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Friday – St. Augustine Gospel - Matthew 25:1-13 Tough Love Church of Peter Primacy, Sea of Galilee I think we have all been there.   It’s Friday and there is a big test today in our worst subject.   But for one reason or another, we didn’t study; we didn’t fully prepare for it.   We either figured it was no big deal, or we had better things to do the night before – like spending hours on our Xbox or binging our favorite show.   And then reality hits us in the face when we come face to face with the test.   We look around for help, a hint, anything that could get us through the mess that we created!   In the end, we failed the test, miserably!   Later on, we yell at our friends for not bailing us out, for not helping us with a cheat or two.   Some friend you are!   We think that somehow they are responsible for the mess that we ourselves created! I think that’s what’s happening today in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. ...
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  Thursday – St. Monica Gospel - Matthew 24:24-51 Ready?   Set!   Go! Caesarea Philippi Remember that first day of school when we were little?   Maybe we were excited?   Maybe upset that the summer was over?   Maybe glad that we get to see our friends again?   Maybe nervous about a new teacher, new classes, new homework!   But do you remember all the work, all the preparation that our parents went through to get us ready for that day?   Shopping for school supplies, new clothes!   Trips to the grocery store for extra food to make for school lunches!   Maybe even getting us up early weeks before school started so that we were back on schedule.   Our parents probably spent weeks getting us ready for that first day of school.    And for many of you, you were doing exactly the same thing this week, getting your kids ready for school So much preparation!   And why do we do it?   Because we love our kids a...
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  Wednesday – 21 st Week in Ordinary Time Gospel - Matthew 23:27-32 Whitewashed Tombs Mount of Olives Cemetery, along Palm Sunday Road   There’s a story about a preacher who was accused of not practicing what he preached.   He responded; “Well, at least I don’t preach what I practice.”   Hypocrite!   It comes from a Greek word for “actor”, someone who put on a show for others.   Someone who acts a part and pretends to be good just for admiration and applause!   If you thought Jesus was blunt in yesterday’s Gospel, today goes way beyond!   The Pharisees and Scribes are like whitewashed tombs with only dead men’s bones and filth inside.   The Jews believed that contact with the dead automatically made you unclean; so the tombs were painted white to warn the people away, to prevent them from touching the stones.   So the Pharisees only appear righteous but they are ultimately only concerned with themselves!   But why such ...