Author Archives: kmwanek

The Gospel for today should prompt us to reflect on our interior lives, rather than just on the external.  In the passage, Jesus dines with a Pharisee and criticizes him for cleaning the outside of the cup and dish, but being filled with uncleanliness.  Going through external rituals and practices does not really show whoContinue reading “Interior Lives”

Last week, the Church celebrated the memorial of St. Jerome.  He is widely known for saying, “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.”  These seemingly simple, but profound, words have stuck with me since the time I first heard them.  The Bible is the living word of God.  Do we take time reading scripture inContinue reading “Ignorance of Scripture”

Over the weekend, I was on a CEW retreat.  After the activities for Saturday night had wrapped up, I went back to the conference room to grab my water bottle.  The lights in the room were off, the lights in the hallway outside the room were off, and the blinds in the room were closed. Continue reading “Turning on the Lights”

This reflection was first written for and posted in a parish bulletin. 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time As days in September go by, the leaves start changing and the air starts getting cooler.  September has always been one of my favorite months, but not just because the season of fall starts.  The month of SeptemberContinue reading “Brief Bulletin Reflection: Continual Conversion”

September 23rd is the Memorial of St. Padre Pio.  One of his most widely quoted mottos is, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”  This short and simple phrase seems easy enough to understand, but when it comes to actually following this in our lives, it can be much more challenging. Looking at this phrase, I thinkContinue reading “Don’t Worry”

Saturday night, the Mass I went to was offered for Fr. Ron Columbo.  He was a priest in the area and at my parish until I was 17.  I was reflecting on how great of a priest he was and how much of an impact he had on my faith.  Having him as a priestContinue reading “The Ones Who Impact Us”

We have so many blessings in our lives.  Yet, there is often more that we deeply desire.  The greatest blessing we have been given by God is His son, Jesus, who we can know and have a personal relationship with.  Recently, I’ve been reflecting on this question, “Is Jesus enough for me?”  And the answerContinue reading “More than Enough”

Last Friday, the Church celebrated the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe.  One famous quote that is attributed to him is, “the most deadly poison of our time is indifference.”  This is prevalent in our world today.  It is seen in hearts that are lukewarm in faith and for love of God.  Indifference is also seenContinue reading “The Deadliest Poison”

Today’s Gospel reading is a reminder to us that to serve and follow Jesus, we must die to ourselves in small ways and offer our lives to others, serving with love.  To die to ourselves means to let go of our own desires and to live a life that puts others first.  If we areContinue reading “Like the Grain of Wheat”

One evening on the Biking for Babies National Ride, we were at mass in Ames, IA.  We were sitting on the right side up in the front.  Directly across from us, on the left side, was a mom with a few kids.  One of the kids did not want to sit still and was movingContinue reading “Right There!”