Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
I am always struck by how hard Jesus works to keep his identity a secret in the Gospels. Today’s Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) is one such example. In it, we see Jesus perform the first miracle in Mark – curing a man possessed by a demon. Notice what the demon says before being cast out, “I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24) Jesus, having heard enough, commands the demon to be quiet and get out of the man. I come away from this passage with one burning question: Why is the demon knowing Jesus’ identity such a threat?
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
On Christmas Eve I stopped at a CVS to pick up some last minute items. When I entered the store I stopped dead in my tracks. It was only Dec. 24 and the CVS was decked out for Valentine's Day. Heart shaped candy boxes and valentine greeting cards as far as the eye could see--- and not a sprig of holly or a single candy cane in sight. Elevator music supplanted Christmas carols, even Santa displaced by Cupid. Of course, I had to remind myself, our consumerist culture doesn't follow the liturgical year of the Catholic Church.
Saturday after Epiphany
“He must increase; I must decrease.” These words of John the Baptist at the end of today’s gospel are the mantle of Christian humility. We know that John the Baptist came before Jesus and baptized his followers, always speaking of one greater who will come and baptize with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, earlier in the Gospel of John, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:36). According to all of our sources, John had quite a following in first century Palestine. One could imagine that as such a renowned figure, he would be tempted to draw all of the attention to himself. Yet, by God’s grace he humbly fulfilled his role as the one who prepares the way of Jesus. John the Baptist becomes one of the most profound examples of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus – a disciple is one who always directs attention to the Master. Despite John’s important role in God’s plan, he didn’t think himself worthy even to untie Jesus’ sandal straps (Jn 1:27).
Friday after Epiphany
Today’s Gospel story from Luke tells of Jesus healing a leper. It is profound, miraculous, and joyful. The courage of the leper to approach Jesus, the great compassion and love Jesus shows, and the impact of the miracle (“great crowds assembled”) are all noteworthy and insightful. Twice in the same day, in two completely different places and contexts, I read the words, “hope is an action.” Luke describes how the leper saw Jesus, fell prostrate, and pleaded with him. These actions are manifestations of the leper’s hope. He hoped for a better life for himself and took action to make it happen. If we, as disciples, are truly people of hope, we must also be people of action. We can take action to advocate for our own needs and the needs of those around us.
Thursday after Epiphany
When Jesus arrives in Nazareth, the people of his hometown have some idea of who he is. His ministry is in its early days yet the word is getting around. And the people of his hometown are excited. Their hometown son is a thing. And he has chosen to come home.
I try to imagine an analogy. Try this one. It’s obviously limited. But maybe it works, in a way.
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
In today’s Gospel, I see three potential barriers that keep us from recognizing the presence of Christ and his activity in our world – fear, lack of understanding, and hard-heartedness. Our first reading offers a solution: God’s love being perfected in us. Today, let us be receptive to God’s extravagant love and so seek to be filled to overflowing with that abundant love.
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
“God is love.” It is easy for me sometimes to forget how important the message is that is conveyed by this simple phrase. These words have been spoken and heard so often that their meaning for Christians can become lost. The readings in the lectionary for today focus our attention on the question of what it means to say that God is love. In short, they teach us that God’s love is revealed to us through God’s gift of Godself in the person of Jesus Christ.
Monday after Epiphany
It may feel to us that Christmas is already over. The pre-Christmas shopping frenzy has been changed into a post-Christmas clearance shopping. Gifts have been exchanged, family gatherings have happened, and now the world moves on to the next holiday. In our Church, however, we continue to celebrate Christmas – that wondrous even that brought our savior to us as a humble babe.
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
As the New Year begins, many hope that there will be something good and positive in the year ahead. The scripture readings today speak about God’s desire to bless us and fulfill the promises of mercy and love that have been made from ages past. Mary shows us how to trust in God’s word and to live out that faith filled with hope and courage.
The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
I admit it’s long confounded me: what exactly is meant by “the Word”? This beginning of today’s poetic gospel passage from John (1:1-18) about the preexistence of Jesus Christ and His relationship to God the Father, similar to other poetry, calls for some reflection and even a little scholarly interpretation. I understand from the later verse, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” that it is referencing Jesus; but why, “the Word”?
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
“Did you forget?” I hear that question sometimes. Maybe I was supposed to ask an important question, or maybe Bess and I are preparing to host a guest. For any number of reasons there is something that needs to happen or is happening, and I need to remember it. I need reminders. I need a google calendar notification, a note on the fridge and a verbal reminder from Bess. We all need constant reminders sometimes and today's first reading has a few for us. I have three quick points to draw from them.
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
I’m captivated by Simeon in today’s Gospel. Luke tells us that Simeon was righteous, devout, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. Simeon was hyper-alert to the presence of Christ. Let us pray today for that same level of receptivity to the Holy Spirit and to the presence of Christ in and around us. Today, may the salvation given to us through Christ become our worldview, influencing and guiding how we live our lives.
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
I have been reflecting a lot on the person of Joseph throughout this Advent and Christmas season. I am struck by his humanity amidst the divine. He is the only member of the Holy Family who was not immaculate - he was sinful, just as we all are - and therefore so deeply human and in many ways so much more relatable. Joseph to me is a prayerful, faithful man. He listens to God's will and he says yes. But what really connects me to Joseph is that he often seems like the do-er in the family. He sees what has to get done and he makes it happen - and in that there is great love. Joseph loves through his actions because he is meeting the needs of those he loves. And right now in my life, I often feel like this is what I can contribute. I can prayerfully listen to God's will and then live out this will, working to do what needs to be done to take care of the people around me.
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
How many guys do you know named John (in Hebrew Yohanan)? Or Sean, Jack, Ivan, Ian, Juan, Giovanni, Jan, or Hans? Probably not as many as you would have known in 1st century Palestine.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent
In today's gospel, we read the Canticle of Zechariah. Each day in Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church invites us to pray with Zechariah, father of “the prophet of the most high”, the one who “will go before the Lord to prepare his way”, St. John the Baptist. This song of praise we sing today gives glory to our good God. Zechariah manifests much of what we can experience in our own faith life. Zechariah fell victim to doubt, to complacency in his unwillingness to believe the angel when he was told that Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age. But what we witness today in his rejoicing after nine months in silence is profound rejoicing–the discovery of deep, clear, articulate and insightful knowledge that God “has raised up for us a mighty Savior.” He has recognized that his child would be the one who would announce the coming of the Lord–the one to prepare the way.
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent
As our daughter, Anna, was moving through adolescence and into adulthood she got messages, from certain corners of her biological father’s family, that she was an introvert. In their minds, she was not one to put herself forward in any way. She was shy. Quiet. Reserved. She was the sort of “girl” who loved to have her nose in a book (Anna does love to read) but had no interest in taking a chance, stepping out, seeing what she could do.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
As we enter into the final days of preparation for Christmas, we are presented with two types of fear– a holy fear of the Lord and a prideful fear of losing earthly power.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Today’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-45) is the all-too familiar scene of the Visitation. I say “all-too familiar” because it is the exact same Gospel that we read this past Sunday. For many, it is also just a familiar scene – Mary, now pregnant with Jesus, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is only a few months further along than Mary, and her baby “leaps” in her womb upon hearing Mary’s voice. It’s a story that’s familiar with a rhythm we’re used to. But the moment that I started reading this Gospel story, I was immediately struck by a thought:
I never really think about Elizabeth.
Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
I have always liked the line from the first reading from Isaiah that states, “Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God?” I can only imagine how often God is exasperated and weary by our lack of faith. If only we would just do what God is telling us to do; if only we would ask and expect the impossible; then perhaps we would not weary God so much.
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Throughout Advent we sing “O Come O Come Emmanuel” as we await the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. Emmanuel- God is with us. Do we realize the significance of this belief? If God is with us, how should this impact the way that we live?