Category Archives: Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflections

Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-18-21

311 1-18-21 2nd WOT Mark 2:18-22 The presence of the Bridegroom, by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.“From the time that the incarnation of our Savior was first promised to the patriarchs,it was always awaited by many upright souls with tears and mourning – until he came.From that time when, after his resurrection, he ascended to heaven, allContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-18-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-4-21

212 1-4-21 St Elizabeth Ann Seton Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25  The many enforced separations from her dear ones by death & distance, served to draw Elizabeth’s heart to God and eternity. The accepting & embracing of God’s will- “The Will,” as she called it – would be a keynote in her spiritual life. Elizabeth’s deep concernContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 1-4-21”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-28-20

698 12-28-20 Holy Innocents Matthew 2:13-18 In government today there are those who propose that when a child is born naturally that the Doctor would consult with the mother of the child as to whether the child should be permitted to live, or its life be terminated. The first objection to this practice should beContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-28-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-14-20

187 12-14-20 3rd WOA St John of the Cross A man of very small physical stature, as a poet and mystic, is among the giants. What was rare about him was the combination of deep poetic sensitivity and articulateness with the rigorous thought-training of a Thomist philosophy and theology. Written as commentaries on his pomes,Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 12-14-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-30-20

Monday, November 30, 2020      Saint Andrew was one of the fishermen of Bethsaida, and brother of Saint Peter, and became a disciple of Saint John the Baptist.  He seemed always eager to bring others into notice; when called himself by Christ on the banks of the Jordan, his first thought was to go in searchContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-30-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-23-20

503 11-23-20 34 th WOT Luke 21:1-4 Do you know the joy of selfless giving and generous love for others? True love does not calculate – it spends lavishly! Jesus drove this point home to his disciples while sitting in the temple and observing people offering their tithes. Jesus praised a poor widow who gaveContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-23-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-16-20

497 11-16-20 33 rd WOT Luke 18:35-43St. Margaret of Scotland Gertrude, a Benedictine nun in Saxony, was one of the great mystics of the 13 thcentury. Together with her friend and teacher St. Mechtild, she practiced a spiritualitycalled “nuptial mysticism,” that is, she came to see herself as the bride of Christ. Herspiritual life wasContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-16-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 11-9-20

671 11-9-20 Lateran Basilica John 2:13-22 “They ask, ‘Add faith to us.’They do not ask simply for faith, for perhaps you might imagine them to be withoutfaith. They rather ask Christ for an addition to their faith and to be strengthened infaith. Faith partly depends on us and partly is the gift of the divineContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 11-9-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 11-2-20

668 11-2-20 All Souls Day John 6:37-40 Who do you honor at your table?The Lord is always ready to receive us at his table.As far as we can tell from the Gospel accounts, Jesus never refused a dinner invitation!Why, in this particular instance, does Jesus lecture his host on whom he should orshould not inviteContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 11-2-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-26-20

479 10-26-20 30th WOT Luke 13:10-17 Jesus wants to heal all our Ills. Is there anything that keeps you bound up or oppressed? Infirmity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, can befall us for a variety of reasons, and God can use it for some purpose that we do not understand.  When Jesus encountered an elderlyContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-26-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-19-20

473 10-19-20 29th WOT Luke 12:13-21 The ten commandments were summarized into two prohibitions – do not worship false idols and do not covet what belongs to another. It is the flip side of the two great commandments – love God and love your neighbor. Jesus warned the man who wanted half of his brother’sContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-19-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-12-20

467 10-12-20 28th WOT Luke 11:29-32 “‘What is the sign of Jonah? The stumbling block of the cross. So, it is not the disputers of knowledge who will be saved but those who believe true teaching.  For the cross of Christ is indeed a stumbling block to those who dispute knowledge but salvation to thoseContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-12-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-28-20

455 9-28-20 26th WOT Luke 9:46-50 St Wenceslaus  God’s love is unconditional, timeless, and boundless. Jesus, himself, is our model. He came not to be served, but to serve. Paul the Apostle states that Jesus, “emptied himself and took the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7)                                                     Jesus lowered himself (he whose place is at the right handContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-28-20”

Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-14-20

Holy Cross John 3:13-17-9-14-20 Early in the fourth century St Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. She razed the temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior’s tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher overContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-14-20”