Readings: Jeremiah 20: 7-9; Romans: 12: 1-2; Matthew 16: 21-27Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Christine Nowak Kvam As we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment this month, local hero Susan B. Anthony got some well-deserved attention. As an advocate, author, and agitator, she did not meet her society’s expectations of womanhood. A quote often… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 22: 19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16: 13-20Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Margot Van Etten Today’s readings—one so familiar, the other less so—pose a challenge. A few challenges, actually. The passage from Isaiah has a certain contemporary ring. Faced with disaster from a besieging Assyrian army surrounding Jerusalem, with internal chaos and decay, what does… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Click here to watch a video of this homily.Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Two lines struck a chord with me as I reflected on our readings. The first was ,“Maintain justice and do what is right.” Isaiah is urging the Israelites to be sure everyone… read more →
Readings: 1 Kings 19: 9a, 11-13a; Romans 9: 1-5; Matthew 14: 22-33Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Sr. Barbara Moore Most people we know may struggle with faith but hold on to the struggle and the beliefs they have. I think the experience of Peter in today’s Gospel is full of meaning and lessons for all of… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3; Romans 8: 35, 37-39; Matthew 14: 13-21Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Deni Mack “All you who are thirsty, come to the water. You who have no money, come receive grain and eat…drink wine and milk.” I imagine the children of Yemen and Syria feasting at our family table with their cousins. Also those… read more →
Readings: 1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12; Romans 8: 28-30; Matthew 13: 44-52Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Teryle Watson The Old Testament reading today is rich and timely. In 1 Kings , God appears to Solomon in a dream. God promises to grant any wish that Solomon desires. Solomon asks for two things: an understanding heart so… read more →
Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Romans 8: 26-27; Matthew 13: 24-43Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Susan K. Roll Sometimes, when life seems to swirl around us in a confusing mess of options, possibilities and potential dangers, we want it simple. Either/or. A or not A. Chocolate or vanilla? And sometimes life seems more manageable if we discover,… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 55: 10-11; Romans 8: 18-23; Matthew 13: 1-23Click here to download a PDF of the homily.Preacher: Nancy DeRycke Pay Attention! When I was in early teen years, my Dad and I were out for a ride. We were in his truck, coming home on a quiet road. He pulled over on the side of the road and said,… read more →
Readings: Zechariah 9: 9-10; Romans 8: 9, 11-13; Matthew 11: 25-30Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Cathy Kamp When I started preparing this reflection, I was feeling quite “burdened”—the word Matthew uses in this week’s Gospel as he quotes Jesus: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.” During… read more →
Readings: 2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16A; Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10: 37-42Click here to download a PDF of this homily.Preacher: Kathi Piehler When I was growing up in the 1950s my family had a Sunday ritual—we would all go to Mass together, come home and my mother would cook an extra special breakfast. Then my mom would vacuum and… read more →