Hello, LIFE Runners Team (3,652 runners/walkers ages 1 to 101 in all 50 states and 23 countries!), Hope everyone is having a blessed summer, running or walking during the cooler parts of the day and staying well-hydrated! We have a couple exciting races coming up, so we...
"The two shall become as one." ~ Mt 19:5 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: In marriage, the Lord miraculously makes a man and a woman into one flesh. This divine unity is unbreakable and irreversible. What God has joined together, man must not separate (Mt 19:6). The Lord also creates...
"Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of...
"Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of...
"Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me." ~ Mt 18:4-5 (full readings) . Alice's Reflections: It’s pretty clear that humility and trust are not highly valued in today’s world. If anything,...
"Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” ~ 2 Cor 9:6-10 (full readings) . Paige's Reflections: Being thankful for what you have been blessed with, kind actions towards others, and prayer will strengthen your faith. Any kind act towards someone could...
"Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” ~ 2 Cor 9:6-10 (full readings) . Paige's Reflections: Being thankful for what you have been blessed with, kind actions towards others, and prayer will strengthen your faith. Any kind act towards someone could...
"Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ….." ~ Mt 16:24-28 (full readings) . Paul's Reflections: Jesus poses some probing questions. He challenges our assumptions about what is most important, our priorities, and our faith in...
"For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, ‘'his is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.'" ~ 2 Pt 1:17 (full readings) . Fr. Jonathan's Reflections: Today we celebrate the Feast of the...
"Jesus then said in reply, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass.' That very moment her daughter got better." ~ Mt 15:28 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: The summer is almost over, but hopefully you and your family were able to experience a little R and...
"Peter said to Him in reply, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he...
"Jesus said to them, 'No prophet is without honor except in his native place, indeed in his own house.'" ~ Mt 13:57 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: We as Christians expect Planned Parenthood to be our enemies, but we are usually shocked when our friends, even our own family, reject and...
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In...
"Then [Moses] said, 'If I find favor with you, Lord, please, Lord, come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and claim us as your own.’' ~ Ex 34:9 (full readings) . Peggy's Reflections: The phrase "stiff-necked people" is often...
"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying...
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~ Is 40:29, 31 (full readings) . Pastor...
"This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand." ~ Mt 13:13 (full readings) . Jeff's Reflections: I was recently reading a book and realized that although I had read the words of a certain paragraph,...
"For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." ~ Mt 12:50 (full readings) . Jeff's Reflections: The entire LIFE Runners community was saddened to learn of the passing of our teammate this month, Ed Heigl. Ed was a major advocate for the unborn and...
"Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today...
"If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath." ~ Mt 12:7-8 (full readings) . Scott's Reflections: The first few lines of Matthew Chapter 12 talk about how there are times when God's...
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~ Mt 11:28-30 (full readings) . Angi's Reflections: Some days I am tired. I am tired of working hard; I am tired of doing laundry. I am tired of making dinner....
"At that time Jesus exclaimed: 'I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.'" ~ Mt 11:25 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: The message in today's Gospel is that the Lord...
"Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves, so be cunning as snakes and yet innocent as doves, You will be universally hated on account of my name; but anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved." ~ Mt 10:18,22 (full readings) . Sara's Reflections: Why...
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” ~ Mt 10: 16 (full readings) . Angi's Reflections: Our Lord warned His disciples then, as he warns us today, to prepare for persecution. In the Pro-Life...
"Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." ~ Mt 10:8 (full readings) . Kevin's Reflections: Jesus brings up a very important idea here, and one that has given me reason to think: what stands in my way? I always pray that God will bless others through my...
"Jesus summoned His Twelve disciples...
"Before Jesus had finished speaking to them, a synagogue leader came up." ~ Mt 9:18 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: Before today's Gospel, Jesus was talking about a new way of living and fasting (Mt 9:14). Jarius approached Him and asked for Jesus to bring his daughter back to...
"Jesus said to him, 'Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.'" ~ Jn 20:29 (full readings) . Brandon's Reflections: This weekend is full of cookouts and spending time together with our families and happens to coincide with...
"Don’t be afraid; God has heard the boy’s cry in this plight of his. Arise, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand; for I will make of him a great nation." ~ Gn 21:5, 8-20A (full readings) . Amy's Reflections: In today's reading from Genesis we see...
"He said to them, 'Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?' Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm." ~ Mt 8:26 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: In today's Gospel, Jesus got into a boat and His disciples followed Him. A violent...
"Though I thought I had toiled in vain, yet my reward is with the LORD...
"He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord." ~ Psalm 15 (full readings) . Pastor Don's Reflections: Justice. Throughout the Holy Scriptures, prophets have cried out for justice on behalf of God, and found themselves standing on their own. God has called His people to practice justice and...
"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." ~ Ps 34:3 (full readings) . Jimmy's Reflections: As a Father I have tried to lead my family to magnify the Lord with me. To extol His name together. To plant and water the seeds that each...
"Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate." ~ Ps 111:3-4 (full readings) . Scott's Reflections: Today's reading reminds us that God is full of majesty, glory, and justice. The ministry of LIFE Runners indeed reflects this...
"Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." ~ 2 Cor 9:6 (full readings) . Kevin's Reflections: I am considering this, and wondering how I can better sow in the Lord's Vineyard? I haven't been to the Diocesan prayer rally with our...
"So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." ~ Mt 5:48 (full readings) . Paula's Reflections: Mary's Choice Resource Center in Sioux City Iowa is strategically located next door to Planned Parenthood. On Monday May 18th Bishop Walker Nickless celebrated a dedication Mass in the chapel at...
"Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles." ~ Mt 5:41 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: In today's Gospel Jesus instructs, "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." Christ's instruction deals with the Roman practice of commandeering civilians or...
"He himself was a good man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Thereby large numbers were added to the Lord." ~ Acts 11:24 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: The saint of today is St. Barnabas. St. Barnabas was extremely fruitful for God's Kingdom. This makes him one of...
"But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." ~ Mt 5:17-19 (full readings) . Sandy's Reflections: "What do you want for your children?" It was a question posed by the principal to a school gymnasium filled with parents one cold winter evening. The...
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden." ~ Mt 5:14 (full readings) . Pastor Steve's Reflections: You are the light of the world. It was time for an update. So away we went to the hardware story to purchase a new light for our entry...
"I can see you, son, the light of my eyes!" ~ Tb 11:14 (full readings) . Alice's Reflections: For more than 40 years, our society has worn blinders, or, like Tobit in today’s first reading, scales on its eyes preventing it from seeing the true light of day. Pro-choice advocates have...
"The scribe said to him, ‘Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as...
"Jesus said to them, the reason why you are wrong is that you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God. He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are very much mistaken." ~ Mk 12:24,27 (full readings) . Sara's Reflections: Some people have asked me how...
"Where are your charitable deeds now? Where are your righteous acts? Look! All that has happened to you is well known!" ~ Tobit 2:14 (full readings) . Kevin's Reflections: Tobit's wife Anna was right to call him out here! Anna said this out of love, to help Tobit recognize God in...
"A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey." ~ Mk 12:1 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the tenant farmers. He...
"Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants." ~ Sirach 44:11 (full readings) . Rich's Reflections: Jesus warned us about "laying the foundation and then not being able to complete the work" (Lk 14:29). As in today's reading, our wealth remains in our families and in the future of our...
"Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low." ~ Ps 79:8 (full readings) . Bonnie's Reflections: Recently we observed the annual National Day of Prayer for the United States (always first Thursday of May). It was great to gather...
"The just ones sacrifice is most pleasing nor will it ever be forgotten. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously according to your means." ~ Sirach 35:9,12 (full readings) . Matthew's Reflections: It’s easy to get discouraged by watching or reading the daily news. To me,...
"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to...
