We Must Choose, So Choose Wisely Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield The Feast of Christ the King Revelation 1:5-8 Christians in the late first century faced persec...
Rumors of Jesus’ Retirement False Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfeild 33nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Hebrews 10:11-14,18 Christians often think that God raised ...
Through God’s Eyes Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 32st Sunday in Ordinary Time Hebrews 9:24-28 When I was three, I ran away from home. Well, I walked fou...
Believing In Jesus Is Believing In Ourselves Thoughts on the Second Reading by Joe Frankenfield The Feast of All Saints 1 John 3:1-3 “Hey, look; I’m no saint. What do y...
Who Gives To Whom: Keeping It Straight Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Hebrews 5:1-6 Sacrifice was central to Jewish faith in Jesus...
Wanted: A Bigger God Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Hebrews 4:14-16 I didn’t get to Mass last Sunday. Johnny was sick and I was up...
Wanting God’s Will (Generally) Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Hebrews 4:12-13 “Be careful about what you wish for,” my uncle...
Thoughts on the Second Readings 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Joe Frankenfield Hebrews 2:9-11 Brothers and sisters: He “for a little while” was made “lower than...
Hope’s Execution Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time James 5:1-6 I learned in grade school that Catholics say confusing things. F...
Weighing the Cost of Winning Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankfield 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time James 3:16 – 4:3 Two weeks ago, during president Obama’s address to cong...
Praying Love Alive Thoughts on the Second Readings 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Joe Frankenfield James 2:14-18 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has f...
A Faith For Others Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time James 2: 1-5 Watching small children play soccer is great fun. They swarm. The b...
A Faith Lived Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 Ted Kennedy’s death this week reminds us of the good one per...
Unfolding Revelation Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Ephesians 5:21-32 Once every year, when I was growing up, the pastor at Mass w...
Called To Get On With It Thoughts on the Second Readings by Joe Frankenfield 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ephesians 5:14-20 The-world-is-going-to-hell-in-a-hand-basket conversation...
Imitating God: Finding Ourselves Thoughts on the Second Readings by J. Frankenfield 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ephesians 4:30-5:2 Normally we’d dismiss someone who suggested that...
Looking Deeper: Finding God Thoughts on the Second Readings by J. Frankenfield 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 “I wish I knew that what I’m doing made a differen...
The Eucharist’s Union Thoughts on the Second Readings by J. Frankenfield 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ephesians 2:13-18 For years I’ve watched children come to the altar for ...
Practical Mystics Thoughts on the Second Readings by J. Frankenfield 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ephesians 1:3-14 “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; I’m tired of hearing about Jesus,” a young ...
The Risk of Faith Thoughts on the Second Readings by J. Frankenfield 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 A while back I attended a children’s piano recital. The kids...
On God’s Ground Floor Thoughts on the Second Readings by J. Frankenfield 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15 Parents and teachers of small children have ta...
Jb 38:1, 8-11 2 Cor 5:14-17 Mk 4:35-41 The readings from Sunday June 21, remind me of the stories of people who have asked me to pray for a miracle for them as they dealt with the ...
Ex 24:3-8 Heb 9:11-15 Mk 14:12-16, 22-26 Memories have flooded me this past week as I thought about the readings for Sunday June 14th. I kept seeing the various meal tables that I ...
Dt 4:32-34, 39-40 Rom 8:14-17 Mt 28:16-20 When I was in college I had an opportunity to be an intern in South Chicago as a community organizer. I was green behind the ears and had ...
Acts 2:1-11 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 Jn 20:19-23 Although I have never lived in a geographic area that is prone to earth quakes I find myself quite curious about the mile distance from...
Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26 1 Jn 4:11-16 Jn 17:11b-19 I have somehow got on several unsolicited groups that champion justice issues and stores. So when I open my email I am overwhelm...
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 1 Jn 4:7-10 Jn 15:9-17 When I lived in northern Japan about thirty years ago, it was not unusual for an unknown person to see me having lunch with anoth...
Acts 4:8-12 1 Jn 3:1-2 Jn 10:11-18 This past week provided for me a variety of different experiences. The first part of the week I worked, prepared for a colonoscopy, had the colon...
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
1 Jn 2:1-5a Lk 24:35-48 A few weeks ago an email came to me. It said, “You have got to watch this, it gave me goose bumps!” love Anne. So despite th...
Jer 31:31-34 Heb 5:7-9 Jn 12:20-33 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.&#...
Holy Week and Easter Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Col 3:1-4 or I Cor 5:6b-8 Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7 or Lk 24:13-35 Beginning with the readings on Palm Sunday up until today Easter Sunday I ha...
Jer 31:31-34 Heb 5:7-9 Jn 12:20-33 I have had the opportunity to move a number of times in my life, both geographically and from one job to another. One of my greatest fears about ...
Eph 2:4-10 Rom 8:31b-34 Jn 3:14-21 Two weeks ago, I spent time with a dear friend and with her mother. Her mother had been placed on hospice a week and a half before our visit. Ann...
Ex 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17 1 Cor 1:22-25 Jn 2:13-25 As I read and heard the readings for the Sunday March 15th, I wondered, “What difference has Lent made in my life th...
Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 Rom 8:31b-34 Mk 9:2-10 The other day I glanced over to a young woman with Down Syndrome who had the very best smile on her face as she danced to the mus...
Gn 9:8-15 Mk 1:12-15 My beloved black lab Hannah has taken on a new pattern since we moved to the Southwest. She has decided that there is nothing better than rolling full body on ...
Gospel of Mark 2:1-12 In the last couple of weeks my professional work has entered my personal life. I have had two young girls with whom I have spent time die, one was 12 and the ...
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1 Mark 1:40-45 Just yesterday I entered the room of a patient wearing a canary yellow gown, latex free gloves, and a mask over my nose and m...
Job 7:1-4, 6-7 1 Cor. 9:16-19, 22-23 Mark 1:29-39 This week a woman named Ann, who worked in the administration of our hospital died. Ann had worked about 25 years for this hospita...
Deut. 18:15-20 1 Cor. 7:32-35 Mark 1:21-28 My schedule has been very full lately; all good things with interesting people. In fact it seems as though there is no lack of good thing...
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1 Cor. 7:29-31 Mark 1:12-20 I recently heard a friend tell a story about a morning she spent cleaning fish that had been given to her family as a gift. She connecte...
Isaiah: 55:1-11 Last Sunday I finished my all night call, which begins at 4:30PM the previous day and ends the next morning at 8:00AM, I was hungry. I planned to go to 9:30 liturgy...
  On Sunday January 4th we celebrate Epiphany. Yearly I wonder what it was like for the three kings to 1)follow a star to find Jesus and 2)to make this extraordinary trip base...