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  Saturday – 12 th Week in Ordinary Time     Gospel – Matthew 8:5-17 Words, Words, Words Capernaum Synagogue Back in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, my dad and I did not see eye to eye about the Vietnam War. It got so bad that I told him that, if I was drafted, I would not serve.   His response?   Well that is your decision but then you would no longer be my son!    Tough times!   Tough words!   I was never drafted but the hurt feelings persisted!   And it was only many years later when we were chatting on the phone that the issue was resolved.   In just a few simple words, he told me “You know that whole Vietnam War thing; well, you were right, I was wrong.”   Those words remain in my memory and heart to this day.   Words!   They can cut to the heart of the matter or they can cut a relationship in two.   They can bring comfort, hope, encouragement, support, and love.   But they can also be the source ...
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  Friday – 12 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew 8:1-4 Father Knows Best Chapel at Magdala At some point in our lives, we have probably had that unfortunate experience of wanting something a bit too much.   Maybe it was a toy, a new bike, fancy sneakers, whatever.   And we were willing to do anything to get it – even throw a nice little tantrum in public to get our point across. I did that once for a bright red sweater that I thought I just had to have. And I sulked and pouted in the store until I got what I wanted.   Not very proud of that!   In the end, I probably only wore that sweater a couple of times before I got tired of it. In today’s Gospel, we have a leper who only wants one thing – to be cured.   But his approach is not that of a little kid.   First of all, He approaches Jesus!   Jesus performs a lot of miracles in the Gospels but, the majority of the time, it is Jesus approaching the afflicted person.   And yet her...
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  Thursday – 12 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew 7:21-29 Walking the Walk Pilgrim House, Jerusalem Time for a short trip in the Way Back Machine with Sherman and Mr. Peabody! (for those who understand the reference) Did you clean your room?   Did you do your homework?   Did you put your dirty dishes in the sink?   Did you take out the garbage?   Shall I go on?   We all know the answer to those questions and we all know it’s the same – YES!   Yes, of course I did.   Or at least that was the answer until we got caught. And then we had to actually DO the work. That is what Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel.   It’s not enough to say the words.   It’s not enough to make grand speeches or to proclaim what a wonderful person or Christian we are.   We are called to ACTION!   Don’t just say the words; act on them!   Don’t just call yourself a Christian; live a Christian life! It’s not enough to talk the tal...
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