Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while,” Jesus says to his apostles in today’s gospel reading (Mk 6:31). The apostles, we are told, have returned from healing the sick, expelling demons, and preaching the kingdom of God. Further, they have all, presumably, just heard the news of John the Baptist’s beheading by Herod. This is a lot!
Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel reading (Mark 6:14-29) is one of those scripture passages that makes wonder, “What, exactly, was God trying to inspire here?” The story of the beheading of John the Baptist is one that makes me feel a bit slimy, to the point that it is difficult to see what the good news is. What is it about this story that jars me so much? I think it is the way people in this passage misuse their desire. It is the way that many small things come together to create a snowball effect, even to the point that a man gets killed.
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Accordingly, the gospel reading (Luke 2:22-40) is the story of the presentation of Jesus by Mary and Joseph in the temple. This presentation shows Mary and Joseph as devout Jews faithfully observing the law of the Lord as they bring their firstborn son to be consecrated to the Lord. This was the law and custom for Jewish parents. The unexpected part of the story (at least for Mary and Joseph) is the meeting of Simeon (and later, Anna) there.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Surely the expression don’t kill the messenger must have in part been inspired by today’s scripture. David went against the will of the Lord by having the number of men fit for military service counted. God wanted David to trust that the Lord would provide for the needs of Israel, instead of trying to calculate his options. While David regrets his sin, his contrition did not preclude that there would be consequences for his actions. Thus, imagine how David felt when the prophet Gad came to offer him a choice of punishments. David knew that no matter what choice he made, there would be harsh ramifications both for himself and the community.
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
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, Weekday in Ordinary Time
There’s no doubt that fear has the ability to cripple us, discourage us, and misdirect our motives. And let’s face it; we’re probably all afraid of something. Depending on the individual, some fears are obviously more serious than others. Perhaps our fear is the fear of not being able to provide for our family? Maybe our fear is that this economic crisis will only get worse? Or perhaps we live with the fear of losing the people we love- a friend who is suffering addiction, a grandparent with cancer, or maybe a son or daughter serving bravely in the military? These are all occasions where fear is understandable. But even for causes of great celebration and happiness, it seems that fear can still exist. I recall when I got married, even though I could not be more thrilled and blessed, I admittedly feared whether or not I would be a good husband. And although my wife and I are not parents yet, I imagine that undertaking the responsibilities of a first time father will be met with both indescribable joy and some fear as well. Take a moment to reflect on your fears. Where are they derived from in your life? As disciples, the question for us is how do we face these fears in our lives?
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This homily is based on one word – “authority.” Let me propose my reason for this focus. The last couple of weeks, the readings have focused on the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry. We also know that he called some people to follow him radically and closely as apostles and disciples. Last week, we became familiar with Jesus’ mission and belief statement. He said, “The time of fulfillment is here. The kingdom of God is at hand: Repent and believe in the gospel.” And today’s gospel introduces another important dimension of his ministry. Mark says, “All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him” (Mk 1:27).
Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas
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.
Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
I've been feeling overwhelmed, lately, with the enormity of the world's problems - and with the relative difficulty of my own problems too. I just find myself thinking sometimes that I am doing everything wrong, and when combined with what I see as the "wrongness" of the world (war, famine, political arguments) everything looks pretty bleak. Maybe it's the grey skies of January, or maybe it's just post-Christmas depression, but I'm just not feeling my best, and it's easy to get caught up in feelings of desolateness.
Memorial of Saint Timothy and Saint Titus
I’ve often been stumped by the last verse of today’s gospel reading (Mark 4: 21-25): “To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” A similar verse is found in Luke and Matthew’s gospel (Mt 13:12), “To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” At face value, I have thought it to be a confusing, even disturbing verse in conflict with Jesus’ teachings on justice and mercy. Looking further, however, into a little scripture study, we find that it is not referring to a person’s social status or wealth, or even gifts and talents. This verse, as well as the one preceding it in today’s gospel passage (known as the parable of the lamp), is a call to an attentive hearing of God’s word. God gives further understanding to those who accept the revealed mystery, but from those who do not accept it, it will be taken away.
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the Apostle
Has anyone ever asked you “Are you saved?” The question can be disconcerting as the concept is not typically found in the Catholic spiritual vocabulary. When I was first asked this question, I did not have a thought out response, just a visceral reaction. I replied, “Of course I am saved, I am a Confirmed Catholic”. These words found no traction with the person asking the question; however they permanently changed the way I look at my faith. From that moment forward, I knew I had to claim my faith as my own. What had mainly been my father’s faith up to this point, now became mine own.
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
In the gospel passage for today, Jesus is told by his disciples that his mother and brothers are standing outside the place where they are meeting. He responds by saying that the people gathered there are his mother and his brothers. This event raises a number of questions. Is Jesus saying that we should neglect our families? Doesn’t he think that families are important? If his family were in trouble wouldn’t he help them? Shouldn’t he favor the needs of his family over those of strangers?
Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Today the Church observes the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. This powerful intercession is a vital part of the work of fighting to restore the most basic human right—the right to life. Legalizing abortion gave human beings a right intended only for God. In our culture, abortion has become so acceptable it can seem impossible to even hope for any real change. I was thinking about how easy it is to become discouraged with this issue when the results of prayer and hard work are often difficult to see and there is so much resistance to the truth.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
In terms of flights and connections this last vacation was the worst one that I have ever had. My very first flight out of Dayton did not show up in time for me to connect in Washington DC. As a result all my flights had to be rebooked for the next day. I spent fourteen hours in DC before I even got on my 13 hours flight to Delhi. When I got to Delhi, they told me that they could not find my ticket to Bhopal on their computer and that I should go to upstairs to the main check-in counter. With only about fifty minutes to go, I got upstairs in a state of panic. And then… I met God. This mere baggage loader named Ashish (means, blessing) came to me and asked me if he could help. When I told me what had happened, he said to me, “Please do not worry. Just come with me.” He took all my baggage and took me to the appropriate counter. When the person behind the ticketing counter could not help, he took me to the supervisor, got her to get on to the system, found my booking, came back to the counter, got the agent to print my boarding pass, and then accompanied me all the way to the seat on my flight. He actually put me on my seat. Walking to the gate to board the flight, I thanked him profusely. He said to me, “When you came, I saw that you were desperate.” And he said to me, “Sir, this is what I believe. I believe that every person who comes my way at work is like God. When I take care of them, I take care of God.” I looked at him with awe. I could not believe that people like this exist in the world. Before I left the counter with my boarding pass, I had just said to the ticketing agent, “Today, this man came to me like God himself.”
Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Today’s Gospel strikes firmly and in brief. We are left with the words of Jesus’ relatives, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
If we explore the passage immediately preceding it, we are presented with an interesting contrast. Right before today’s gospel passage, as we heard in yesterday’s gospel, Jesus ascends to the top of a mountain and appoints his twelve apostles so that “they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark 3:14). Often in the Scriptures, really important events occur on the top of mountains: the Sermon on the Mount, which mirrors Moses’ reception of the Ten Commandments on Sinai, Moses and the Burning Bush, the Transfiguration. We know, then, that Jesus’ naming those who would be his closest companions and stand at the beginning of the Church is really important.
Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
When I read the passages for today, I am reminded of all the times I teach ethics courses and seminars, but then see people shake their heads and tell me, “You’re just being too idealistic. The ideas of just wages (or abolition of the death penalty, or saying no to premarital sex – fill in the blank) can’t work “IN THE REAL WORLD.” Even the seemingly smaller things, like responding to someone kindly when they’ve yelled at you, seem an impossibility.
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Jealousy is an ugly emotion. It can destroy relationships and sometimes destroy people. Have you ever noticed that you can feel good about yourself or something you’ve done until you compare yourself to another person, and then you suddenly feel lousy or even angry and resentful? It’s not a good feeling and it’s even worse if you act out of your jealousy.
Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Life can be so demanding. It feels like life is so busy with work, family and friends, participating in church, not to mention our volunteering efforts and our hobbies. Often, it can seem difficult just to catch our breath. On top of all of that, there are situations or people that stand in front of our path forward. Sometimes these people and situations seem to be regular obstacles set out to distract if not destroy our discipleship.
Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbott
The accounts related in the Bible can often seem very remote and unrelated to contemporary life. Yet it seems to me that the themes in today’s first reading speak to spiritual truths that are very relevant for how each of us lives our life today.
The first reading for today explains how David is chosen to be king of Israel to replace Saul, who has found disfavor with God. God instructs Samuel to go to Bethlehem to the household of Jesse. The new king is to be chosen from among the sons of Jesse. Jesse and his sons accompany Samuel to a ceremony in which Samuel makes a sacrifice to God. Then Samuel considers each of Jesse’s sons in turn going down the line from the oldest to the youngest. For each of the brothers present, God indicates that he is not the one. Finally Samuel asks if Jesse has any other sons, after which David is found and anointed by Samuel.
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
As a child growing up, I remember that being obedient was more than just doing what my parents told me to do. It was an action that demonstrated my love, trust, and dependence on their guidance for me and my life. To disobey was to assert that I knew better than them what was best for me in a prideful and oppositional manner. I can still recall telling the priest in the confessional that I was sorry for my sins, but especially for the sin of disobedience. As a parent, I have experienced from the other side of the relationship the disappointment when my children have gone against my requests. Because I love my children so deeply, I believe that I know what is in their best interest (although as an imperfect parent I do not always know what is best!) I experience a sadness or loss when they choose to go against my will.