Saturday, January 10, 2026

The Baptism of the Lord

 Getting clean



Parents often say to their children to go outside and play. 

And at the end of the day when they come home they are a mess

Covered with mud

And need to take a bath. 


Our Heavenly Father

Has told us to go outside and play in this world. 

And at the end of the day when we come home we are a mess. 


Covered with greed; envy; lust; and anger; 

We did not get along with everyone we played with. 

Often fighting and arguing and excluding others. 

And we need to take a bath. 


We need to go down to the river Jordan and be baptized. 


Baptism washes us clean. 


But after we have been baptized, 

we go out in the world and play. 

And get covered all over again in the dirt and grime of the world.   


So we need to go to confession to be washed clean again. 

For confession is a renewal of our Baptism

Where we are washed clean again from all the dirt that we got into. 


Just imagine not taking a shower for one year and what our bodies would be like?


Just imagine going months and years without going to confession and what our souls are like?


When was the last time you took a shower?

And when was the last time you went to confession? 


Our souls need to be kept clean just like our bodies. 

When they are not

That is the reason the world and our lives are in the mess they are. 


In  baptism and confession, 

Jesus has the water to make us clean again. 

Saturday after Epiphany

Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue



Lovely Lady dressed in blue,
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
Tell me what to say!

Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way
Mother does to me?

Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?

Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things -------
Little things that happen? And
Do the Angels' wings

Make a noise? And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me -------for you know.

Lovely Lady dressed in blue -------
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
And you know the way.

Friday, January 9, 2026

Friday after Epiphany

1 Jn. 5:5-13


Life is more than eating or drinking. 

More than work or play. 


Whoever possesses the Son of God has life and whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. 


In other words whoever does not have the Son of God

Is not really living. 

They are just getting by;

Or surviving or fooling themselves. 


Whoever has Jesus

Has life;

Real life 

Abundant life. 

And they know it. 

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Thursday after Epiphany

Loving God 1 Jn 4:19-5:4



“Liar, Liar, pants on fire”

Is what children say to each other when someone is not telling the truth. 


St. John says that if anyone says he loves God but hates his brother is a liar. 


We come to church because we claim to love God. 

But how can we claim to love the God we do not see,

When We hate the brother or sister that we do see. 


Even a child can see through that lie!

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Wednesday after Epiphany

Seeing God. 1 Jn. 4:11-18



God is love. 


And if God is love

Then we must love one another 

Or we are not part of God


Now No one has ever seen God, 

Or touched God. 


If we want to see the face of God

And feel His touch. 


Then we must look in the eyes of those we meet

And reach out for their hand. 

And by loving them


We will see the face of God 

And feel His touch 

And know His Love. 

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Tuesday after Epiphany

St. Andre Bessette



He was born in Québec and joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1872: the parish priest sent this functionally illiterate, frail young man to the Congregation with the words “I am sending you a saint”. 

He had great confidence in Saint Joseph and recommended prayer to him to all who were sick. So many were cured that Brother André himself was acclaimed as a miracle-worker,

Monday, January 5, 2026

Monday January 5

John Neumann


St. John Neumann is known as the first male American saint, a tireless missionary for immigrants (especially German and Irish), and a pioneer in Catholic education, famous for establishing the first diocesan school system in the U.S. as Bishop of Philadelphia, building numerous churches and orphanages, promoting the Forty Hours Devotion, and being a prolific author and organizer. He is the patron saint of educators and immigrants.  


Few saints are as important to our country today as St. John Neumann. 

Pray to him for a renewal in Catholic Education. 

Pray to him to bring light and understanding to Immigration. 

Pray to him for clergy and bishops. 


Prayer to St. John Neumann


St. John Newmann, servant of God and man,
through your intercession may God grant us the grace,
to serve the poor,the uneducated and the clergy and bishops. 
 May we live as you lived,
persevering in every difficulty,
to know and to do God's Holy Will.
In this life, may we share your intercession,
the protection of Mary,
and the grace of Jesus Christ,
Our Lord and Redeemer.

Amen.