Ephphatha, be opened.  What opens the ear to hear?  Is it not true that when the heart is open we are able to hear?  Feel into this reality for a moment: when my heart is closed or hardened by harsh judgments, hurt, presumptions, shadow stuff, worries, and you can add to the list, we do not hear.  We hear only our noise.

Happy Labor Day

Readings of the Day
RB: Prologue 14-20
Mass: 1 Co 2:1-5; Resp Ps 119; Lk 4:16-30


But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Today's offering includes related quotations for your reflection, on the theme of silence, listening, and

Readings of the Day
RB: Prologue 8-13
Mass: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8; Resp Ps 15; Jm 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27; Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23


Be doers of the word and not hearers only. (Jm 1:22)
There is a line left out of today's reading from the Letter of St James that precedes, and for me, presupposes the o

Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary TimeSaint Irenaeus (d. 202)

Readings of the day: RB 21 The Deans of the MonasteryMass: 2 K 24:8-17; Resp Ps 79; Mt 7:21-29
Only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven will enter the Kingdom of heaven.
It occurs to me that I should get down on my knees

 Readings of the day: RB 12 The Celebration of Solemn LaudsMass: 1 K 19:9a, 11-16; Resp Ps 27; Mt 5:27-32
Elijah on Mt Horeb, Rembrandt
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
It may be that we hear the word of the Lord in a strong and heavy wind rending the mountains and crushing rock