Lisa Brenninkmeyer's Blog

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Matthew 24:37–44

It seems peculiar, perhaps, to think of death in the days leading up to Christmas. Isn't this the time for coziness and merriment, for joyful preparation, and nostalgic hymns, wrapping paper, ribbons, stockings, cookies, and an enjoyable sense of frenziedness? And yet, on this First Sunday of Advent, the Church urges us to reflect on the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. 

The beauty and wonder of Advent, I believe, lie in ...

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read: Luke 23:35-43

Here we are, my friend, at the end of another liturgical year. On the precipice of a new year, our Church presents us with a profound paradox this Sunday. So, put down the wreaths and candles and resist the temptation to bring all of those bins filled with decorations down from the attic. It’s not time for them just yet.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, we aren’t given the image of a golden throne o...

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 21:5–19

They didn’t flinch. They didn’t run in the opposite direction, lash out in anger, or burst into tears. At least if they did, Saint Luke didn’t record it. And it is right here, sitting with the disciples on the Mount of Olives, where I have inserted myself. I like to do this, you know—put myself in the story. And so here we are, admiring the temple of Jerusalem, as Jesus, just days away from His crucifixion, cautions us about everything we must s...

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read John 2:13–22

Sunday's readings highlight an essential truth: the stone temple, which was the sacred dwelling place of God, serves as a symbol of the living Church, the body of Christ. Saint Paul reminds us that with Christ as our foundation, we are God's building (1 Corinthians 3:9,11). He poses a brilliantly stirring question: "You are God's building … Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians ...

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read John 6:37–40

I keep photographs of my grandparents close by in my home office. They are my guiding stars. Each of them, in their own way, shared their faith with me and led me to this very moment.

When I reflect on the deposit of faith their examples left me, I’m filled with immense gratitude—and, yes, a twinge of sadness that they are no longer here to talk to. I can’t share a beer and pretzels with Gramps while we watch a ballgame, or sing Irish songs with...

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 18:9–14

The podium was at the perfect height, my notes were in place, and the microphone system was cooperating. I was minutes away from giving my most personal talk yet, a heavy subject suited for a mature audience. Moments before taking the stage, the event host came over to fill me in on one last detail she had failed to communicate: “I invited the children from religious education to join us.” With that, the back door swung open, and thirty second g...

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 18:1–8

You know when God keeps placing something on your heart, repeatedly, until you can no longer ignore it? That's where I've been lately. And the thing God keeps saying to me is this: persevere in prayer. 

There are situations in my life, in the world around us, that require steadfast, agonizing, unrelenting prayer. 

I know, in my head, that our prayers matter to God. But sometimes, I've been so overwhelmed by the size of some of these mountains tha...

Recently, I spent far too much time on hold with an insurance carrier only to be told they didn’t have a satisfactory solution to my dilemma. Having to call back multiple times and re-explain the entire situation almost caused me to lose faith in humanity. “They really don’t care,” I thought, as I struggled not to let it ruin my day. 

But what about when this happens with our prayers? What about when it seems like God is silent and we aren’t getting an answer?

Our world has conditioned us for in...

The 54-day Rosary novena should come with a warning label: “CAUTION: Only pray this if you are prepared for EVERYTHING to change.” 

Early in our marriage, my husband and I decided to pray the 54-day Rosary novena to discern the direction of our careers and to start a family. For those of you who haven’t ventured into this novena, it’s broken into two halves: the petition portion and the thanksgiving portion. We had no idea what we were getting into.

I remember exactly where I was the day we swit...

Dig Deeper into this Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 17:11–19

“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy …”[1]

These words may be familiar to us, as they are often prayed over us during Mass, so well-known that we could almost recite them in our sleep.

Yet, how often do we ponder what they actually mean?

This week’s Sunday gospel can shed some light for us.

In Luke 17, we encounter ten lepers who call out to Jesus for pity and m...