Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel recalls the beheading of John the Baptist. The church draws a parallel between this story and that of Jesus. Herod and Pilate recognize the sanctity of John and Jesus, and yet wield their power to unjustly have each of them killed. Similarly, Herodias held hatred toward John in the same way that Jewish leaders despised Jesus. The scene in the gospel is a bit unsettling. The imagery is gruesome and disturbing. What kind of corruption, seething hatred, and evil leads to this scene? We tend to hate that which we often fear. Mark shares that “Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.” (Mk 6:20)
Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
In the summer after her junior year in high school, our daughter (Anna) went on something of a study abroad trip to Paris that was organized by her French teacher. She was to stay with a French family that would show her around a bit and then she would engage in other activities and take trips here and there with her school group. All of that sounded great, and Bill and I were very supportive of Anna’s desire to go on this trip.
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Just as the infant Jesus was presented to God in the temple on that one historic day, so too does Jesus the Christ want to present himself in the temple of our hearts. Scripture tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Jesus desires to be and remain present to and with us, constantly dwelling deep within us. On this important Feast Day, let us pray for the graces of conversion that we might be more intimately united with our Lord who so earnestly desires to present himself to us.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes, I wonder how anyone in the New Testament could have thought that Jesus was anyone but God. Other times, like today’s Gospel (Mark 5:21-43), I understand how some of the things Jesus said could be considered off-putting. I sympathize with the guests at Jairus’ house, but ultimately I don’t think it’s right to follow their example.
Consider the scene Mark paints for us at Jairus’ house. His daughter has died. There are a whole collection of folks weeping at the loss of this twelve-year-old girl. The atmosphere around the entire building is somber as people begin to process and grapple with their grief – death is never easy, and for many, the death of a child is even more difficult. The father also isn’t present, as he’s gone seeking a teacher hoping he can help, so someone sends for Jairus to tell him it’s too late, don’t waste the teacher’s time. It’s time for Jairus to come home and grieve with his loved ones. Neither of the Gospel accounts of this story (Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:41-56) mention Jairus’ reaction in that moment, and they don’t have to. Undoubtedly, his heart sank into his stomach as a mix of guilt and fear take him over – this father who sought healing for his daughter couldn’t be present as she passed, and now he’s standing helpless before a stranger when he should have been home with his family.
Jesus responds by instructing Jairus not to be afraid - have faith (Mark 5:36), and takes off for Jairus’s house. This doesn’t seem like the most compassionate of responses. Nor does asking “Why this commotion and weeping? This child is not dead but asleep.” (Mark 5:39) The ridicule of those at Jairus’ house almost feels justified as a response – almost as if they’re saying to Jesus “stop pretending like this situation can be helped, and leave us to mourn on our own.” If the rest of this story played out like the guests would have expected, Jesus’ responses would be a major turn-off from following Him. But we know, of course, that things don’t go the expected direction. Jesus goes to wake Jairus’ daughter, and rather than appearing like a fool because she’s dead, she gets up and Jesus calls for her to have something to eat.
How often do we respond to our fear, guilt, and despair the same way Jairus’ guests do? How often do we turn inwards during the most painful times in our lives and decide not to bother anyone, least of all God, by seeking help? We say “leave us alone so we can deal with ourselves, there’s nothing else that can be done. Don’t waste your time.” All the while, God is telling us the opposite, and often the thing we least want to hear. The instruction to “just have faith” is frustrating when we’re convinced nothing can be done. It feels either glib, fake, or like misplaced hope. The temptation to leave faith at the door and leave the teacher alone is strong, but we cannot let it prevail. God likely isn’t going to reverse our situation and make it like it was before, but through our faith, we can be truly consoled and grow in understanding of God in the process.
In the face of our most difficult moments, let us be like Jairus, and resist the temptation to be like his guests. Let us respond to despair and pain with faith, and may we never decide it’s better to “leave the teacher alone.”
-Marty Bagatti
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
King David: lion wrestler, Goliath slayer, mighty warrior. But in our first reading today he is on the run, barefoot, and fleeing assassination at the hand of his own son. Life crumbling around him, David is unhinged. On top of all this, he's harassed by a deranged heckler accusing the monarch of undaunted pride, the root of all sin. His life unraveling, David admits he has placed himself before YHWH, arrogance the source of his misfortune.
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Living with uncertainty is part of the human condition. We do not know what will happen tomorrow or even in the next hour. Most of the time we just continue to move forward in our daily routine not terribly concerned about what tomorrow will bring. Then something shocking occurs- an accident, a diagnosis of cancer, a pandemic. Suddenly the future seems unsure and there is an increasing worry about what will happen. In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds the disciples to have faith when situations arise that may be overwhelming. Jesus calls us to increase our faith in Him as well when we face challenges that seem insurmountable. Jesus desires us to trust in God’s love for us no matter the circumstances.
Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, priest, theologian and Doctor of the Church, who early in his studies earned the nickname “the Dumb Ox” due to rarely speaking. This “dumb ox,” according to Robert Ellsberg (author of Blessed Among Us), was not only declared a Doctor of the Church but also declared “prince and master of all Scholastic doctors” by Pope Leo XII. Today I am reflecting on the suggested readings for this Memorial, rather than the Ordinary weekday readings, as we remember this significant saint and servant of God who died before the age of fifty.
Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
“Is a lamp to be placed in a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?” asks Jesus in today’s gospel passage from Mark (Mk. 4:21). The answer to this is quite obvious; a light is not made to be hidden or secret. One way of interpreting this passage is in relation to our lives as Christians. We are not called to live our Christianity in secret, consigning it to the private areas of our lives. Rather, we are called to witness to God’s love in each action of our lives, bearing testimony to the multitude of blessings God has given us.
Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops
Today’s Gospel speaks to me in a fresh new way. Jesus’ metaphor of sowing seed speaks to me of the inherent life, rhythms of life, and fruitfulness that God designed, maintains, and sustains in the creation. All around us are signs of life – the rhythm of the seasons, the reproductive cycles of all living things, the fruitfulness that comes from all plant and animal life. In the Bible we frequently encounter metaphors from the creation because God’s plans and purposes are all about life! We only have to look around us to see evidence of that truth! Just as God commands us in Genesis to be fruitful and multiply, I see that same invitation from Jesus today. Be fruitful and multiply in your spiritual life, in your discipleship! Just as seed sown in fertile soil yields an abundant harvest, so does God’s word sown in us. In John’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ words, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus wants every aspect of our lives to be full, to be fruitful, to overflow in abundance. In today’s Gospel, I hear Jesus calling us to embrace and embody our place in God’s plan of life. Let us take our place, along with all of Creation in being full of life and life-giving to others!
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
A few months ago, I was having a conversation with a handful of seventh graders. Not all of them were Catholic, and sometimes this means I get to say things that shock & confuse them, causing them to ask a lot of questions. On this particular day (I can’t remember why), I casually mentioned to them that St. Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, was a murderer. The table I was sitting with turned into an uproar (sorry teachers!), and at least one of these teens asked point-blank “So all I have to do is say I’m a Christian and I’ll get to go to Heaven?” Unfortunately, his ride came to pick him up, so I wasn’t able to teach him about repentance or conversion or why “becoming a Christian” wasn’t as simple as he made it sound. Instead, I’ll just talk about it here.
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, patron of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Today is our feast day. And the feast day for Emmanuel, Holy Angels, St. Benedict the Moor, St. Albert the Great, CJ, UD, XU, and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains---because Francis DeSales is patron saint of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Recently our readings have centered on true authority. A Dayton pastor once told me that due to the prominent military presence in this town his parishioners “understood the chain of command.” He didn't imply that they would simply roll over and never question. Far from it. But ultimately they respected where the buck stopped and who had to answer to the archbishop.
Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes up the mountain and summons his disciples. When they had gathered together, Jesus appointed the Twelve and named them Apostles. He called these disciples to follow him and then sent them forth to preach the Good News. He gave them the authority to drive out demons. Saints and sinners alike throughout history have questioned their value and worthiness to be a disciple of Christ. St. Therese of Lisieux described that “he does not call those who are worthy, but those whom he pleases.” Jesus summoned “those whom he wanted.” They were “to be with him” – as disciples and friends “to be sent forth.”
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
I have a Facebook account, but I rarely post anything personal. I’m pretty sure that the last time I did so was winter 2020 before the lockdown. Bill and I were on the Flight Deck at a UD basketball game thoroughly enjoying the best Flyer men’s basketball season we had ever witnessed. I took a picture of Bill broadly smiling with his glass of wine at half time as the Flyers looked poised to be in the running for a national championship.
Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Serving God faithfully is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple and it demands a radical trust in the Lord. This is not always an easy task as it seems we regularly encounter obstructions to our faith. These challenges may be people or situations that present roadblocks or bog us down leaving us without the energy to move forward. These truly may be impediments. However there is another level that lies below the surface and they call us to dig deeper. The pretenses of today’s scripture stories leave us mystified as to the depth of courage needed to serve the Lord.
Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
In our first reading, Samuel has called the whole town of Bethlehem together for a banquet. Everyone is supposedly there, including Jesse and his sons, one of whom will be the next king. The sons are dressed up and looking their best. But the Lord reminds Samuel, and us, that the outward appearance is not an accurate way to judge.
Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot
“He's in his honeymoon period.” When have you heard that line before? Maybe it was said about you when you started a new job, got married, or entered into a contract of some kind.
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Over the past year, I have enjoyed viewing the series “The Chosen.” This series follows the gospels and focuses on the lives of those who had been chosen by Jesus to follow Him. The creators use some creative license to bring to life these people who lived and traveled with Jesus long ago. One point that is emphasized throughout the series is the idea that all are called- even those who seem unworthy or undeserving. Today’s scripture readings highlight this same theme of being chosen. Saul and Levi are both called by God to follow God’s will for them. We are also being called by God to follow. Are we listening and are we able to say “yes” to that call?
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
As a parent and having previously been a child myself, I recall both speaking and hearing something like, “Well, don’t complain (or come crying!) to me when…” after stubborn persistence won out and warnings fell on closed ears. (You can probably fill in the blank above from your own experience.) Today’s Old Testament reading from the First Book of Samuel (8:4-7, 10-22a) has a similar feel. Let’s take a closer look.
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel we find Jesus moved with pity after encountering a leper in the street. Leprosy was a living death sentence. The afflicted person was isolated from family and members of the community. Because they were highly contagious, lepers had to shout “Unclean!” wherever they went. Not only did Jesus approach the leper but he touched him, spoke to him, and gave him his freedom to be fully human again. However, Jesus’ next move can be a bit puzzling. “Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” Why was Jesus so worried that people would find out about his healings and miracles?
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Well now what? After all of the joy and wonder of the past few weeks, we have now entered ordinary time through the bookend of the Christmas season that is the Baptism of the Lord. It is through the waters of baptism that we enter a life of discipleship. Our discipleship can sometimes get lost in the day to day grind of living, our own “ordinary time”. Today’s reading is a guide of how to be alive in a ways that lead us to serve the Lord faithfully.