Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On our patronal feast day I offer this reflection on the prayer Hail, Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Mary is a woman of mercy because she was a woman of suffering. She knew the sorrows of being an unwed mother, refugee, widow and mother of a condemned and executed criminal. Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and weeping over Lazarus reveals a man of deep compassion. In Jesus we see the heart of his mother.
Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
This is hard to admit but here it is. The second most common lie I tell (the most common is the "I have read and understand the terms and conditions" box) is "I'll pray for you" or some variation of that sentence. I make the promise and then something hinders me. Maybe it is my own forgetfulness or my time for prayer gets rushed, etc. Why I fail to follow through is irrelevant. The reality is, my follow through in this regard does not match that of Jesus' in today's gospel.
Friday of the First Week of Advent
I love living with kids! Why? Their willingness to believe; to approach life with wonder, curiosity, trust, openness, joy, authenticity. Our kids are so excited to start preparing our home for the coming of Christmas. We attempt to be very intentional in emphasizing the season of advent, trying to tie together the excitement of receiving presents at the end of 4 weeks of waiting and the gift that is the Birth of Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. Santa Claus is a central figure this time of year and as much as I am tempted to push back on the commercialism of Christmas, there is a beautiful faithfulness in talking to our kids about Santa. Christmas today has become this crazy mashup of celebrating Jesus’ birth and the legend of St. Nicholas, the 4th-century Eastern European bishop. Is Santa real? Yes, and he lived several hundred years ago, was known for his incredible generosity and compassion for others, and slowly developed from Nicholas to Saint Nicholas to the Dutch version Sint Nikolaas to Sinter Klaas and finally, Santa Claus.
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Today's gospel is one that many of us are familiar with - a house built on sand will crumble and fall, but a house built on a strong foundation of rock will be able to withstand the storms of this world.
Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Isaiah is our constant companion this season. His name means “Yahweh is Salvation,” and he points us to Jesus, our own path to salvation. In today’s first reading he tells us of a mountain on which the Lord of hosts will provide for all people. He will provide a feast of rich foods, wipe the tears from every eye and destroy death forever.
Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, Priest
We journey into the Advent season Scriptures which give many words of hope and encouragement, and wonderful symbols to delight the child within each of us. Our readings today especially speak to our child-like spirits. Can we recall our own childhood and how our imaginations would let us into the world of pretend, where what was impossible in real life was so real and enjoyable. Children have little difficulty moving between the imaginary word of play and the physical world.
Monday of the First Week of Advent
Not long after the ghosts and goblins haunt our front porches, “chestnuts start roasting o’er an open fire” and “Jack Frost nipping at your nose.” Some have labeled this the “Christmas madness.” Yuletide begins earlier and earlier so we might ask the question, “Whatever happened to Advent?” After all, it is Advent that gives Christmas its meaning. The “Yule” makes no sense apart from the “yearn” (for Christ to come).
Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle
In today’s first reading, St. Paul wrote to the Romans, "There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all,” (Romans 10:12). In the early Christian community, there were two main cultural groups: Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles). These two groups had different customs and traditions. Sometimes they clashed, such as whether or not all men should be circumcised and dietary laws (see Acts 15:1-21). Therefore, Paul told the Christians in Rome that the uniting factor of believing in Jesus Christ is primary. He echoed Jesus’ redefinition of family in which membership is given by God and not determined by genes, lineage, or marriage (see Matthew 12:49-50 and Luke 8:21). Indeed, this happens today every time we worship together or gather together because of our faith. When I attend Mass, there are many people of different ethnicities, races, and political beliefs, but we all come together in church to worship. No one is or should be turned away at the door. We can all be witnesses to God’s love for all people.
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
“Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young…” (Psalm 84:4a) Maybe this verse from today’s Responsorial Psalm particularly speaks to me now that my husband and I are considered “empty-nesters” welcoming some of our “not-so-young” back to the nest for Thanksgiving. But I think it’s more than that. Today’s Psalm is called the Prayer of a Pilgrim to Jerusalem, and biblical commentary (NAB) tells us it “expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence.” As the birds find their home, their nest, so “My home is by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God!” (84:4b) And what about us?
Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time—Thanksgiving
Today’s readings for Thanksgiving Day focus on praise and gratitude for all that God has done. Even Jesus reminds us of the importance of giving thanks in today’s gospel. Our many blessings bring us joy, and we are called to remember these gifts have been given to us, so that we can share them with others.
Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
As the liturgical year comes to a close our readings continue the theme of the end times. It amazes me sometimes how many people think the literal end of the world is near. This morning I was talking with this Catholic family who described how now was the end times, because of the writings of some priest from 40 years ago. In contrast I stood with a patient as the doctor told them there was nothing more they do to improve the persons health. In one case the family was afraid of the predicted doom, in the other a patient offered courageous acceptance of the real outcome of their condition.
Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The context of today's gospel (Luke 21:5-11) is important. In verses 1-4, Jesus has just finished praising the widow who has given everything she has - two coins - to the treasury in the temple. She is compared to everyone else who gives out of their generosity, but she gives out of her poverty and Jesus clearly sees her as giving a better offering than the others, because she gives to God everything that she has.
Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel tells of an encounter between Jesus and the Sadducees. The Sadducees were an aristocratic class of priests who only accepted the first five books of Hebrew Scriptures called the Torah, refuted oral legal tradition, and denied teachings not found in the Torah including the resurrection of the dead. Therefore, in this exchange, the Sadducees try to trap and challenge Jesus on the teaching of the resurrection by bringing up a seemingly ridiculous example of seven men who married the same woman. Jesus dodges the trap by quoting from the Torah, “That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive,” (Luke 20:37-38). Thus, today’s Gospel is really about eternal life.
Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Why are only 144,000 redeemed and joyous around the throne of God as we hear in today’s rendition from Revelation? Are only 144,00 saved?
Numbers don’t always mean what they seem. Walking into Partial to Pie on Wayne Avenue we can order a baker’s dozen. How many donuts is that? In the early days of television if you answered the $64,000 question correctly would you have been able to retire? Why is “16” sweet? Why is “7” considered lucky in the roll of the dice?
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
How sweet to my taste is your promise! (Ps 119:103a) Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians. I was raised in a family gifted with musical talent and passionate about using and sharing those gifts. We loved to say that singing in church is like praying twice. My wonderful parents required each of us kids to take piano lessons from elementary school all the way until we left for college (a tradition that I have continued with my own children). My extended family even had a special hymn we sang regularly at gatherings; the Choral Benediction set to the tune of Edelweiss (made famous in the movie, The Sound of Music). I learned to play the saxophone for a few years in middle and high school. And in college, I embraced a growing passion for liturgical music by becoming an undergraduate music minister on campus. Music is ultimately what drew me deeper into my faith. Unsurprisingly, I have grown an affinity for St. Cecilia over the years.
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On May 25, 2019, during a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto in central Italy, Pope Francis said: “There’s a need for simple and wise people, humble and courageous, poor and generous, people who at the school of Mary, accept the Gospel without reserve in their own lives. God, through Mary, entrusts a mission in our time: to bring the Gospel of peace and life to our contemporaries, often distracted, taken by earthly interests or immersed in a climate of spiritual dryness.”
Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
I have to be honest – when I read today’s Gospel, I feel a little like my children. I read this Gospel and hear that to those who have much, more will be given and to those who have less, what they have will be taken away and I can’t help but think – “That’s not fair!!” I will admit that I struggle with this gospel.
Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The Zacchaeus story in today’s Gospel is a relatable one that brings a smile to children and those of all ages who know people short in stature. It carries a hope-filled promise that Jesus looks for us whoever we are, for all of us can feel lost and unnoticed and experience falling short. Through encountering Jesus, we can each change and experience the reconciling love of God, whatever we have done. The basic story: A short man climbs a tree so he can see Jesus; Jesus notices his efforts and invites himself into Zacchaeus’ home for an extended conversation. Joy characterizes their encounter, and Zacchaeus enthusiastically responds with a generous promise to change his ways and make amends to everyone he has wronged.
Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
I love the Book of Revelation. It has inspired, consoled and supported me spiritually and financially. It put food on our table and paid our utilities. While teaching at St. Xavier, I offered Revelation as an elective and it grew so popular that I taught five sections every semester for twenty straight semesters.
I first encountered this book of hope in the ‘70s when I studied under Father Patrick J. Sena, CppS at Mt. St. Mary’s in Cincinnati. Sena was a creative and innovative teacher who’s techniques not only inspired seminarians but, as I discovered, were efficacious with teenagers, too. I'm sure that he is enjoying the Heavenly Throne Room first hand.
Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Many years ago, I used to be a Medical Biller. Part of my job was to handle claim denials from health insurances. Sometimes I would have to call them, and almost every time I was on hold for a long time. Often I would be on hold for 20-30 minutes, but I’ve been on hold for as long as two and a half hours. I would wait because I believed that there was a chance that the claim denial could be overturned and the insurance would agree to pay the claim. Today’s Gospel reminds me of those times. The widow was so persistent that the unjust judge gave a judgment in her favor. Jesus uses this parable to teach about how we are to be steadfast in prayer.