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    Remember when I recently complained about people impatiently driving around me at the end of my road? ( * See the link below) Well we were coming home from a Detroit Tiger's baseball game and a car sped past us on the expressway so close it almost clipped the passenger-side front bumper. I mean it was REALLY close. Fortunately, he missed us, but unfortunately we had to watch in disbelief as he continued to do the same in the traffic in front of us. He was weaving in and out so fast I couldn't believe he didn't hit someone. Then a few minutes later a motorcycle came flying by (we're guessing at about 100 mph), doing the same thing! Reflecting on our close call, I was reminded that before we travel, we always offer a prayer in the car, out loud, asking God to put his holy angels around us and protect us. We started that practice when the kids were young, but we continue it today, even when they are not with us. We were glad the five guardian angels protectin...

Pope Leo XIV's "Magnifica Humanitas" (on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence) came out in May. I didn't expect it to be a fast read, and I was right. In English, it runs to nearly 38,000 words, not counting footnotes. I still haven't read it, but have glanced through the thing. Now I've started reading, a bit at a time, equipped with a marker: and coffee. Early on, I ran into these thoughts:... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Short excerpts from the new encyclical letter and Summa Theologica, how I see the latest scary new technology and being human.)

St Peter Walking on the Water Alessandro Allori [ Web Gallery of Art ] 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 14:22-33 (English Standard Version) After the crowd had eaten and were satisfied: Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do n...

    I wonder if you can relate to this event in the Gospel of Matthew ( Chapter 14:22-36 ). It's the familiar passage of Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water after Jesus told him to "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."  It's a big step which I think we can all appreciate. I was reading a reflection in the Gaudete App for August 3, 2026 and I was stirred by a couple of lines. First, in referring to Peter's courage and faith, it says, "Imagine how strong Peter felt in the Lord, walking on water, defying the laws of nature!" " And when he started to sink . . . "[Peter] looked at himself, he doubted, he remembered he could not walk on water, and he started to sink. We cannot do what the Lord can do, and we are called to remember that, believe in him and keep our eyes fixed on him. He gives the courage we do not have when we need it." How often have we felt confident that God was calling us to do something, on...

“People gather for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Verne the Patriot in Luverne, Minn.” (AP Photo/Sarah Raza (July 18, 2026)) " A Minnesota town now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker " Sarah Raza, AP (July 18, 2026) "Crossing the open farmland of southwestern Minnesota, you'll encounter an otherworldly sight: a massive head with a beard, mustache and red-striped top hat looming over the horizon. Pull into the small town of Luverne and the figure — a nearly 66-foot (20-meter) tall nutcracker, decked out like Uncle Sam — comes into full view...." I've never been to Luverne, Minnesota, and will probably never go there. But I've seen other oversize statues in my home state: Rothsay's prairie chicken, Alexandria's viking, Paul Bunyan in Bemidji, Belgrade's crow, and "Pelican Pete: World's Largest Pelican" in Pelican Rapids. One of these days I may talk about roadside attractions in the Midwest. But not today.... More at...

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes Lambert Lombard [ Web Gallery of Art ] 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 14:13-21 (English Standard Version) At that time: When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ But Jesus said, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘We have only five loaves here and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ...

  "We can live our lives on earth without faith . . . but there's a flatness to all of that. Life blossoms with faith. Life has meaning with faith. And you and I are called to find the yeast of the kingdom and work it into our lives."  "Another thing about yeast is that once it is in the dough, it's changed forever . . . once we have the yeast of the kingdom within us, we're changed forever. We can't take it out." I was watching a video by Msgr. James Vlaun (President/CEO of Catholic Faith Network) where he was reflecting on yeast and bread. He went on to talk about the yeast of the kingdom of God and how just a small amount of it can make a difference in our life.  Is your life animated by the yeast of the kingdom, by your faith, so that it raises up those around you? I am including the link to his video and I encourage you to watch it. https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video/2026-07-27-reflection-401  Pray for peace, joy, and an end to ...