Why Do You Not Believe Me?

Why Do You Not Believe Me?  Father Pothin’s Reflection for Sunday, April 2, 2017 Jesus asks the Jews: “Why do you not believe me”?  This Sunday’s gospel talks about faith as acceptance of, or the return to God; two aspects of faith: Individual and ecclesial (community). The individual aspect is reflected by, or seen in,  Read more …

Bread of Life

Bread of life  Father Pothin’s Reflection for March 26, 2017 God promised that he will feed his people well with the bread of life. Given this promise, the story in the Gospel reading appointed for this Sunday makes perfect sense: Jesus feeds the people who come to him with bread. The scene for the miraculous  Read more …

Reflecting on the Pre-Lent Season

Reflecting on the Pre-Lent Season  Father Pothin’s Reflection for Sunday, February 12, 2017 This is the season of Pre-Lent.  People often don’t look forward to Lent. Childhood memories of giving up candy or sitting through weekly Stations of the Cross come immediately to mind. Words like “sacrifice,” “discipline,” and “self-denial” are often used in ways that suggest  Read more …

Sometimes God Says “Not Yet”

“Not Yet” Sometimes God Demands Patience  Father Pothin’s Reflection for Sunday, February 5, 2017 Last Wednesday at the mass of the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we heard that Simeon was a holy waiter; he lived waiting to see the consolation of his people Israel. Today’s parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, or Tares,  Read more …

Lord I Am Not Worthy

Lord, I am not worthy . . . .  Reflection of Father Pothin for Sunday, January 29, 2017 Lord, I am not worthy.  We say these words at every mass, but what they mean? This prayer comes after the words of the priest, “Behold the Lamb of God, and behold Him who takes away the  Read more …

Amid The Darkness

Amid the Darkness, Hold Fast to the Light of Hope  Father Pothin’s Reflection for Christmas Day 2016 Christian hope is not the same as being optimistic about the future, but it is knowing that whatever dark or frightening things are going on in one’s life, God is there offering protection and light. Especially during Advent  Read more …

Father Pothin’s Christmas 2016 Message

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year My Christmas 2016 message for the congregation of St. Michael’s “Truth has sprung out of the earth” (Ps 85:11).   Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas  and Happy New Year to you and your families! I express my Christmas greetings and New Year wishes in these words taken from Psalm 85: “Truth  Read more …

God With Us

God with Us  Father Pothin’s Reflection for December 18, 2016 Sunday’s liturgy is about God with us, Emmanuel. We have arrived at the moment of the celebration of God’s presence within the human family. The Emmanuel of Advent-Christmas, the God who is with us, witnesses our social life from within the community, so that God  Read more …

End of Ages: The Day Will Come

End of Ages: The Day Will Come Father Pothin’s Reflection for Advent II — 2016 Jesus saw terrible times ahead – a day coming when not one stone of our human temple will rest on another.  An End of Ages.  He warned of signs: Devastation, Ruin, Emptiness, Wars, Trials and Persecutions. The prophet Malachi foresaw  Read more …