The middle of Ordinary Time can feel like a non-season, liturgically speaking. On Sundays we trek along to Jerusalem with Jesus and the disciples, as Luke dictates.

Is there a greater sign of contentment and satisfaction than a baby who’s been well fed and well tended who falls asleep in its parent’s arms?

It is not good for human beings to be alone, no less a personage than God once observed. Hermits and misanthropes notwithstanding, the need for belonging and community is fairly well substantiated by our experience.

Later the Master selected 70 and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go.

Time snuck up on us. My mother grew older. She needed help more and more with holidays and other celebrations. She could no longer prepared all the food in fine Italian style all by herself.

I love watching babies at church. I suppose I shouldn’t admit that. It might sound as if I’m confessing to being distracted and not paying attention. But how can you not pay attention to a newborn—yawning, scrunching her little nose up, or trying to jam a fist into his mouth?

The two salespeople walked into my office, asked for a minute of my time, and took 10 before they got to their point: Please switch your business phone service to ours.

All the earth cries out to God, the psalm says today. In a spirit of worship we place ourselves before the mercy of God.

Sometimes we don’t realize the blessings we have until we no longer have them. Appreciate all the blessings in your life. Take none for granted.