Occasional Ramblings
Ultimate Destiny
Holy Saturday Readings: Gen 1:1-2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a; Gen 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ex 14:15-15:1; Is 54: 5-14; Is 55:1-11; Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4; Ezek 36: 16-17a, 18-28; Rom 6: 3-11; Mk 16:1-7. “… so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we, too, might live a new life.” Rom 6:4 The Easter Vigil,... Read More
Up Close and Personal
Good Friday. Readings: Is 52:13-53:12; Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42 “One of the soldiers ran a lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.” Jn 19:34 In his encyclical letter “Rich in Mercy,” Pope John Paul II wrote that the cross of Christ “speaks and never ceases to speak of God the Father, who is absolutely... Read More
Pass it on!
Holy Thursday Readings: Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Rv 1:5-8; When 4:16-21 Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 “As I have done, so you must do.” Jn 13:15 On Holy Thursday we celebrate Christ’s institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. But the main reading is from the Gospel of John,... Read More
Yes or No?
Wednesday of Holy Week Readings: Is 50:4-9; Mt 26:14-25 “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.” Mt 26:24 We’re back at the Last Supper, this time from the Gospel of Matthew, who prefaces his account of the meal with the scene where Judas agrees to hand Jesus over to the high priests for thirty pieces of silver. In Monday’s... Read More
Deliver us from Evil
Tuesday of Holy Week Readings: Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 “Immediately after, Satan entered his heart.” Jn 13:27 Once again we find ourselves reclining at table with Jesus, and once again John’s Gospel provides us with contrasting characters, focusing this time on Judas and Peter at the Last Supper. The passage begins with Jesus suddenly... Read More
An Undivided Heart
Monday of Holy Week Readings: Is 42:1-7; Jn 12:1-11 “… and the house was filled with the ointment’s fragrance.” Jn 12:3 So much in the Gospels comes to us in the context of a meal, and nowhere is this more true or more significant than in Holy Week. Today’s Gospel brings us to a banquet given for Jesus in the little village of Bethany,... Read More
The Bond of Love
“I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator …” (Apostles Creed) Ever notice that in this prayer God is referred to first of all as “Father” and only then as “creator”? There’s a whole teaching here. Pope John Paul II, in Rich in Mercy, explains that God is not just the creator, but “He is also Father,” and He is linked... Read More
7 Secrets of the Eucharist
Greetings & blessings! December 8 has always been a special day to me; first because it’s the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and also because it’s my birthday. This year, Our Lady gave me a surprise birthday gift: my new book, 7 SECRETS OF THE EUCHARIST arrived from the printer several days ahead of schedule. So,... Read More
Divine Mercy and the Fatherhood of God
Greetings & blessings! We’ve reached the end of Lent, and for the next few weeks we will be immersed in a steady succession of activities as we move from one Holy Day to the next: Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and the great octave day of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. With all the remembrances,... Read More
Lord, Open the Doors
In a wonderful book called THE IMPACT OF GOD, Fr. Iain Matthew explains that the Christian agenda, as taught by St. John of the Cross, is “to come to want what God wants.” Simple? Yes. Easy? No. At least not for me. In my better moments, I at least want to want what God wants, but all my other wants, big and small, keep popping... Read More
Fr. Kosicki’s “Happy Thanksgiving”
Greetings & blessings! I’d like to share with you a phrase that could change your life. I’m writing this on Thanksgiving day in front of the Blessed Sacrament, thinking about how appropriate it is that Eucharist means thanksgiving. And it struck me that the greeting “Happy Thanksgiving” is actually a prescription,... Read More
The Heavenly Gaze
I’d like to pass along a gift I received from my son-in-law, Jason Free, just after Christmas. I pray it will bless you as it blessed me. Christmas has passed, and I don’t know about you, but I am wiped out! Presents. Cookies. Last minute shopping. Cooking. Decorating. Cards. Overtired and over stimulated kids. Phew! It’s... Read More
