Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In Michelangelo’s very famous fresco painting The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, we see God’s finger extended and pointing or reaching toward Adam’s barely extended finger -- nearly, but not quite, touching. Today’s gospel passage (Luke 11:15-26) also references God’s finger in Jesus’ response to accusations that he is driving out demons not by the power of God but by the prince of demons. “If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” So what is this about the finger of God?
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Sometimes it seems disadvantageous to be a Christian. Have you ever had the experience of trying to do something that you knew was right, only to suffer for your efforts? Have you ever made a sacrifice, knowing it was the loving thing to do, only to find yourself forced to endure more challenges as a result?
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, we hear Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer. What a great opportunity to ponder this prayer today, and perhaps even to awaken to its power to transform our lives.
We find Jesus praying, and from the text we can surmise that the disciples were observing him. I wonder how Jesus was praying – what was his posture, his demeanor, what form did his communion with his Father take? Was he speaking to the Father, listening, both? Or perhaps just sitting in stillness. Whatever Jesus was modeling, it captivated the disciples’ attention such that one of them was moved to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray!” What a humble request. Certainly, faithful Jews lived a life of prayer and were accustomed to knowing what, how, and when to pray. Just as this disciple was drawn to Jesus’ modeling of prayer, I’m drawn to the disciple’s humility and teachability. I’m moved today to say, “Lord, teach me to pray!”
Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
I was once given this vaguely helpful piece of advice: If you want to make it seem like you’re contributing to a meeting where you don’t have anything to say, wait until a random time when two people are disagreeing and proclaim “what we need to do is find the right balance between your approaches.” It isn’t actually helpful, but it sounds wise.
Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi
As Christians we are called to be merciful. In today’s scripture reading, Jesus explains what it means to be a “neighbor” by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer who was testing Jesus recognizes that the neighbor in the story is the “one who treated him (the victim) with mercy.” (Luke 10: 32) Being merciful is more than just being kind. Showing mercy implies that the person receiving the kindness may not even be “worthy” or deserving of the blessings, but the giver extends the benefits anyway. Because of Jesus, we can learn firsthand what it means to receive mercy, because He forgives us even though we are not worthy. Jesus paints a picture of love, compassion, and self giving in the parable of the Good Samaritan, and then He turns to us and sends us forth saying, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Today’s scriptures mention sins that are extremely easy to commit. For instance, it is altogether too easy to disregard “the little ones” that Jesus speaks of in today’s gospel reading (Matthew 18:1-5, 10). There is the visceral reaction people give toward children: many get frustrated with having to travel next to young children on airplanes, or see them in restaurants, or anywhere other than a playground. I am also very conscious now, both as a parent and as a catechist of little ones, how much people dismiss that two year olds or three year olds might say anything important about what we think is important, including God, money or politics. And yet, it is the three year olds who are capable oftentimes of naming mysteries about God in very deep ways (and actually, I think they often have wise words about money and politics, too!).
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Today’s optional readings for the Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus offer several images of nurturing or comforting children and looking to children as models for our path to the Kingdom of heaven. Isaiah compares the joy and comfort we shall find in Jerusalem to the delight of nursing infants and mothers comforting their sons; our psalm references a child who is stilled and quieted on its mother’s lap; and the Gospel is the familiar story of Jesus placing a child in the midst of the crowd and urging us to humble ourselves like children. All of these together conjure images of peace, joy, reverence and respect.
Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Jesus says, “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”
These days when no shortage of preachers insist that all good Christians are persecuted by secularists or suffer as victims of humanists and atheists, this statement might easily be read as a call for us to sign up as culture warriors.
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
Today is the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. As we venerate these mighty messengers of God, let us thank God for all the many ways that God speaks to us, protects us, watches over us, provides for us, intervenes for us, saves us, and loves us.
Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading presents us with a familiar scene. Zechariah tells us that there will be a day when folks from all over will seek God. We’re told they’ll search far and wide to find God in Jerusalem to seek His favor. It’s a familiar image, and in many ways, a comforting image. Zechariah tells us, plain as day, that eventually everyone is going to want to follow God. It’s comforting to be reminded that our God is God, and that everyone around is going to come to us, seeking God. In many ways, this first reading serves as a helpful reminder that, through troubles and doubts and a world that would tell us differently, God is worth seeking. There is a desire in the “ten men of every nationality,” who do not know God, to seek Him out. We can find, through the desire in their hearts, some evidence that we have what everyone will seek.
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
One of my most vivid memories of junior high school was feeling I was never good enough. I remember experiencing strong feelings of jealousy and rejection. I saw girls who were pretty and smart and ‘cool’ and the jealousy I felt led to me try so hard to be different, to be more special, or to be just plain ‘more’. I remember the agony this caused during that period of my life. If there was ever a time I could choose to relive it would never be that time! These many years later, I realize how damaging this was. Those feelings of jealousy left me not only feeling personally inadequate—it led my disdain of those who were the object of my jealousy. It strongly distracted me from what God wanted me to be during that tender and tumultuous time of life. The sin of jealousy led to developing habits contrary to the basic charity I was called to as a Christian and it led me away from God. I did not realize this at the time, I only knew how intense my feelings were and allowed those feelings to drive my behavior. Had I recognized my feelings were not based in fact, I think those years would have been quite different.
Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Our world seems overwhelmed with suffering, death, and disasters. It sometimes feels that God is missing. Today’s scriptures remind us that God has promised us to be in our midst, even in the times of sorrow, pain, and loss. Jesus assures us that He knows our suffering, and we are never alone. We need to pay attention to the many ways that God is in our midst.
Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
I’ve often wondered why in today’s gospel passage (Luke 9:18-22) Jesus rebukes Peter for correctly answering his question, “But who do you say that I am?.” Well, today some footnotes in my bible shed a new light on Jesus’ response to that question. You may already know that in certain groups of Palestinian Jews at the time of Jesus the title of “Messiah” had political meaning. For them it referred to the expected royal leader from the line of David who would restore the kingdom to Israel. If I understand correctly, this was a “here and now” expectation of one in whom they could place their hope for an earthly, political savior. Really, who can blame them? How many of us have looked for political leaders to “save” us from any number of worldly problems and conflicts? And aren’t we disappointed when they don’t live up to our expectations?
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Today’s responsorial psalm has an interesting refrain: “The Lord takes delight in his people” (Ps 149:4a). The root of this word “delight” is love, as is echoed in the line which says “For the LORD loves his people” (Ps 149:4). It is one of the great tenants of Christianity that God loves us, but yet we do not often think of the Lord delighting in us. We might notice that in this psalm, the people are described as also rejoicing in the Lord, praising God and exalting him. One insight we could take from this is that the Lord delights in human beings recognizing him as God. Of course he loves us regardless, but God really delights in us returning his love. Why might this be?
Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
As I prayed today’s readings, I strongly sensed God’s promise never to leave us, forsake us, or abandon us. I imagine that each of us, at one time or another – perhaps even today, have felt abandoned. Sometimes we feel abandoned by God; more often, perhaps, we experience abandonment by other people who should be accepting and inclusive. At times we project the rejection of others onto our relationship with God. In the brokenness of our human experience, feeling alone and isolated happens all too often. We hear God’s Word and sometimes, rather than feeling comforted and strengthened by it, we feel that it applies to others and not to us. I pray that today we might awaken more and more to the reality of God’s love and presence with us and to walk in renewed confidence that God’s promises are sure and true for each of us.
Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist
Why doesn’t God speak to us? It’s a common lament. Yes, we are taught God speaks through the Word in Scriptures, and that Christ is present in various ways at Mass, and in the poor and marginalized of the our world. But why can’t the Lord just say ‘hello’ from time to time? It seems the life of faith would be a bit easier if we could just talk to God in a typical, carnal chat from time to time.
Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
Today's reading really brought home the image of God as Alpha and Omega. Repeatedly we saw beginnings and we saw endings. In all of these there's God.
Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s First Reading (1 Timothy 6:13-16) opens with an assignment: We are charged, before the Father and the Son, to follow the commandments and to wait for the Second Coming of our Lord. We are reminded that God “gives life to all things,” that Christ “gave testimony” to his executioner, and that the fullness of God’s glory will someday be “made manifest.”
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
In our readings today, Paul says, “The love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Tm 6:10). Greed is behind all evil designs. Money – and power, fame and influence--is not bad in and of itself. However, we can never serve God and money at the same time. The love of money sickens our minds, poisons our thoughts, even our faith, leading us down the path of jealousy, hatred, suspicion, and conflict. While money begins by offering a sense of wellbeing, wealth can quickly lead to vanity, selfishness and sinful pride if we are not careful. When we worship money, it becomes an idol; disrupting our relationship with God and often our relationships with others.
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
There are plenty of times when I read the scriptures for the day and I am confounded by them. Often, they just seem to me to be from another world. And, of course, they are. And whenever I have that experience, I am humbled. As I should be. The Bible is an incredibly complex collection of texts. No doubt, that is a big part of the reason why we want to read it again and again and again.