Scripture Scribbles: April 26, 2026
Amid all the chaos and strife in our world, do we still know who the true Shepherd is? The truth is, there are many deus falsus—false gods—in our midst today. Some, after tasting success, influence, or comfort, become deluded. They begin to think they can replace Jesus. They grow greedy and intoxicated by pride. Power and popularity cloud their judgment. Not everyone, certainly, but some who receive these gifts misuse them. How, then, do we recognize the warning signs?
Scripture Scribbles: April 19, 2026
The road to Emmaus is more than a journey on a dusty path; it is a pattern for our spiritual lives and for the Mass itself. On that road, Jesus “opened the Scriptures” for Cleopas and his companion, revealing God’s plan (Liturgy of the Word). Later, in the breaking of the bread, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him (Liturgy of the Eucharist). Dr. Scott Hahn highlights that this pattern,—hearing God’s Word and gathering to break bread—continues in every celebration of the Mass.
Scripture Scribbles: April 12, 2026 - Sunday of Divine Mercy
Alleluia!!
Welcome Home!
Truly, welcome home, to all who entered the church this Easter! What a gift to witness, the joy, the beauty, the gift of those eternal sacraments being received by so many! Standing in our pew at the Easter Vigil, it felt like you could almost hold that joy. The candles, the incense, the flowers… and then that moment when everything shifts. The promises fulfilled. The darkness gives way. The bells ring out, the music swells, and the Church rejoices. It makes you want to capture it somehow, to keep it close for the days when the world feels loud and mundane.
Scripture Scribbles: April 5, 2026 - The Resurrection of the Lord
They ran. They ran. Fearful yet overjoyed Mary of Magdala and the other Mary ran.
This little detail lights up the Easter gospel for me. The two Marys took off at full tilt; skirts and mantles flying behind them, hearts and feet pounding, arms pumping, leaping over rocks in the path. I bet their cheeks were streaked with tears. But I bet their cheeks also grew sore on that run from smiling.
This day that seemed marked for death and grief:
“I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified”
had become a day of indescribable hope and joy:
“He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.”
Can you imagine our Lord’s smile when he went to meet his beloved Marys?
Scripture tells us that he greeted them. I imagine he shouted to them, joining in their joy. When they heard his voice and saw him just ahead, maybe they grasped each other’s hands and froze for a moment as they saw him(Alive! Impossible! And yet!) the reality of the resurrection vibrating through their hearts, minds and all of their senses.
Scripture Scribbles: March 29, 2026
“What are you willing to give me, if I hand Him over to you?”
The truth is, I think, if we’re honest, each of us in our own ways ask this very same question at different times throughout our life. Don’t we? We may not realize we are doing it, but every time we choose something the world may offer us over something the Lord is inviting us to we fall prey to this very same mindset as Judas. Maybe it takes the form of something like this:
Scripture Scribbles: March 22, 2026
Sometimes I awaken with a heaviness in my heart, fear and anxiety tied to ordinary, everyday struggles. A hardness of heart towards those I have felt rejected/hurt by also creeps in. As much as I desire to be Christlike, I am continually reminded that I am completely dependent on Him to resurrect these dead and wounded places within me.
Scripture reassures us: “Although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive. If the Spirit … dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life” (Romans 8:10–11). What feels lifeless in me is not beyond His power to restore.
Reflecting on the story of Lazarus, Jesus declares, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God.” My sin, my weakness, my darkness, these too can become opportunities for God to reveal His glory. St. Augustine echoes this truth. “In my deepest wound I saw your glory, and it dazzled me.”
Scripture Scribbles: March 15, 2026
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.
How deep and enigmatic is this last part of the gospel. For a moment, I wondered how blindness can make a person sinless and how having sight can make one a sinner. After several meditations, I then realized that in life, there are times when we should SEE and times when we should NOT SEE. However, can we do both and avoid committing sin? I believe so.
Scripture Scribbles: March 8, 2026
There is something deeply personal about this encounter at the well. Jesus meets a woman in the ordinary rhythm of her day, drawing water, at the well, and gently reveals her deepest thirst. What begins as a simple request, “Give me a drink,” becomes an invitation into something eternal: “living water.”
For the past six years or so, I’ve been blessed to gather with a group of women, for a Bible study. This group just happens to be called, “Women At The Well.”
Week after week we come, carrying our own jars, our responsibilities, our wounds, our questions, our hopes, and we sit together, thirsty for God‘s word…
Scripture Scribbles: March 1, 2026
He touches them, saying “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
These are the first words Jesus speaks after God tells Peter, James and John to listen to him.
Rise, and do not be afraid.
What tender words these are.
He doesn’t say, “rise and try harder.”
He doesn’t say “rise and don’t mess up again.”
Neither does he say, “stay down.”
He says, “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
Scripture Scribbles: February 22, 2026
In times of trouble, who do you turn to?
In times of desperation, who do you call?
In times of confusion, what do you do to find your way?
In times of desolation, what do you cling to?
The Gospel today has me sitting with Jesus in the desert. It says:
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
What was it like for Christ, to be sitting in the desert, hungry?
Scripture Scribbles: February 15, 2026
The road that leads to heaven is risky, lonely, and costly in this world, and few are willing to pay the price. Following Jesus involves losing your life-and finding new life in him.
— David Platt
Today’s gospel warns us about self-righteousness, killing, adultery, and dishonesty.
This is so far one of the devotions I’ve ever had the hardest time writing in my life. I feel that it’s not because of its length but because its weight. HEAVY! Somehow, it feels like it is directly addressed to me because I am a sinner and am bound to commit the sins that Jesus mentioned in the gospel.
Scripture Scribbles: February 8, 2026
It was pitch dark at 6:00 a.m. on a cold November morning when I pulled in for gas at Penguin Fuels in Hampton, New Hampshire, on my way to Mass. Crystal was already behind the counter, processing my loyalty discount. “It’s so cold and dark,” she said. “I get really depressed when it’s like this.”
Still not fully awake, I wasn’t prepared to respond thoughtfully in that moment. The next morning, after reading about the winter solstice, I found myself ready to continue our open-ended conversation.“It’s true that it will keep getting darker until around December 21st,” I said, “but after that, the days will slowly begin to get lighter.” Crystal offered a weak smile.“Remember,” I added, “Christ’s light is always within you.” Her smile widened…
Scripture Scribbles: January 25, 2026
“The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.”
Can I ask you something? Are you sitting in darkness? Do you need to be healed? Are you searching for light? For hope? I would love to share some with you.
Jesus is calling you!
He’s calling all of us. Just like he called Peter and Andrew, just like he called James and John. Jesus is calling you, He’s calling your spouse, He's calling your kids. Do you know what He’s calling us to be? Saints! Yup! We are all called to be Saints.
Scripture Scribbles: January 18, 2026
“Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
The past few weeks have been really difficult. In them, despair has felt overwhelming. The only scripture that has comforted me has been that psalm which Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Psalm 22:1)
Some days, these first few verses have been where my prayer ended: in tears, pain and darkness, drowning in the feeling of abandonment by God, in the feeling of being overtaken by the enemy.
By grace, my rational mind has held onto the truths of our faith. In the storm of overwhelming lies from the enemy tempting me to despair and to desperate self-reliance, I have repeated the things that I know about God to myself:
God is holy. (Psalm 22:4)
God is only good. (Exodus 34:6)
God does not abandon. (2 Timothy 2:13)
God cares deeply about my suffering (Psalm 34:18, Psalm 56:8).
God’s presence is not proven through consolation or circumstance. (Romans 8:38-39)
God’s love is not proven through consolation or circumstance.(Romans 8:38-39)
God began a good work in me and he will complete it (Philippians 1:6)
Scripture Scribbles: January 11, 2026
“John tried to prevent him.”
As I sit with today’s Gospel, asking the Holy Spirit to guide me, this is the line that strikes me most.
How often do we try to prevent God from doing that He has planned for us in our lives?
Even, as it is in John’s case, for seemingly “good” reasons. We can see this time and again in the Scriptures: People try to stop Jesus from doing what He wishes. For instance, Peter tries to stop Jesus multiple times from carrying out His plans (see John 13:8, Matthew 16:22, Mark 10:13). And each time, Jesus corrects Him. Just as Jesus does to John in today’s Gospel.
Scripture Scribbles: January 4, 2025
As for the magi, they incredibly exemplified three things in this first chapter of Jesus’ young life.
First, they manifested care towards Jesus Christ. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
These men from the east cared enough to travel all the way to Jerusalem to pay their respects to Jesus. They did not act indifferently nor passively when they knew that a new king was born.
Second, the three wise men showed reverence to our savior by prostrating themselves, doing homage, and offering gifs of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
According to scholars and Bible experts, the gifts symbolized Jesus’ kingship, divinity, and mortality and future suffering/healing.
Third, the magi were a model of allegiance to God, because they completely eluded the enemy, Herod, by choosing another path that would lead them back home.
These kind men were total strangers and had only a special participation in the holy book. Yet they knew on whose side they should be.
Scripture Scribbles: December 28, 2025
I told Fr. Roo, “I want to be a disciple of Jesus—just without the suffering.” He
smiled gently and reminded me that true discipleship means picking up our cross
and following Him. We do not become holy in comfort. It is the cross that teaches
us how to love as Jesus loves. When suffering is united to Christ, it becomes redemptive.
Scripture Scribbles: December 14, 2025
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.
Rejoice! Go on, rejoice! It’s the third week of Advent!! Gaudete Sunday! The Rose colored candle on our Advent wreath! The Rose colored vestments on our Priests! Gaudete, a Latin word which means REJOICE! I love this “permission” to rejoice, I also love this “reminder” to actually rejoice! Not run around doing all the things, not watching the chaos of the world and swirl with anxiety…..rejoice! Why? Because we are in the season of Advent. We are preparing for our Lord to come. We get this week to taste a little of the Joy that we will get to enjoy fully on Christmas.
On November 30th this year, the first day of Advent, I put these words up on my board in our kitchen; Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, to remind myself, and my family, of what each candle of Advent represents. I was delighted when my “Scribble” fell on this third week. I hope I can encourage you (and me) to recognize what God is doing in our lives. He sent us a savior.
Scripture Scribbles: December 7, 2025
I can almost feel the heat of the sun in the desert as I hear John the Baptist’s passionate invitation to repent to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. The way he preaches is intense and oriented toward urgent change. His deep experience of the holiness of God pulses through everything he says. I hear an echo of the prophet Isaiah’s words from the first reading in John’s preaching:
“He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.”
This is describing Jesus.
He is the Holy of Holies.
His word holds all things in existence.
And right now, this very moment, we have the chance to repent, to begin again, so that we can fully receive him.
Scripture Scribbles: November 30, 2025
Lord, am I awake?
I want to be awake, but I am just not sure. Please enter into my heart. Into my mind. Lead me and guide me. Help me to surrender my ways for Your own. Show me the way. Open my eyes. Open my heart. Help me to trust in You. To wait to hear Your voice and to say yes to whatever You may reveal for me in the year ahead.