Sadly for many, celebrating Easter Sunday this year is unlike anything we’ve ever known.  This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, communities cannot gather together for Holy Mass.

Today for Catholics and Christians around the world we start the holiest week of the year, Palm Sunday. The week starts from Sunday to Saturday.

Have you ever been in a hospital waiting room? Waiting for news from the doctor and hoping for a miracle; while praying your heart out and making promises to God?

Last week’s gospel about the woman at the well has a lot in common with today’s gospel on the man born blind. First, in both cases, Jesus takes the initiative….He reaches out first.

In the Broadway show “Les Miserables” Fantine sings a sad song…it is a lament for her lost youth, lost beauty, and lost innocence she sings.

There is so much contained in our gospel today we could spend the whole day discussing it. So I would like to concentrate on a single word spoken by God the Father to Peter, James and John

It’s the first Sunday in Lent and I should be writing a homily about Christ’s temptation in the desert. But as I look around and listen, I feel that much of our world and country are in the desert.

The saying from our gospel that we all know so well, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. It is a command that has often been used to justify our brutality.

The gospel today contains a rubric for the Eucharist. Rubrics are directions in the official book that we use for mass. They are printed in red ink.