Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us what his disciples are to do: go through the narrow gate. What does that mean? Looking at the previous sentences in this passage, Jesus tells us to revere what is holy and to treat others as we would want to be treated. Basically, love God and love our neighbors. If you’ve been to Mass and heard the Gospel and other readings every Sunday, this might not come as a surprise.
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
In 1966, as an impressional 12 year old boy, I went with my grandmother, aunt (Sister Mary Edward, SIW), and cousins to see the newly released film, “A Man For All Seasons.” My aunt, a Sister of the Incarnate Word, was serving, at the time, as principal of St. Thomas More School in Parma, Ohio.
The play and film concerned the struggle of Thomas More, chancellor of England and revered throughout Europe as a man of much wit and conscience, over the 1534 Act of Succession recognizing Henry VIII as head of the Church of England. Henry had sought an annulment from Pope Clement VII to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Ann Boleyn. When the pope wouldn’t grant it, Henry made himself “pope.”
Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
One of the positive outcomes of the pandemic is that many people have turned to the great outdoors and nature to find refuge. Today in the gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples that there is much we can learn through the world around us. The birds and the flowers are dressed in beautiful array and are provided all of what they need from God’s loving providence. Jesus encourages us to grow in our faith and trust in God’s love for all that we need.
Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
I live near a university. At the end of every academic year, students move out of their dorms, apartments, and houses. I’m always amazed by the sheer volume of belongings they bring out. Many of those items end up in the Goodwill trucks that come onto campus or in nearby dumpsters. That time of year also prompts me to review what I own and donate things I no longer need. Today’s Gospel reminds me of this annual event. Jesus tells his disciples, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). His words challenge us to look at what we store up and to consider what we truly treasure.
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
“Our Father, who art in heaven…”
Today's Gospel features Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer.
The opening words of the Lord’s Prayer have become so familiar that we often speak them without a thought. Or worse yet, the old saying that “familiarity brings contempt” might be applicable. In other words, we are so familiar with the text that the words come to lose their meaning. This is not an uncommon thing for human beings.
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Be Bold! A quick internet search of this common contemporary imperative reveals books, podcasts, dance initiatives, scholarships, and more. Elisha certainly showed boldness in the first reading for today. When the prophet Elijah tells him to stay behind, Elisha responds to the great prophet, “No, I will not leave you.” Speaking up to the great prophet is certainly an act of boldness, and a public one at that, since 50 guild prophets are also following Elijah.
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
We have VERY challenging readings today. In 1 Kings, Ahab and Jezebel get their comeuppance for stealing the ancestral land of Naboth whom we heard about yesterday. From the beginning of this reading, we learn whose side God takes as He sends the prophet Elijah to “the vineyard of Naboth” to confront Ahab. Then for several verses we hear Elijah foretell God’s awful plans for Ahab and Jezebel and their family. The summary statement that Ahab had made himself “completely abominable” lands heavily. But then we get the end of the story. When Ahab sincerely repents, God notices and takes a step back from the horrors that were prophesied. This shows us that no matter how we have “given ourselves up to doing evil,” repentance is possible and will be noticed by God.
Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
“When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to them as well.” - Matthew 5:39b.
Bullying seems to be in vogue these days. From the highest echelons of American power to its lowest citizen. Dehumanizing-name-calling hardly gets in the way anymore of whether someone approves or disapproves of another.
Turn the other cheek? It is essential that, as we read/hear the scriptures, we place them in the context of the time and place from which they came. Knowing the particular literary form is also absolutely essential so as to not misinterpret what the inspired writers intended.
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
“I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, God.”
“I do.”
These phrases—so familiar, so simply stated, so easily deciphered. And so easily misunderstood. Not as to their meaning. But as to their significance.
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
True to my Celtic roots (although not 100% Irish, I have Irish ancestors on both sides), some years ago I was drawn to read J. Philip Newell’s book, Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality. One of the things I remember about the book is the reference to the image of the beloved disciple John leaning against Jesus at the Last Supper. Newell explains that in contemplative Celtic spirituality this is the image for the practice of “listening for the heartbeat of God.”
Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle
Each of us has been given a name at birth. In most western cultures we are given a family name or surname that identifies us with a certain family. Surnames in some cases were used to describe the profession (e.g. Eisenhauer- iron worker), the place where the family was from (Washington- someone from the town of Wassa), or even a relationship (my maiden name Broderick means a “descendant of Bruadar”.) We are also given a “first name” or forename in our society. These names are usually chosen to honor a previous relative (e.g. naming someone after a great grandma) or may even be based on naming them after a saint. Recently, I have talked with 2 expectant couples as they grapple with the task of finding the name which best captures the spirit of their soon to be son or daughter. Our names in some way communicate to others our families of origin, our ethnicity, but mostly over time they help identify who we are- this unique person in the world and our relationships to others.
Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
When I met my husband, who was a math major in college, he was part of the Missouri Club. This club, dedicated to math tutoring, was named after the “show me state.” While some people love math, others struggle not just to understand the laws of math, but especially to know when and how to apply them. A “simple” thing like order of operations - whether to add or multiply first and how parentheses work in math can be tricky. And my husband assures me that even 2+2 does not always equal four, depending on what base you’re in…what does that even mean?! Show me, don’t tell me!
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
It’s a grim scene in today’s first reading. Israel is in the middle of a long drought. Thirst and famine are gripping the land. Elijah meets a widow and asks her for water and food. Her first response is filled with hopelessness: She and her son are about to enjoy their last meal together before starving to death, so she can’t give any food to Elijah. Rather than shining with the joy of the lord, she is a dark and dismal presence. Are you ever afraid to give to those in need because you feel you don’t have enough to spare?
Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel features Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes. The Christology of Matthew depends a great deal on comparing Jesus and Moses, in their birth stories and especially as law givers. Here Jesus is the new and greater Moses. Matthew’s infancy narrative of Jesus is very much a retelling of the infancy narrative of Moses from Exodus. Continuing with this theme, as Moses received the old law on Mount Sinai so (in Matthew) Jesus gives the new law (by his own authority) in what has been called “the Sermon on the Mount.”
Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
In our Gospel today, we encounter a stark contrast between the piety and spirituality of the Jewish Scribes, the materially wealthy, and a poor widow. I think it’s fair to say the first two groups failed to embrace their poverty, while the widow, fully alive in her poverty, gave herself and what she had to God with reckless generosity. In what ways are we impoverished? Today may we receive the grace to trust God more and to invite him to transform us in the areas of our own need.
Memorial of St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
“The great crowds heard this with delight.” From today’s rather short gospel passage (Mark 12:35-37) this is what stood out to me. Who of us wouldn’t want to “delight” the crowds, “wow” the audience, or impress our social media followers? This gospel passage is a continuation of Jesus teaching and being questioned. And at this point, the crowds are impressed with Jesus, even delighted. But I don’t believe that was his goal. Jesus did not come to win the affection or admiration of people, although at times that did happen. He did not sacrifice the truth and his calling for the sake of his ego.
Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
“The Word of God is not chained.” - 2 Timothy 2:8-15
In their early ‘60s pop song Chains (written by Carol King), the Beatles sang, “Chains. My baby’s got me locked up in chains. But they aren’t the kind that you can see. These chains of love won’t let me be.” There are chains of love of another sort described in today’s first reading from 2 Timothy—the chains of Paul and the attempted chaining of the Word. This reflection will focus on the captive Paul —his physical chain could be seen, but even those manacles could not bind up the Word that Paul, while in prison, continued to proclaim.
Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
Each day, students gathered for our Christian morality, and no one bothered to turn on the lights. Every day, the professor would enter the room, look around, and with a twinkle in his eye he said, “God said, let there be light!” (flipping the switch), “And there was light!’ Dr. Tweisgye was a man filled with joy!
Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings present several invitations to keep our focus on God’s gifts to us and “the hope that belongs to God’s call” (Alleluia verse).
Memorial of St. Justin, Martyr
“In you, my God, I place my trust.”
The above refrain from today’s responsorial psalm (Psalm 91:2b) sums up the life of Justin Martyr (whose feast we keep today) and, in reality, all of the early Fathers of the Church. The early Christian Fathers are a gold mine in encountering the neophyte church in the first generations after the apostles.
Among them are Clement of Rome (30-100), Ignatius of Antioch (35-110), Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155), Justin Martyr (100-165), and Irenaeus of Lyons (130-202). In them we see how the Christian tradition began to take shape.