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  "By their deeds, the disciples are to influence the world for good." This explanation in my Bible's footnote about verses 13-16 of Matthew Chapter 5 caused me to really think about who a disciple is and what they are called to do.  I had a conversation with a neighbor years ago who dismissed the idea of faith by saying that she was just teaching her daughter to be a good person, implying that was enough. Maybe you think this way, or you know someone who does, but being a good person (while commendable), is lacking, if your "goodness" is not built on solid ground and is disconnected from Jesus. An easy reading of Matthew, Chapters 4 & 5, makes it pretty clear: FIRST, Jesus called those who were to become his disciples, THEN he taught them what their mission was. He wasn't simply calling good people to follow him. He wasn't giving them instruction about how to be nice people. They needed both a relationship with him, and his instruction. ...

From Wanda Gág's "Millions of Cats". (1928) I don't know what, if any, name the neighbors had given "LGN": pronounced "Elgin". I'm not even sure that the little grey cat belonged to our neighbors at 1010. But she, or possibly he, came from their yard very regularly when my father and I were outside and near the front of the house. Now, cats act like cats: but they also have personalities. They can act aloof, hostile, seemingly-oblivious, vaguely interested in you: or possibly in something behind you.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Remembering a small grey cat my father and I knew. Rules about how we should treat both animals and people, and how the seventh commandment applies to both.)

It’s COLD outside, here in Minnesota. (4:28 p.m. (22:28 UTC), January 22, 2026) Eager readers and a jester-journalist. (1910) More than a century later, still familiar. Minnesota's in the news, but not because of the weather. That's another topic, for another day. An Extreme Cold Warning has been in effect for my part of Minnesota since 3:00 this afternoon. It runs until noon tomorrow, when a Cold Weather Advisory starts. That'll run until Saturday noon. But the weather my news feed has been showing me is about the "heavy snow, crippling ice and frigid temperatures" of a winter storm that'll make life interesting for folks in "more than 2 dozen states". Maybe excessively interesting. Focusing on states from New Mexico and Texas to Maine and the Carolinas does make sense.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (How I see current conditions: Cold Weather Advisory here in Sauk Centre, winter storm from New Mexico to the east coast. And sewer tr...

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dawn Joseph Mallord William Turner [ Web Gallery of Art ] For those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,   on them a light has dawned  (Mt 4:16, Gospel; see Isaiah 9:2, First Reading). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and sh...

    I was leaving the doughnut shop and I heard the next customer say, "I need a minute to look. I haven't been in a doughnut shop in years." Naturally, my first thought was, "What?" How is it possible not to be in a doughnut shop for years? Then, I heard the rest of the conversation. "I've been in China for 12 years and the best I could get was a doughnut from something like a Walmart. Not a real doughnut." It was all I could do not to stop right there and start asking him questions, but my more disciplined self stopped me. Still, I'd love to know the rest of his story. We all have stories to tell and while they might seem ordinary to us, I think they might be quite interesting to others. In addition to details about life, I am always interested in stories that bring people to faith. They are often a fascinating testament to God tangibly working in someone's life. Often circuitous, the twists and turns and surprises of life add gr...

The Gospel of John  (1:29-34) Directed by Philip Saville I am posting this rather late, on Sunday night. We had no WiFi from Friday afternoon until tonight. Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 1:29-34   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptising with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptise with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend ...

Last Saturday I learned that my home parish, Our Lady of Angels in Sauk Centre, will almost certainly close this year. I'm not happy about that. At all. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (The parish my wife and I were married in will almost certainly be closed this year. A quick look at parish history, and some photos.)

Señor Santo Niño de Cebú [ Wikipedia ] First Reading   Isaiah 9:1-6 Second Reading    Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 Gospel   Matthew 18:1-5, 10 At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”   He called a child over, placed it in their midst,   and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." The Sleeping Sto Niño   (There are many versions) THE SLEEPING GOD by  Simeon Dumdum, Jr . This first appeared in  Cebu Daily News  some years ago. It is used here with permission. Simeon Dumdum, Jr, known to his friends as 'Jun...

      Here's what's scary to me. Two pictures side by side, and you cannot really tell which one is in the United States and which was is in Iran. Relative to the U.S., we have a so-called leader who is encouraging the people of Iran to protest against their leader, offering to send them support, while at the same time he is causing a riot against our protesters in the U.S. who are speaking up against him. Too often when I take a bird's'-eye of the situation on the ground in the United States, I can see that our cities are literally on fire, people are disappearing, and even citizens are being arrested and killed. Let's just say I really needed to listen to Fr. John Riccardo's podcast about peace. Where do we find peace amidst the turmoil going on around us? Is it possible to sustain peace at a time such as this? Fortunately, the answer is yes.  I strongly encourage you to listen to his podcast "Peace in Troubled Times" because, for me, it...

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Lily of the valley. Rosendahl's photo. Depending on who's talking and what they're talking about, lily of the valley is a woodland flower that likes shade, a 19th century hymn, a French novel, or something else. 1 I'm not going to be talking about hymns or novels. Not today, anyway. There's a whole mess of symbolism hanging around these little white flowers, too. Mostly involving humility, happiness and good stuff like that. Which strikes me as odd, since the wildflowers are distinctly poisonous. 2 On the other hand, they do — I gather — smell nice. I'm not going to talk about that, either. Mostly because the lily of the valley's sprays of tiny white flowers are, for me, symbolic of a house I grew up in. Along with a rhubarb patch. And clothes lines. Among other things.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Remembering little bell-shaped flowers that grew near my childhood home. Learning why they are undesirable, but keeping the delightful memor...

The Gospel According to Matthew , Baptism scene Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 3:13-17   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’  Léachtaíi nGaeilge     ...

    Do you ever feel yourself getting more and more frustrated or angry these days with everything going on?  Between the news reports about what is happening with Venezuela, Iceland, ICE, the Epstein files and everything else, it can impact us more than we might realize. If you feel heaviness is starting to encroach on you daily, I'd like to share a link with you that you might find helpful. You can read the reflection, or listen to it. It's by Father John Riccardo. In "Knocking Down Walls of Division (Part II)" he helps us to face down our fears by recalling how Peter preached the Gospel to the Roman soldiers and how he counted on the courage he had in Jesus to help him do so. Often we need to move more toward Jesus if we find ourselves getting sucked into the ugliness going on in our country today. We need to prevent ourselves from being "filled up" with hopelessness and sin by drawing ourselves closer to the love and mercy we are afforded in...

  I just can't help it. I really, really like the new Verizon ad with Kevin Hart as an elf (see the link below). It just really cracks me up. There aren't a lot of commercials I find truly funny, but this one makes me laugh every time I see it. Laughing is a great way to begin the new year, so I thought I would share it with you, in case you haven't seen it. We can become so preoccupied with all of the terrible things going on in this world, it is good to enjoy a light moment.  I also want to mention how fortunate we are to celebrate 2026 as the Year of Grace. I am including a link with a two-minute video about grace. I am going to try to keep it in the forefront of my thoughts and appreciate the gift that it is. I hope you will do the same. Happy New Year!  Janet Cassidy Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com janetcassidy.com https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy     To learn more about grace, you can g...