Tuesday of the sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s reading challenges us to examine both the sources of our sinfulness and our inability to remember the goodness of God.
The first reading, from James, attends to the origin and consequences of sin and temptation. On one hand, temptation is neither a creation of God nor an action of God towards His creation. It is our human desires that give rise to temptation. This desire gives birth to sin. In turn, sin gives birth to death. On the other hand, all good things are gift from God. God does not will either sin or temptation. Instead, God wills only the good for humanity, the “word of truth.” It is God’s will that we might be the first fruits of God’s creatures.
Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
s social life was centered on church or involved relatives and friends who were catholic as well. I barely knew the kids in the neighborhood that went to public school. Looking back now, I can see that is was a bit insular in some respects and I know my parents made the greatest sacrifices to send all of us to Catholic schools, but the benefits far outweighed any shortcomings. Growing up in the context of a strong faith community, having friends who shared the same background and values, and feeling at home there created a sense of security in my life that I do not think I can ever fully appreciate. It is where my faith was born and it is where my faith was fed and nurtured. And all of this was accomplished by individuals working together to create that community of faith.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
It would take a weekend retreat to do justice to the depth of today’s readings. And for that reason, I have decided to go directly into the three practical implications. My vantage point in reflecting upon these reading is the phrase – “Immense is the wisdom of the Lord” (Sir 15:18). In fact, if we reflect upon all the three readings together we realize that they all talk about the wisdom of God made know to us by God, because God loves us. In today’s second reading too, Paul talks about God’s wisdom – mysterious and hidden (1 Cor 2:7). Jesus too, in today’s gospel reading refers to God’s Law as something eternal. That is why he says that, “not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” (Mt 5:17-18)
Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Throughout my faith journey I've heard many claims about scripture that have caused me to scratch my head and wonder. I've heard people say, “Come on, you're not supposed to take the Bible literally.” I've also heard, “People need to stop looking for allegory in Scripture, why don't they take the Word of God seriously and for what it says?” And I've heard everything else in between those two. Now, I have neither the desire, nor the qualifications to write a discourse on “How to Read the Bible.” In light of today's gospel though, I do want to bring up three considerations.
Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop
Most of you probably know that the Catholic Church has been focused on "the New Evangelization" for a couple years now. The New Evangelization is meant to encourage people to spread the Good News of Jesus (as Christians have done for centuries) but with an eye to our particular contemporary needs. For example, the New Evangelization emphasizes a need to be present online and to witness to Jesus in relation to all our technology. The New Evangelization also recognizes that people today often wonder about the relationship between science and God, and whether our views of science mean that belief in God is false - and so we are asked to consider these real concerns of people and address them.
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time
My parents loved to listen to Crosby, Stills and Nash. When I think back to my childhood many of their songs fill the soundtrack of my memories. Today’s readings made me think of one their most popular songs – “Teach your children well.” Even as a child I remember liking this song. I loved that it spoke to parents and children to both teach each other. Now as a parent I see the truth of that sentiment even more so. For as much as I am teaching and forming my children they are teaching and forming me as well. The parent/child relationship is one of the most important relationships in the world and as parents teaching our children well is one of the biggest responsibilities we will ever have.
Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lately, I have been exposed to a variety of points of view that are on both sides of the spectrum, some to the right and some to the left. At times it is hard to discern what it is that I am supposed to believe. It seem that I am being asked to choose between the two sides. What is interesting is that in praying with the two different schools of thought I realize I do not need to choose. The Spirit, Wisdom, helped me to understand that both schools lead to the same ends.
Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The first two readings for today are rich with the thought of where God dwells. Solomon, Israel’s great leader and builder of the majestic Temple, prays that God will look favorably on what he has built. He begins his prayer with an interesting question: “Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth?” By the end of his prayer, he asks that God listen to it from God’s “heavenly dwelling.” It thus remains a bit ambiguous where we are to find God: can we seek him here or is he far away? In today’s psalm, we hear the refrain, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!” The ambiguity from Solomon’s prayer persists here, as the verses alternate between imagining God’s heavenly dwelling and rejoicing in finding his presence here on earth.
Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Have you ever had the experience where you saw or met a famous person-maybe a famous sports star, movie star or some important political figure? My niece who lives in NYC said that one time at a spinning class, Kelly Ripa was on the bike right next to her. When I think about these possible chance meetings, I wonder if I would actually recognize these famous personalities. The fact that I probably have seen their pictures on the TV, movie screen, magazines or newspaper makes it easier, and I probably may even recognize their voice from hearing them speak on one of the many mediums that news is shared. This idea was brought to mind when I read today’s gospel reading and was struck by the phrase the people “immediately recognized” Jesus. Without TV, internet, movies, books, newspapers or any other form of technology these people who never had seen Jesus before recognized Him. This reading helps me to reflect on the importance of “recognizing” Christ in my life. When I recognize Him, I can go to Him and experience His love and mercy. I can also bring others to Christ, so they too may know His healing presence.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I grew up India. American sports like football and baseball have been alien to me the fourteen years I have been in America. I am getting am too tired of being embarrassed at not knowing the difference between the Bengals and the Reds. The other day, Fr. Dave wanted to know if I would like to go with him to a Reds game and I said to him that I did not like football. So this Super Bowl, I decided to make a heroic effort to get into the great American sports tradition. I watched most of the Super Bowl. After the game, I pondered that I must continue to live in my blissful ignorance. I even watched the ads and the half-time show just as I was told. Even that hat did not do it for me. The only ad I really like was for alcohol and that made me cringe. I thought that Super Bowl LXVIII was boring, disappointing and over rated. I have the funny feeling that I will continue to embarrass myself for quite some time more.
Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
My wife and I are blessed to be friends with a couple who serve as youth ministers for a non-denominational church community in northern Ohio. Recently they shared with us the story of a young girl who had been bringing her Catholic friend to their youth group. According to our friends, the Catholic girl, although described as “very Catholic”, seemed to not understand what it meant to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus. Looking for advice from a Catholic perspective, our friends reached out to us in an effort to better communicate with this girl and bridge the apparent language divide. With many experiential, catechetical, family, and social factors still unknown, I found myself offering broad, general advice. This is a portion of the message with which I replied:
Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs
You’ve heard the saying, “It’s better to give than to receive,” but I would like to argue that sometimes the opposite is true and harder to do. When we give to someone, especially if that person is in need, we can have a sense of having some power over that person, or of being somehow better, or in control of the situation. To receive, however, requires an openness, a humility, an acknowledgement that I am in need of something that the other person is offering, whether it be something tangible like a meal or place to stay or money, or something intangible like their listening ear, their service or assistance with something, or simply their love. I, at least, find that it is sometimes harder to let myself be vulnerable and graciously receive.
Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr
Recently, I misplaced something that I needed. In looking for it everywhere I grew more frantic. I was sure I had put it in a safe place where I could find it. Throughout the process of looking, I forgot to pray and I blamed myself for being so careless. Finally as a last resort, I sat down giving up, and I realized that I had place my hand on top of the book for which I was looking. I realized almost immediately that this experience was a spiritual lesson. The book represented God for me, and it was as close as the palm of my hand. If only I had trusted better in myself and the Lord I would have spared myself extra grief.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
It is sometimes said that human beings take a leap of faith in order to believe in God or to practice their religion. Faith does not always have a great reputation. It is sometimes considered irrational since the things of faith cannot be seen. In addition, it is sometimes awkward to talk of faith to others in a public setting, because we realize that many others do not share our faith. Despite the questions that can be raised about faith, nevertheless the gospel reading for today speaks of the importance of faith, even for our lives today.
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
I met a young man several years ago who was an alcoholic and drug addict. His life was in shambles because of his addictions. This young man had recently been released from prison for drug charges and attempting to kill his wife. He had lost everything. After his release from prison, he was placed on a waiting list for admission to a treatment facility and, in the meantime, attended meetings several times a day trying to get sober. When he finally got admitted as an inpatient he was still drinking heavily and using other substances. One day several months later, I ran into him and was startled by his appearance. Initially, I did not recognize him. He told me he had been clean and sober for 5 months and that it was truly an act of God that had saved him.
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
In some ways we are making a retreat back to the Christmas season. Feb 2nd is the feast of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. This year Feb 2nd happens to fall on a Sunday. So here we are once again back to the childhood of Jesus, when just last week we heard about the call of the disciples.
I want to approach the feast of the presentation of Jesus in the temple as an extension of the feast of the Epiphany. The difference between the two feasts is that whereas at the Epiphany Jesus is manifested to the whole world, at his presentation in the temple, he is manifested to his own people. Simeon’s prophecy in today’s gospel foretells what Christ will accomplish for Israel as a nation. Simeon’s prophecies suggest that Jesus will be glory to the people Israel, and that he will be responsible for the rise and fall of many in Israel. Simeon also has a very different prophecy for Mary as opposed to what the angel has told her at the annunciation. He says to her, “… And you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Anna, the prophetess also focuses on the internal ministry of Jesus. She “spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Many of the prophets we can immediately think of in the Old Testament are rather fiery and often dramatic. They challenge apathetic authority and call the people back to their covenant with God. As they delivered the message of God, prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah and especially Ezekiel engaged in many public displays that must have been something like street theatre, all with the intention of drawing the Israelites back to God.
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
Today's saint, John Bosco, worked with poor and outcast youth in the 19th century. Reading some of the accounts of his life, I'm struck by how similar some of his concerns were in comparison to our own these days when it comes to disadvantaged youth, as well as how often working with youth is not seen in very positive tones. Youth often get dismissed in our culture because we see teenage years as years of rebellion. Youth also have the disadvantage of not yet having or making much money or other such contributions to society. And very unfortunately, youth still face some of the same concerns that youth in the nineteenth century did: they are trafficked for slavery, even here in the US. And youth continue to face job insecurity, both now and in future potential work, and mistreatment at the hands of employers.
Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
“Take care what you hear,” Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel. To “take care” of something means to put time, energy and attention into it. The term “take care” often makes me think of taking care of a garden. Tending a garden involves giving it daily attention and focusing our energies on it. We must provide fruitful soil, remove the weeds and be attentive to its needs. A garden that is ill-planned and ignored will die. When we “take care” of something we are vowing to commit our time and energy into it, because we value it and find it important, which will then produce results, much like a bountiful harvest.