Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Late in the spring I took on a new ministry. Hospital Chaplaincy has challenged me on so many different levels. The lesson that I learn nearly every day is that life is short so appreciate every moment. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we are reminded life is short. At the time of Paul’s writing he believed that Christ’s return was imminent and therefore it would be better to remain single than to get married. These inspired words expressed the urgency in which Paul understood the situation.
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
The Corinthians are in trouble with Saint Paul in today’s first reading. Apparently, instead of settling disputes between themselves in the Christian community, they were going to non-church authorities. Paul calls these external authorities the “unjust ones.” He does not mince his words in this passage, saying that he says these things “to shame you.” What are we to make of such statements from Paul?
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today in the liturgical calendar we celebrate the nativity of Mary. I know many of our Christian friends wonder why Mary holds such an important role in our Catholic faith. A recent story in the news I think gives some insight. The killing of James Foley brought great sadness to many people around the world. In the midst of all the reports, there was an interesting article published about how he prayed the rosary during his captivity. He said, “I began to pray the rosary. It was what my mother and grandmother would have prayed. I said 10 Hail Marys between each Our Father. It took a long time, almost an hour to count 100 Hail Marys off on my knuckles. And it helped to keep my mind focused.” In the midst of praying the rosary, I believe that James Foley found courage and strength in his faith. Mary is not the object of Mr. Foley’s prayers, but she helps him focus on what will bring him peace and strength in the midst of his struggles- her son, Jesus Christ. Mary is the perfect Christian role model, and ideal intercessor, but most importantly Mary in total humility turns our gaze towards Jesus who is Emmanuel- “God is with us”.
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
First of all, I must confess that in asking to share a reflection tonight instead of Fr. Satish, I feel like the batboy who has just been called up to pinch-hit for Babe Ruth. Nevertheless, in a similar style, I will have three points upon which to reflect.
For a moment, call to mind the last time you were hurt or offended. What was it that someone said or did to hurt you? How did you respond? Jesus wants to be right in the middle of these situations—quite literally—and offers us practical wisdom on how to handle them. This week, I believe God speaks to us through the scriptures about encounter, changing the weather and harmony.
Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
As we close this Labor Day week I want to offer a thought about work and labor. The Church firmly advocates the dignity of work and the value, even need, for participating in fulfilling labor. However, the Church is not utilitarian. We believe that the dignity of the human person exists regardless of their ability or inability to do work. It is because of the person that the work gains dignity, and not the work that grants a human dignity. This is important for when work collides with pride.
Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
This school year has brought major changes to our house: our oldest kid is attending a new school, with an earlier start time, and my husband is now driving to Cincinnati several days a week to take classes, so isn't always here to do some of the things he's done a lot in the past, like picking up the kids from school or bedtime routines. The upshot of this for me is: life's a little crraaaaazy! I'm still at my regular full-time job, but also in charge of a lot of new things.
Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
A few years ago our family had the opportunity to go to Guatemala to visit my sister and her family living in Antigua. While there, we climbed a volcano nearly to the top and looked out to a neighboring volcano with it’s top above the clouds. It was for me an unexpected experience of God’s awesomeness and grandeur through this magnificent part of creation. I recall another time before having children of my own that I had the privilege of witnessing the birth of my friend’s baby. Seeing that little one for the first moments of his life outside of the womb, I witnessed, again, the awesomeness of God in a new way. I can be overwhelmed by the power of God in these moments, and humbled.
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
In speaking with a friend of mine recently we were discussing his special needs child and how much of their families focus is consumed meeting the child’s needs. Then my friend said to me I think I focus more on my child than I do on God. My response was overly simplistic but essentially quoted Matthew 25, and said that by ministering to their child they on some levels were ministering to Christ.
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
The lectionary readings today have a common thread. Each one bears witness to the reality of the Spirit of God in our midst. Paul, in his first letter to the church at Corinth, admonishes the community to be sensitive to this Spirit. The Spirit is actively present among them, “scrutinizing” all things and rendering the truth of God before their eyes.
Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
I am a bit of a news junkie. I read newspapers and watch several news channels nearly every day. Recently, I have
decided it is too much for me. I can get hooked on certain stories and events around the world and, before I know it, I feel the need to check in a little too often at the expense of my peace of mind and heart. One of the problems is that I feel the need to take sides on whatever issue is being discussed and I know I only have part of the story. When I looked at the readings today, I realized that this is where I actually live—only knowing part of the story. How can I make judgments when so much of the truth is hidden from me? I really only know part of the story.
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
I had a funeral this week that taught me some very important lessons. We buried Dino Adducio. Dino was a very faithful Catholic who for most part of his life was a regular mass goer. As Dino and his wife Carmella got older, they moved to N Carolina. But once there, Dino stopped going to church. From the notes that his family gave me, Dino got mad with God. Dino’s wife Carmella was sick most of her life and he had prayed to God for healing. Dino felt let down by God when she was not healed and stopped going to Church. I interpreted Dino’s anger and disappointment with God as an act of faith. It is like in a marriage – being mad with one another means that there still is a relationship; that people still care. In any case, it is how Dino died that is truly moving. On this particular day, Dino asked his wife to lay next to him in bed. She refused because she had things to get done in the house. He repeatedly asked her and after much insistence, she agreed. She slipped into bed with him and lay next to him. And that is how he died. Dino was mad with God, and God responded through this most beautiful parting gift for Dino and Carmella.
Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
God is not stupid. He is a great many things. He is wise, loving, truthful, merciful, and just. Actually, it is better to say that He is wisdom, love, truth, mercy, and justice. But he is not stupid. I think we know this intellectually, but sometimes we forget it internally. Because He is not stupid we can trust Him, but when we forget his wisdom, we become afraid. I want to examine this line of thinking by looking to our friend in today’s gospel, the third servant.
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
While we don't hear about John the Baptist very often, we actually know quite a bit about him, more than we know about many other principal people in the gospels (for example, most of the disciples): son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, slightly older cousin of Jesus, dresses and eats like the prophet Ezekiel (hair cloth and locusts), preaches to the people that they should repent and be baptized, baptizes in the Jordan River, tells a woman not to commit adultery (as in today's Gospel reading, Mark 6:17-29), admired and feared by King Herod but eventually beheaded by him. Further, one thing we don't read in scripture: John the Baptist has two feast days in the church. We celebrate both his birth and his death; the only others for whom that is the case are Mary and Jesus.
Memorial of Saint Augustine
My son loves to read Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go. In this book I am always struck by the page that describes “the waiting place.” This page often makes me sad, because I have been there – I have been stuck in “the waiting place”. You know that place – it’s when you don’t want to commit to anything or do anything because you’re waiting for the next big thing to happen. It’s when you put life on hold and stop living in the moment because we are obsessed with waiting for something.
Memorial of Saint Monica
Recently, I met a man who grew up during the depression, he told me about how their families poverty worried everyone in the family, except his mother. One day there came a knock on the door from a family they had never seen before. The father of this family told my mother that they had not eaten in two days and wondered if there was any food that could be shared with his family. The son watched as the mother gave the last food they had to this poor family. It was a loaf of bread. The man shared that he had asked the mother why she shared the last loaf and the mom replied don’t worry the Lord will provide. Later that evening a group came down their street passing out bread and gave their family three loaves. For this man, it was his mother’s strength that got their family through those tough times.
Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Many people don’t like to think about religion in terms of the “Law.” I know that many of the young people I work with would rather think about religion in “softer” ways--as a comfort or a vague sense of morality or as a place to turn when things get rough. But today’s readings remind us about the Law and about its place in our relationship to God. Jesus boldly calls the leaders in the Jewish community of his time “hypocrites” in today’s gospel reading. And this isn’t the only time he does it. Jesus calls them this and other scathing things throughout the gospels. Jesus seems particularly interested in them precisely because of their hypocrisy. Today’s reading is all about following the Law, the Torah. The Pharisees are concerned with external things but Jesus challenges them on this point. It’s as if they are only doing the dishes to show off to mom and dad, not to really be clean and serve others for the next meal. They are doing “things” but they are not concerned with whether or not those things are making them holier.
Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
We live in a world where materialism and competition drive so much of our lives. Unfortunately, I find that these become underlying influences that affect many parts of my life. I even find myself at times doing things- good things- more for my own personal recognition and accomplishment and less for the service and glory of God. The reading today reminds me that Jesus wants me to not to live a life of hypocrisy like the Pharisees. If I am to live for Christ, I must be like the gift on the altar. I am called to give everything I am to God for His praise, glory and honor. Like gold, my life has value since I am God’s creation, but my true worth is found when I give my treasures to God. My life and all I have should find value in the recognition of God’s love for me, not in the praise and recognition of others and their opinions of me.
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
I have lived in the United States for fourteen years now. I am a permanent resident. Numerous people have asked me if I am ready to get citizenship. Today, nothing about this great country stops me from applying for citizenship. There is one problem, however. If I do apply for citizenship, I have to discard my Indian citizenship and surrender my Indian passport. I have to shift my allegiance to the flag that I love saluted for 48 years and pledge my allegiance to a new flag. I have not been able to bring myself to do that as yet. I wish I could be the citizen of both these countries but that is not a possibility. So I have decided that as long as my parents are alive, that I will continue to hold an Indian passport and be an Indian citizen.
Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus Christ is an intense dude. Well dude might not be the best word, but I think you catch my drift. However, we can diminish His intensity in a flurry of tweet sized one liners from the Gospels. While those one-liners are valid, I want to refocus on the intensity of Christ and why it is important.