Christ: A King Without Airs Thoughts on the First Readings -by Joe Frankenfield The Feast of Christ the King Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Americans have never been big on kings. There a...
We Long For A Life Of Intgrity Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 “It worked fine then; it wouldn’t now. ...
The Feel For The Faith Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 6: 12-16 “He said that I’ve got no feel for the game and I’ll never be a...
With God For All Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10 A professor once told me that the most important word in the O...
We’re In It Together Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 22:20-26 People who study moral behavior note that the ability to pl...
Don’t Lay It On God Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 One morning after Mass a young woman told me of her recent ...
Gift Of Faith: Gift Of Freedom Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 28nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 25:6-10 There are times when we ask what God wants us to do; the...
Sharing The Gift Of Hope Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 27nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 5:1-7 A co-worker I once knew told me that only someone who believes i...
Imagine Loving Thoughts on the First Readings – Joe Frankenfield 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 22:20-26 People who study moral behavior note that the ability to place o...
Dancing With God To Life Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:6-9 My wife and I once attended an evening’s entertainment at Centr...
Faith: The Most Basic Vision Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sirach 27:30 – 28:7 Recently a motor scooter rider and I got into a...
The Practical Needs the Holy Needs the Practical Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Ezekiel 33:7-9 One very sloppy winter afternoon a stu...
Religious Freedom: Christian and Necessary Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 20:7-9 America has a civic axiom: never mix politi...
A Morality of Promise – Not Of Threats Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 22: 19-23 Many Catholics can remember a time when ...
Not My, Not Our; Everybody’s Religion Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 When I was in grade school, there was a p...
The Goal: To Love As God Loves Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 19: 9a, 11-13a There’s a revealing incident in Elijah’s life th...
Grunting Isn’t An Act Of Faith Thoughts on the First Readings – Joe Frankenfield 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:1-3 Many years ago a friend of mine desperately ...
A Faith In Common Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 One of my childhood memories is my brothers and sister and I savin...
Jesus: Revealing God Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 We commonly talk as though we know lots about God. We pretend...
Seek the Language of Today’s Faith Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:10-11 There’s a common sentiment that life is too c...
Step One: Decide What’s Real Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Zechariah 9: 9-10 “Your hopes and dreams will color everything you ...
Searching For The Common Faith Thoughts on the First Readings – Joe Frankenfield Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a This week’s scripture is par...
Searching For God We Find Ourselves Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Feast of the Holy Trinity Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 William James, the 19th century philosopher and p...
Saving Salvation Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Pentecost Sunday Joel 3:1-5 The religious idea of salvation originated among people with an intense need for chang...
Saved – But From What Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Ascension Sunday (7th Sunday of Easter) Acts 1:1-11 Some time ago several students and I were talking a...
Listening First Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 6th Sunday of Easter Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Jesus preached to an audience that was totally clear about what it hoped to ...
In Wars Over Faith Everyone Loses Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 5th Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1-7 Hellenists vs. Hebrews: the thought sets few hearts racing now bu...
The Key Is The Promise – Not The Problem Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 4th Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 36-41 A mother told me the following tale. She had ...
Giving The Life We’re Given Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 3rd Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14, 22-33 I remember reading a story about pirates when I was a child...
The Struggle To Be Christ Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 2nd Sunday of Easter Acts 2:42-47 Jesus continued to live and act in his disciples after his execution an...
Resurrection: Beyond Harps and Clouds Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Easter Sunday Acts 10:34a,37-43 If you ask a grade school child what Easter means, she’ll alm...
Love God; Love What God Loves Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Palm Sunday Isaiah 50: 4-7 When we hear what God is speaking to us, our lives change. When we actuall...
Trusting God: Daring To Love Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Fifth Sunday of Lent Ezra 37: 12-14 A man once who told me in all seriousness that he never went to do...
It’s About God’s Strength Not Human Weakness Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Fourth Sunday of Lent 1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a You don’t have to be bi...
God Against Suffering Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Third Sunday of Lent Exodus 17:3-7 Once, after a religion class, a third grader came up to me and said, in a ...
Offer Or Command? What Do We Hear? Thoughts on the First Readings Second Sunday of Lent Genesis 12: 1-4a Several weeks ago thousands of Egyptians revolted against a repressive gove...
Love Creates Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield First Sunday of Lent Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 In John’s first letter he writes “God is love.” That deserves a lot of thoug...
Pointed Questions Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32 I once had a discussion with a parishioner that conclude...
Forgiveness For All – Ourselves Included Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 49:14-15 Not too long ago a friend made an intere...
Focus On The Message Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Given Christianity’s belief that Jesus died for the world’...
The Essential Hope Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sirach 15:15-20 How can we stay hopeful for a world where life is so often cheap and...
The Reign of God: Dream or Goal Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfiled 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 58:7-10 “Here’s my problem,” a friend said recently. “God’s supp...
Morality: It’s About More Than The Law Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13 A professional pianist once commente...
The Problem’s Trust Not Stuff Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 8:23-9:3:1 When I was a youngster, I had an aunt who, whenev...
Friends, Not Servants Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 49:3,5-6 People tell us from the altar and in religious books that good Ch...
Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 A servant of God has a big heart. That sounds trite and fluffy; it’s neither. A...
Leaving The Game of Favorites Thoughts on the First Readings -by Joe Frankenfield Feast of the Epiphany Isaiah 60:1-6 “Am I still your best little boy,” I once asked my mother? Eve...
Believe God’s Unbelievable Love Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield The Feast of the Holy Family Sirach 3:2-6,12-14 I did what you wanted; now you do what I want...
The Christmas Promise Thoughts on the First Readings – by Joe Frankenfield Fourth Sunday in Advent Isaiah 7:10-14 What do we want from God? What do we expect from God? If God...
The Never-Ending Christmas Thoughts on the First Readings – Joe Frankenfield Third Sunday in Advent Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 Many have noted that every time a baby’s born God proves...
Faith: The Power To Risk Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield Second Sunday in Advent Isaiah 11:1-10 During the riots following Martin Luther King’s murder an angry, lo...
Faith’s Dare Advent Thoughts on the First Readings -Joe Frankenfield First Sunday in Advent Isaiah 2:1-5 Between the visions of a prophet and the assumptions of a politician ...