Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time/Saint Benedict, abbot
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel continues with the instructions that Jesus gives to His disciples precisely about how to be disciples. He knows that proclaiming the Kingdom of God, with its challenging message of exalting the lowly over the powerful and living in selfless love of God and one another, will be met with some resistance (particularly from the rich and powerful!). Yet, Jesus assures his disciples that we are worthy in God’s eyes and therefore should not be afraid. Rather we should be courageous to live as disciples precisely because, like Isaiah, God has chosen us. This charge from God comes with the assurance that He deals with us most intimately and most carefully, counting even the hairs on our head!
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel continues with the instructions that Jesus gives to His disciples precisely about how to be disciples. He knows that proclaiming the Kingdom of God, with its challenging message of exalting the lowly over the powerful and living in selfless love of God and one another, will be met with some resistance (particularly from the rich and powerful!). Yet, Jesus assures his disciples that we are worthy in God’s eyes and therefore should not be afraid. Rather we should be courageous to live as disciples precisely because, like Isaiah, God has chosen us. This charge from God comes with the assurance that He deals with us most intimately and most carefully, counting even the hairs on our head!
Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
When I lived in Virginia, I had some neighbors who were very vocal about how absolutely silly Christianity was, in their view. “All this God stuff,” they’d say. “There’s just no proof for any of it and all that stuff about eternal life seems just so flaky.”
Today's Mass Readings
When I lived in Virginia, I had some neighbors who were very vocal about how absolutely silly Christianity was, in their view. “All this God stuff,” they’d say. “There’s just no proof for any of it and all that stuff about eternal life seems just so flaky.”
Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time/Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs
Today's Mass Readings
During these past few weeks we have been following the exciting narratives in the book of Genesis. Today’s passage about Joseph is a particularly poignant story. You may recall that Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Joseph underwent great hardship, only to later rise to a position of power within the household of Pharaoh. Now he is in a position to help his family, along with all the people in that region.
Today's Mass Readings
During these past few weeks we have been following the exciting narratives in the book of Genesis. Today’s passage about Joseph is a particularly poignant story. You may recall that Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Joseph underwent great hardship, only to later rise to a position of power within the household of Pharaoh. Now he is in a position to help his family, along with all the people in that region.
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The readings today challenge us to look at our own short comings, yet offer us God’s mercy if we place our trust in Him. Ultimately, our openness to God’s ability deliver us from evil allows us to be summoned and then sent forth to be disciples.
Today's Mass Readings
The readings today challenge us to look at our own short comings, yet offer us God’s mercy if we place our trust in Him. Ultimately, our openness to God’s ability deliver us from evil allows us to be summoned and then sent forth to be disciples.
Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
When we think about the process for developing our relationship with God, we might think of prayer that is soothing and comfortable. In today’s readings, we are presented with a description of Jacob’s relationship with God that is far from peaceful and could be described as combative. This description of Jacob wrestling with an angel sent by God is one that has resonated with artists from Rembrandt to U2. Why has this rather odd story captured the imagination of so many? Perhaps it is because the events described in today’s readings challenge us to question our interaction with God through passive, comfortable prayer and force us to recognize that, at times, when our relationship with God is a struggle, we may be led to our most profound insights into ourselves and God.
Today's Mass Readings
When we think about the process for developing our relationship with God, we might think of prayer that is soothing and comfortable. In today’s readings, we are presented with a description of Jacob’s relationship with God that is far from peaceful and could be described as combative. This description of Jacob wrestling with an angel sent by God is one that has resonated with artists from Rembrandt to U2. Why has this rather odd story captured the imagination of so many? Perhaps it is because the events described in today’s readings challenge us to question our interaction with God through passive, comfortable prayer and force us to recognize that, at times, when our relationship with God is a struggle, we may be led to our most profound insights into ourselves and God.
Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from the Book of Genesis has much to do with Jacob building a shrine to God at Bethel. Bethel is a Hebrew name that literally means, "House of God." This is significant for a number of reasons. First, it points to the future Temple that would be built in Jerusalem. This Temple would be the House of God, built on a heavenly model, and recalling Creation, since the Temple was also known as a House of Rest for God. But, secondly, both the Temple, and Bethel, point to Jesus, who is the New Temple. We likewise become Temples of God through our Baptism.
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from the Book of Genesis has much to do with Jacob building a shrine to God at Bethel. Bethel is a Hebrew name that literally means, "House of God." This is significant for a number of reasons. First, it points to the future Temple that would be built in Jerusalem. This Temple would be the House of God, built on a heavenly model, and recalling Creation, since the Temple was also known as a House of Rest for God. But, secondly, both the Temple, and Bethel, point to Jesus, who is the New Temple. We likewise become Temples of God through our Baptism.
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Last Sunday's readings and this week’s readings seem to be seamless. They seem to convey the same message even though they use opposing stories. In last week’s reading from Mark 5, we heard two stories of healing that were instigated by the faith of the people who were healed. The synagogue official’s faith saw Jesus raise his daughter to life and the woman with the hemorrhage was healed by merely touching Jesus’ clothes. At the end of the miracle Jesus commended her faith and said, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." (Mk 5:34) The story before these two stories in the same chapter is the story of a demoniac who was possessed by Legion (a multitude of evil spirits). Even these demons acknowledged Jesus’ power and identity. Then comes opposing stories that describe faithlessness.
Today's Mass Readings
Last Sunday's readings and this week’s readings seem to be seamless. They seem to convey the same message even though they use opposing stories. In last week’s reading from Mark 5, we heard two stories of healing that were instigated by the faith of the people who were healed. The synagogue official’s faith saw Jesus raise his daughter to life and the woman with the hemorrhage was healed by merely touching Jesus’ clothes. At the end of the miracle Jesus commended her faith and said, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." (Mk 5:34) The story before these two stories in the same chapter is the story of a demoniac who was possessed by Legion (a multitude of evil spirits). Even these demons acknowledged Jesus’ power and identity. Then comes opposing stories that describe faithlessness.
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
We get an overwhelming sense from today’s readings that God’s saving work is accomplished… but not always in the ways we expect!
What a great story in today’s first reading. Jacob was the younger son of Isaac and Rebekah and therefore not the one who would receive Isaac’s special blessing and inheritance. These things would go to Esau, who would become the new patriarch. Yet Jacob was his mother’s favorite and Isaac falls for their plot (right down to the goat’s hair stuck on his skin and the smelly clothes!). Jacob (renamed Israel) would become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, the one with whom God’s covenant continues. Notice how it’s the crafty schemers that win the day. We learn later that their deceit has earned them separation from each other (Gn 27: 42-45). Yet even through deceitful people, God brings about the salvation of His people.
Today's Mass Readings
We get an overwhelming sense from today’s readings that God’s saving work is accomplished… but not always in the ways we expect!
What a great story in today’s first reading. Jacob was the younger son of Isaac and Rebekah and therefore not the one who would receive Isaac’s special blessing and inheritance. These things would go to Esau, who would become the new patriarch. Yet Jacob was his mother’s favorite and Isaac falls for their plot (right down to the goat’s hair stuck on his skin and the smelly clothes!). Jacob (renamed Israel) would become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, the one with whom God’s covenant continues. Notice how it’s the crafty schemers that win the day. We learn later that their deceit has earned them separation from each other (Gn 27: 42-45). Yet even through deceitful people, God brings about the salvation of His people.
Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
Today's Mass Readings
People usually know Saint Thomas as the one who doubted and had little faith. They see the passage from today (John 20:24-29) as showing what a “bad” disciple Thomas was because Jesus tells him that the ones who believe and do not see are blessed. We might even be prone to thinking that we are “better” disciples than Thomas because after all, 2000 years after Jesus’ death, we are the ones who are blessed because we have not touched Jesus’ hands and side. But if we only think of Thomas as the doubter, we miss some of the richness of what he has to teach us.
Today's Mass Readings
People usually know Saint Thomas as the one who doubted and had little faith. They see the passage from today (John 20:24-29) as showing what a “bad” disciple Thomas was because Jesus tells him that the ones who believe and do not see are blessed. We might even be prone to thinking that we are “better” disciples than Thomas because after all, 2000 years after Jesus’ death, we are the ones who are blessed because we have not touched Jesus’ hands and side. But if we only think of Thomas as the doubter, we miss some of the richness of what he has to teach us.
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass readings
Our first reading for today is one of the most misused and least understood passages in the Old Testament. Perhaps you have heard someone question how God could ask Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Perhaps someone has explained that he dislikes the Old Testament precisely because of this awful story or that she disagrees with any God that could call for the sacrifice of a child. And, indeed, if what we take from this story is that God might at any time ask us to kill one of our kids in order to test our faith, then it is a scary story.
Today's Mass readings
Our first reading for today is one of the most misused and least understood passages in the Old Testament. Perhaps you have heard someone question how God could ask Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Perhaps someone has explained that he dislikes the Old Testament precisely because of this awful story or that she disagrees with any God that could call for the sacrifice of a child. And, indeed, if what we take from this story is that God might at any time ask us to kill one of our kids in order to test our faith, then it is a scary story.
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The readings today teach us that God answers our prayers but not always in ways we expect. In the reading from Genesis, Abraham has a great feast on the day of his Son Isaac’s weaning. At the celebration, Sarah noticed Hagar and her son Ishmael and became distressed. Sarah asked that Hagar and her son be sent away so as to protect Isaac’s inheritance. Abraham seems nervous to grant Sarah’s request, yet God admonishes him to do so. “Heed the demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you;” (Gen. 21: 12b.) Part of the admonishment is the reminder that God will raise up a great people through Isaac. The next verse of this story that Sarah or maybe even some today do not want to hear refers to Ishmael. Again God speaking, “As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a great nation also, since he too is your offspring.” (Gen. 21: 13.) The nation, which we could now attribute Ishmael, is Islam. God keeps God’s promises and God made a promise to protect and raise Abraham’s children. God answered Sarah’s prayer, but not in the way she had envisioned.
Today's Mass Readings
The readings today teach us that God answers our prayers but not always in ways we expect. In the reading from Genesis, Abraham has a great feast on the day of his Son Isaac’s weaning. At the celebration, Sarah noticed Hagar and her son Ishmael and became distressed. Sarah asked that Hagar and her son be sent away so as to protect Isaac’s inheritance. Abraham seems nervous to grant Sarah’s request, yet God admonishes him to do so. “Heed the demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you;” (Gen. 21: 12b.) Part of the admonishment is the reminder that God will raise up a great people through Isaac. The next verse of this story that Sarah or maybe even some today do not want to hear refers to Ishmael. Again God speaking, “As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a great nation also, since he too is your offspring.” (Gen. 21: 13.) The nation, which we could now attribute Ishmael, is Islam. God keeps God’s promises and God made a promise to protect and raise Abraham’s children. God answered Sarah’s prayer, but not in the way she had envisioned.
Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Todays readings from the Book of Genesis and from the Gospel of Matthew both pertain to intercession. In the Gospel reading, the disciples are afraid of being swept away by a storm, and so they ask Jesus to intercede and save them, which He does in His great mercy.
But the first reading from Genesis also deals with this topic. It assumes the previous readings, where we saw Abraham intercede on behalf of the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah, and especially his kinsfolk, Lot and his family.
Today's Mass Readings
Todays readings from the Book of Genesis and from the Gospel of Matthew both pertain to intercession. In the Gospel reading, the disciples are afraid of being swept away by a storm, and so they ask Jesus to intercede and save them, which He does in His great mercy.
But the first reading from Genesis also deals with this topic. It assumes the previous readings, where we saw Abraham intercede on behalf of the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah, and especially his kinsfolk, Lot and his family.
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Today's Mass Readingts
Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. These two men are so important to our tradition that their feast is ranked a “solemnity,” the highest designation that the Church has. While both men were instrumental in passing on the Christian faith and were leaders of the early Church, they are an unlikely pair, different in many ways and known to have disagreed at one time. Peter is regarded as the first pope, the rock on whom the Church was founded. Paul is known as the Apostle to the Gentiles and the author of most of our New Testament. Where as Peter was a personal witness of Jesus, Paul had never seen Jesus and began as one of the persecutors of the Church. But for both Peter and Paul, belief was only a beginning. They grew in faith, changed with time through conversion became undaunting witnesses of Christ.
Today's Mass Readingts
Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. These two men are so important to our tradition that their feast is ranked a “solemnity,” the highest designation that the Church has. While both men were instrumental in passing on the Christian faith and were leaders of the early Church, they are an unlikely pair, different in many ways and known to have disagreed at one time. Peter is regarded as the first pope, the rock on whom the Church was founded. Paul is known as the Apostle to the Gentiles and the author of most of our New Testament. Where as Peter was a personal witness of Jesus, Paul had never seen Jesus and began as one of the persecutors of the Church. But for both Peter and Paul, belief was only a beginning. They grew in faith, changed with time through conversion became undaunting witnesses of Christ.
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Miracles are an extraordinary form of God’s grace. In today’s Gospel reading, we are provided with two accounts of miracles performed by Jesus. In the first account, a woman who has been suffering from an affliction for twelve years touches Jesus’ cloak and is immediately healed. In the second account, a father asks Jesus to heal his daughter who is near death. When Jesus arrives at the house where the daughter is located, he finds a room full of people mourning because the child has already died. In response, Jesus takes the child by the hand and says “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” (Mk 5:41) In response, the little girl arose.
Today's Mass Readings
Miracles are an extraordinary form of God’s grace. In today’s Gospel reading, we are provided with two accounts of miracles performed by Jesus. In the first account, a woman who has been suffering from an affliction for twelve years touches Jesus’ cloak and is immediately healed. In the second account, a father asks Jesus to heal his daughter who is near death. When Jesus arrives at the house where the daughter is located, he finds a room full of people mourning because the child has already died. In response, Jesus takes the child by the hand and says “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” (Mk 5:41) In response, the little girl arose.
Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
It’s hard not to be sympathetic with Sarah in today’s reading. Abraham meets a few men by a tree and one of them tells the aged Sarah that she will bear a child by the next year. Now, we have to remember that Abraham already knows that the Lord made this promise as part of the covenant between them storied in Genesis 17. Obviously, he hasn’t talked this over with his wife! This is the moment, we can assume, that Abraham recognizes the Lord in the three men and, therefore, his hospitality, performed before he knew it was the Lord, is a remarkable example of his piety.
Today's Mass Readings
It’s hard not to be sympathetic with Sarah in today’s reading. Abraham meets a few men by a tree and one of them tells the aged Sarah that she will bear a child by the next year. Now, we have to remember that Abraham already knows that the Lord made this promise as part of the covenant between them storied in Genesis 17. Obviously, he hasn’t talked this over with his wife! This is the moment, we can assume, that Abraham recognizes the Lord in the three men and, therefore, his hospitality, performed before he knew it was the Lord, is a remarkable example of his piety.
Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
We live in an age of skepticism, a time where the very idea of God is humorous to some of the so-called new atheists. For them, God is just funny idea made up by people. My students are also skeptical and often tell me that God appears to have done all sorts of miracles back then, but it's different now. God isn't really at work in today's world, they say. If God were acting, we'd see something different than we do.
Today's Mass Readings
We live in an age of skepticism, a time where the very idea of God is humorous to some of the so-called new atheists. For them, God is just funny idea made up by people. My students are also skeptical and often tell me that God appears to have done all sorts of miracles back then, but it's different now. God isn't really at work in today's world, they say. If God were acting, we'd see something different than we do.
Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Matthew is one of those that makes us pause and reexamine our faith. Many people undoubtedly think that they are doing the will of God; many people believe themselves genuine in their prayer. But are we really doing God’s will? And are we really praying in earnest? Jesus calls us, as his disciples, both to listen to his words and to act on them. If we can do this then we are like a man who built his house on rock – a solid foundation.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Matthew is one of those that makes us pause and reexamine our faith. Many people undoubtedly think that they are doing the will of God; many people believe themselves genuine in their prayer. But are we really doing God’s will? And are we really praying in earnest? Jesus calls us, as his disciples, both to listen to his words and to act on them. If we can do this then we are like a man who built his house on rock – a solid foundation.
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Today's Mass Readings
The readings today speak of God’s messengers and how their lives pointed us in the direction of Jesus. For Isaiah and St. John their stories echo many similar themes. For both, the call to do the Lord’s work was established in the womb - a theme today’s psalm repeats. For both, their lives like arrows were aimed towards the salvation of the nations. For both, their toil, at least from the outside, seemed to have been in vain; yet, their acts helps in the task of salvation. Both of them got their strength from the Lord. Thus they stayed faithfull to the message and their voice was heard by many.
Today's Mass Readings
The readings today speak of God’s messengers and how their lives pointed us in the direction of Jesus. For Isaiah and St. John their stories echo many similar themes. For both, the call to do the Lord’s work was established in the womb - a theme today’s psalm repeats. For both, their lives like arrows were aimed towards the salvation of the nations. For both, their toil, at least from the outside, seemed to have been in vain; yet, their acts helps in the task of salvation. Both of them got their strength from the Lord. Thus they stayed faithfull to the message and their voice was heard by many.
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The entire Bible paints the picture of human strife as one large extended family feud. All of salvation history can be summed up in the idea of God reuniting His wayward family. This theme of a family feud is not simply the case regarding Israel and the nations (Egypt, Babylon, etc.), but also
within Israel itself.
Today's Mass Readings
The entire Bible paints the picture of human strife as one large extended family feud. All of salvation history can be summed up in the idea of God reuniting His wayward family. This theme of a family feud is not simply the case regarding Israel and the nations (Egypt, Babylon, etc.), but also
within Israel itself.
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
As we continue our daily walk with Jesus, our Mass readings for the 12th Week of Ordinary Time come from the book of Genesis. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, contains many of our most beloved stories of the Old Testament. This week our focus is upon Abram, later to be called Abraham.
Today's Mass Readings
As we continue our daily walk with Jesus, our Mass readings for the 12th Week of Ordinary Time come from the book of Genesis. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, contains many of our most beloved stories of the Old Testament. This week our focus is upon Abram, later to be called Abraham.