Category Archives: Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflections

16th Friday, July 28, 2023, in Ordinary Time, Yr1 Ex 20-1:17, Ps 19:8-11, Mt 13:18-23 When I work with adult candidates who would like to enter the church, we use a process called, “Rite of Christian Initiation as Adults,” commonly referred to as RCIA. It can be a long process, around six months or so,Continue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 7-28-23”

Friday, July 21, 2023 – 15th week in ordinary time, also feast of St Lawrence of Brindisi Ex 11:10-12:14; Ps 116:12-13, 15 and 16bc, 17-18; Mt12-1-8 We need to pay close attention to today’s reading from the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. It is where God prescribes the method the Israelites will celebrateContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Homily 7-21-23”

14th Friday in Ordinary time, Feast of St Kateri Tekakwitha, July 14, 2023 Gn 46:1-7, 28-30; Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Mt 10:16-23 It’s hard for us to imagine how tough the apostles had it. After all, we can hardly function when our cell phone batteries go dead. “Ugh,” we cry, “Now I have toContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 7-14-23”

Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29, 2023Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34:2-9; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19 There are two things that separate just men from those that are not, faith, and trust. On this feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, we hear two stories of that faith and trust. First of PeterContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 6-29-23”

Friday, June 23, 2023 – 11th week in ordinary time2 Cor 11:18, 21-30 Ps 34:2-7 Mt 6:19-23 Recently, I have seen several friends and family members start going through all the “stuff” they have at home. Either just wanting to get rid of it, or because they were moving. It was a major undertaking toContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Homily 6-23-23”

June 16, 2023 Friday after Corpus Christi, Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus  June 16, 2023 Dt 7:6-11; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; 1 Jn 4:7-16; Mt 11:25-30 How often, when you are lying there, do you hear your heartbeat? I don’t know about you, but I often do. And when I do, andContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Homily 6-16-23”

9th Friday in Ordinary time, June 9, 2023 Tb 11:5-17; Ps 146: 1b-2, 6c-10; Mk 12:35-37 As we near the end of the book of Tobit, we find out the angel Raphael convinces Tobiah to bring back the “medicines” of the fish. Using them, Tobit’s sight was restored and Tobit praises God for all thatContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’ Reflection 6-9-23”

Friday of the 8th week in Ordinary time, June 2, 2023 Sir 44:1, 9-13; Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b; Mk 11:11-26 As many of you know, my father passed away recently. Like anyone, I spent some time reflecting on my Dad and all he did for me throughout my life, and how he lived his life. ItContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 6-2-23”

Friday of the 7th week of Easter, May 26, 2023 Feast of Saint Phillip Neri, Priest Acts 25: 13b-21; Ps 103-1-2, 11-12, 19-20; Jn 21:15-19 When we hear the readings for today, it is easy to wonder how they fit together. After all, the first reading with Paul is all about Paul’s imprisonment and howContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 5-26-23”

Friday of the 6th week of Easter, May 19, 2023 Acts 18:9-18; Ps 47: 2-7; Jn 16:20-23 “No one will take your joy away from you.” (Jn 16:22) What reassurance we have from God regarding joy. How someone or something can take it away from us so easily is very disconcerting. Maybe instead of focusingContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 5-19-23”

Friday of the 5th week of Easter, May 12, 2023Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-10, 12; Jn 15:12-17 The other night, we were sitting at home and had just finished watching the news on TV. I was thinking to myself about all the noise I was hearing. The announcer was practically yelling in my face about theContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 5-12-23”

Friday of the 4th week of Easter, May 5, 2023Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2: 6-11; Jn 14:1-6 This week started with Jesus being the Good Shepherd, the one who will make sure we are protected and cared for. All week long we have been hearing about how Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd, but alsoContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 5-5-23”

3rd Friday of Easter, April 28, 2023Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1-2; Jn 6:52-59 Today we once again hear the story of St. Paul’s conversion. Dramatic and beautiful all on its own. Wouldn’t we all want a powerful conversion like that? I am not sure I would want to get knocked down and lose my sight. JustContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 4-28-23”

Friday, 2nd week of Easter, April 21, 2023 Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27: 1, 4, 13-14; Jn 6:1-15 A long time ago, a friend told me, “Don’t pick a fight with God, you can’t win.” What my friend was referring to was my unwillingness to fully commit my life to God. I believed in God, butContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 4-21-23”

Friday of the Easter Octave, April 14, 2023 Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27a; Jn 21:1-14 By the time this is published, and you read it, I will have met with a classroom of 4th graders asking (tough) questions about their faith. It always amazes me the questions they come up with: “Who made God?,”Continue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Homily 4-14-23”

Good Friday, April 7, 2023 Is 52:13-53:12; Ps 31:2,6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42 Preface: I will admit, this is from last year. But, when I read it in preparing for this year, I liked it so much, I decided to use it again. However, I would like to add one thing,Continue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 4-7-23”

5th Wednesday of Lent, March 29, 2023 Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; (Ps) Dn 3:52-56; Jn 8:31-42 How difficult it is sometimes to understand what altar we are standing in front of. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew very well what altar they were in front of. They were in front of King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden altar. AndContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 3-29-23”

4th Friday in Lent, March 24, 2023Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Ps 34:17-21, 23, Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 I enjoy reading the book of Wisdom because it gives us an insight into where the Jewish people were at about 100 years prior to Christ. It not only reminds us how they reacted to persecution, but it alsoContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 3-24-23”

Friday of the 1st week of Lent, March 3, 2023Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:20-26 When I read the readings for today, I almost burst out laughing. While my kids are grown now, I cannot tell you how many times I heard, ”It’s NOT Fair!!” And now, we have Ezekiel saying a similar thing, “TheContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Homily 3-3-23”

Friday after Ash Wednesday, February 24, 2023Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-6a, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15 When I was young, I often fasted for two reasons, one, because I was trying to get my body in shape for Cross Country season. I felt that if I fasted, I could strip all the excess fat from my body (evenContinue reading “Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 2-24-23”