Sunday, April 10, 2011

Look up when lust comes, 4/11/11




Daniel 13:1-62 (selected texts), Psalm 23, John 8:1-11. Look up when lust comes, 4/11/11.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Credible witness, 4/7/11.




Exodus 32:7-14, Psalm 106, John 5:31-47. Credible witness, 4/7/11.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Whose calling and why? 4/6/11.




Jeremiah 49:8-15, Psalm 145, John 5:17-30. Whose calling and why? 4/6/11.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Return and be healed, 4/1/11.`




Hosea 14:2-10. Psalm 81. Mark 12:28-34. Return and be healed, 4/1/11.

When we listen, 3/31/11.




Jeremiah 7:23-28, Psalm 95, Luke 11:14-23. When we listen 3/31/11.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Evidence of wisdom, 3/30/11




Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Psalm 147, Matthew 5:17-19. Evidence of wisdom 3/30/11.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Go get washed Leper, 3/28/11.




2Kings 5:1-15, Psalm 42, Luke 4:24-30. Go get washed Leper, 3/28/11.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Sacrificial Servant 3/23/11




Jeremiah 18:18-20, Psalm 31, Matthew 20:17-28. Sacrificial Servant 3/23/11.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Offer yourself as sacrifice and servant, 3/22/11.




Isaiah 1:10, 16-20. Psalm 50, Matthew 23:1-12. Offer yourself as sacrifice and servant 3/22/11.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Invitation to pray, 3/17/11




Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25, Psalm 138, Matthew 7:7-12. Invitation to pray, 3/17/11.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Is it time to fast? 3/16/11




Jonah 3:1-10, Psalm 51, Luke 11:29-32. Is it time to fast? 3/16/11.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Lived Word is Fruitful, 3/15/11




Isaiah 55:10-11, Psalm 34, Matthew 6:7-15. Lived word is fruitful, 3/15/11.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Refreshing and right, 3/14/11




Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18, Psalm 19, Matthew 25:31-46. Refreshing and right, 3/14/11.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Take care of the poor if you want God to listen, 3/11/11




Isaiah 58:1-9, Psalm 51, Matthew 9:14-15. Take care of the poor if you want God to listen, 3/11/11.

Obey is the way 3/10/11




Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1, Luke 9:22-25. Obey is the way 3/10/11.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Be reconciled to God-Ash Wednesday 3/9/11




Joel 2:12-18, Psalm 51, 2Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Be reconciled to God-Ash Wednesday 3/9/11.

Give to those you owe, 3/8/11




Tobit 2:9-14. Psalm 112. Mark 12:13-17. Give to those you owe, 3/8/11.

Monday, March 7, 2011

To the death, 3/7/11.




Tobit 1:3, 2:1-8. Psalm 112. Mark 12:1-12. Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs. To the death, 3/7/11.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Jesus cursed it 3/4/11




Sirach 44:1, 9-13. Psalm 149. Mark 11:11-26. Jesus cured it 3/4/11.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Word of the Lord 3/3/11




Sirach 45:15-25. Psalm 33. Mark 10:46-52. The Word of the Lord 3/3/11.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Otherness prayer 3/2/11




Sirach 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17. Psalm 79. Mark 10:32-45. Otherness prayer. 3/2/11

Monday, February 28, 2011

Stuff and Self 3/1/11




Sirach 35:1-12. Psalm 50. Mark 10:28-41. Self and stuff 3/1/11.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Turn and crawl 2/28/11




Sirach 17:20-24. Psalm 32. Mark 10:17-27. Turn and crawl 2/28/11.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

God made us for relationship 2/25/11




Sirach 6:5-17. Psalm 119. Mark 10:1-12. God made us for relationship.

Tree or kindling 2/24/11




Sirach 5:1-8. Psalm 1. Mark 9:41-50. Tree or kindling.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Seek wisdom and live. 2/23/11




Memorial of Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr. Sirach 4:11-19. Psalm 119. Mark 9:38-40.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Shepherd and Head. 2/22/11

1Peter 5:1-4. Psalm 23. Matthew 16:13-19. Shepherd and Head.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Only by Prayer 2/21/11

Sirach 1:1-10. Psalm 93. Mark 9:14-29. Only by prayer

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Complete Surrender 2/18/11

Genesis 11:1-9. Psalm 33. Mark 8:34-9:1. Complete Surrender.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Change your mind 2/17/11




Genesis 9:1-13. Psalm 102. Mark 8:27-33. Jesus' name is thrown around as a defense for every possible position imaginable. His character and true intent are constantly being redefined. Genesis and Mark's gospel teach us who Jesus really is. Jesus fulfills covenant and Jesus is the Christ. If we will make His true nature our study our minds will be changed. The problem, of falsely defining Christ, existed even from the time Jesus walked on the earth. Everyone had an opinion but the opinions missed His true nature and mission. If we will change our minds we will be transformed into His image. Renew and change your mind about who He is and what He wants from you. Change your mind daily.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Progress or Regress? 2/16/11





Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22. Psalm 116. Mark 8:22-26. Church culture has become a couch for us to rest our lazy spiritual lives on. Challenge has been replaced by compromise and sermons, homilies, that used to call us to a deeper relationship and greater responsibility talk about how much we need to do around our buildings. Sad indeed. I know this isn't the case everywhere. The three readings today show a spiritual progression that takes place in the lives of those who are God's children. We are saved by sacrifice, are supposed to fulfill our vows and then continually go to Jesus for better spiritual vision. Are we making progress spiritually?

Monday, February 14, 2011

Avoid contact 2/15/11





Genesis 6:5-8, 7:1-5,10. Psalm 29. Mark 8:14-21. The effects of sin, and sin itself, are seldom talked about. The response of God to sin during Noah's time should show us His disdain for our sin. Jesus raises the bar by asking us to avoid contact with sinful influences. Avoid contact with sin. If in a sin remember God's view of it and repent of it. Avoid contact.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Let it go! 2/14/11





Genesis 4:1-15, 25. Psalm 50. Mark 8:11-13. Resentment rots our spirituality. The story of Cain and Abel is one we can all identify with. Someone will always have more, be better looking, do better work etc. How does that effect us. We should be thankful for their contribution and move on. However, because we are insecure and defensive we let the success of others eat at us sometimes. Cain was no exception. The difference with Cain is that he killed the one he was jealous of. We have got to learn to let resentment go! It eats away at who we are and sooner or later it defines our spiritual walk with the Father. If you are harboring resentment it's time to let it go. It is killing your spiritual life. Don't wait for them, make excuses and continue to pout about it just let it go. Let it go!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Fall in the right direction 2/11/11





Genesis 3:1-8. Psalm 32. Mark 7:31-37. All of us fall in one direction or the other. We either fall into sin or at the feet of God begging for His help when tempted. The Genesis text records the first sin of Adam and Eve and the effects of that sin. The primary effect being a scared relationship with God. They fell in the wrong direction because they trusted themselves. The Psalm text shows the appropriate response to our sin, falling before God. This is falling in the right direction. The gospel text really brings it all home. Mark tells us about a deaf man who was healed by Jesus. The texts encourage us to do one thing which is fall in the right direction. Trusting God rather than self. Falling toward Him rather than away from Him. Fall in the right direction.

Responsible family 2/10/11





Genesis 2:18-25. Psalm 128. Mark 7:24-30. Family is the spiritual training ground for it's members. All of us are responsible to feed and impart faith to our families. It is not enough to simply feed our families we must impart faith to them and take spiritual responsibility for what they are. We are called to be a responsible family feeding and imparting faith to our family members. Are you doing that?

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

We are cultivators 2/9/11





Genesis 2:4-9,15+17. Psalm 104. Mark 7:14-23. The last two podcasts gave us a direction and purpose. We, like creation, came out of chaos into Christ and were given a mission. As we fulfill this mission we are also called to work. Work as a profession and work on the human heart, ours and others. Adam was very blessed to have been given the land and been amazingly blessed by God. The blessing comes with the responsibility to work. Work for God and work for those for whom we are responsible. We are cultivators. The more we cultivate the better the soil becomes. Cultivate cultivator!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Out of Chaos II 2/8/11





Genesis 1:20-2:4. Psalm 8. Mark 7:1-13. In the last podcast we learned the creative power of God. His ability to form the world and our lives out of a formlessness reveals His power. Out of the chaos God created order. Today we will see what role we play with God. God not only takes away chaos He gives us a purpose. God's purpose for us is multiplication. Whether through the family or sharing the message of Christ and the Church we participate with God's mission which is to have more people know Him. Our God is amazing! He takes us out of chaos and gives us form. That form is being His child. Then He shows us our mission as His children. Our mission is to bring more people to Him. Out of chaos God gives us a family and a role to play in that family. Are you fulfilling your role?

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Out of chaos 2/7/11




Genesis 1:1-19. Psalm 104. Mark 6:53-56. Often when we look at the story of creation we focus on what we have figured out about the world's beginnings. This may miss the point. Genesis, though certainly accurate, paints a picture of who God is and who His people are to Him. The creation story and the gospel both point to the fact that God is able to create order out of chaos. He is able to take something formless and void and create a wonderful and functional system. He is also able to take our dysfunctional and chaotic lives and bring order to them. God creates order for a purpose. That purpose is primarily that things would fulfill their God-given function. This can only start if God has first brought peace out of chaos. Is your life chaotic? Do you struggle to find your place? Come to Jesus. He creates order of of chaos.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Consider the outcome 2/4/11







Hebrews 13:1-8. Psalm 27. Mark 6:14-29. Considering how we should act toward people and stuff and may ensure an outcome that would honor God. The three readings call us to radical obedience because we see in the gospel the potential cost of following God's Word in Hebrews. How we treat others should honor God and that can be dangerous. We should also consider being content with what we have. The message of simplicity and contentedness is a Biblical one. Consider how you treat people and stuff. Does it honor God?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Approach God approach people 2/3/11

Podcast...





Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24. Psalm 48. Mark 6:7-13. How we approach God and people demonstrates our respect and honor for both. Israel and Moses didn't have one of the greatest benefits of Jesus' New Covenant namely the ability to approach God. How do we approach God? If we are in Christ we should have confidence to approach Him and live for Him in a manner that honors Him and places our true selves before Him. Jesus used, and uses, people to bring His message of reconciliation to the world. How we deal with people shows how much worth we believe they have. There worth is tremendous because God loves them and Jesus wants to save them. Approach and God and people in the same way prayerfully and personally.

Deep in Scripture Radio Program

I did an interview-radio program with Deep in Scripture a program produced by Coming Home International and distributed by EWTN.
If you would like to listen to the live show you can do so at this link here.

It was done live and I really appreciated what Marcus and I had the opportunity to talk about.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

We are the sacrifice 2/2/11

Listen to the podcast here.





The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Malachi 3:1-4. Psalm 24. Hebrews 2:14-18. Luke 2:22-32. Malachi points forward to the time when Jesus would come to the earth to purify God's people. Though we have explored Hebrews 2:14-18 previously we now see that the purpose of Jesus' coming was to purify us and to call us to be continually purified. Our faith, of greater worth than silver, is refined through offering ourselves to be purified. Sometimes it is purified the same way, through fire and trial. Jesus purified us and by offering ourselves he continues to purify us. We have to offer ourselves for this purification. Will we? Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice allowing us to offer ourselves. Purified and being purified we are the sacrifice!

Interview with Coming Home

I have had several people ask me to post the interview about my conversion.
Here it is from youtube.

He did we should 2/1/11

Listen to the podcast here.


Hebrews 12:1-4. Psalm 22. Mark 5:21-43. Hebrews sets a stage for us to operate on. We are being watched and cheered on by those heroes in the faith that have were profiled in the previous chapter. Now the call of Hebrews is to share with Christ in his perseverance, suffering and final destination. Then the gospel is where the rubber meets the road. Mark shows us that Christ was with and loved the people. He touched them, physically and spiritually. His spiritual life extended beyond quotes and anticipation of the sweet by and by. He lived a life that honored God and drew people closer to Him. Will we live the life required to be who Jesus was? He did it. We should!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Gonna be on TV

I know this is a little late but...

I am going to be on TV tomorrow night talking about my journey to the Catholic Church.

The channel is EWTN, the time is 7 central. It is a program called The Journey Home.

I don't know who reads this blog or listens to the podcasts (which are getting better as I feel more comfortable talking to a little recorder) but check it out.

If you want to comment on the show, my conversion or podcast please do so.

We are Legion 1/31/11

Listen to the podcast here.

Memorial of St. John Bosco, Hebrews 11:32-40. Psalm 31. Mark 5:1-20. Everyone has a hidden sin, personality or habit that needs to be dealt with. The demon possessed man in Mark's gospel teaches us how to deal with those things that keep us from becoming a hero of the faith. The heroes of the faith we read about in Hebrews did not start that way, they all developed over time. We are no different. How do we deal with those things that keep us distant from Jesus? Have we even dealt with them? We are legion. He is Jesus.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Endure small seed 1/28/11

Click here to listen to podcast.


Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the church. Hebrews 10:32-39. Psalm 37. Mark 4:26-34. The persecution of the early church was horrific. The things they went through required a faith that endured through trials and real persecution. The mustard seed was a small seed that through cultivation became a large tree. Such is our faith. Persecution and trial, when coupled with faith in what God has done and will do, cultivate a strong faith. Endurance through those rough times is what separates those who will make it and those who will not. What kind of faith do you have? Would it last if actually tried?

Thursday, January 27, 2011

How do you deal with others? 1/27/11

The new podcast is here.

Hebrews 10:19-25. Psalm 24. Mark 4:21-25. As Jesus invites us into the sanctuary with Him we must reflect on how we treat people. The Hebrew text shows us that we are able to enter into the sanctuary with Christ but also shows us how we are to treat other people as well. The power of what Jesus did to allow us entrance into His presence is priceless. We can help others start their relationship with Jesus by how we treat them. We can also encourage those who are His followers to better works of faith and a deeper relationship with Him. Consider how you treat people.

Monday, January 24, 2011

We are Legion. Podcast.

Listen to the we are Legion podcast here. Most of what I am doing now is on this site. I am doing a daily podcast over the Mass readings Monday through Friday. You can listen to the podcast through the website or on itunes. I recommend, if you have itunes, to listen to it that way.

If this is your first time I recommend going back to the first podcast and listening to it here. This first episode was pretty rough. They have since improved so if you prefer just jump ahead and listen to the podcast respective for the day.

I have a job so I don't get to spend as much time with the publishing side of this so bear with me and my technical weaknesses.

Thanks for stopping by,
Eben

Saturday, January 22, 2011