Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading taken from the book of Exodus is an instruction on the kind of society that God would want the Israelites to build. First of all, God reminds the Israelites of their own slavery in Egypt. Because they know what it means to be poor, weak, powerless and oppressed, they are now asked to conduct themselves with compassion. Just as God had compassion on them when they were weak so must they have compassion on those who are weak among them.
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading taken from the book of Exodus is an instruction on the kind of society that God would want the Israelites to build. First of all, God reminds the Israelites of their own slavery in Egypt. Because they know what it means to be poor, weak, powerless and oppressed, they are now asked to conduct themselves with compassion. Just as God had compassion on them when they were weak so must they have compassion on those who are weak among them.
Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
We learn from the parable in Luke’s gospel that we have been given new life by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection; he has made it possible for us to bear fruit by “cultivating the ground” and “fertilizing” (Lk 13:8). Yet, we must respond, as Paul exhorts the Ephesians, by living according to the gift that Christ has given us (Eph 4:8).
Today's Mass Readings
We learn from the parable in Luke’s gospel that we have been given new life by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection; he has made it possible for us to bear fruit by “cultivating the ground” and “fertilizing” (Lk 13:8). Yet, we must respond, as Paul exhorts the Ephesians, by living according to the gift that Christ has given us (Eph 4:8).
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter is to the Ephesians is simple, yet has much has much to commend to us. Most especially, St. Paul urges us, because of our unity through baptism into Jesus, to "live in a manner worthy of the great calling we have received."
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter is to the Ephesians is simple, yet has much has much to commend to us. Most especially, St. Paul urges us, because of our unity through baptism into Jesus, to "live in a manner worthy of the great calling we have received."
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings make an interesting pair. Whereas the passage from Ephesians seems uplifting, the gospel reading from Luke might be one we’d rather forget. And yet both of these texts are a part of our tradition, and they are not contradictory but rather complementary.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings make an interesting pair. Whereas the passage from Ephesians seems uplifting, the gospel reading from Luke might be one we’d rather forget. And yet both of these texts are a part of our tradition, and they are not contradictory but rather complementary.
Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The title for today’s reflection comes from a Spiderman movie. In the movie, Peter Parker is contemplating the variety of gifts he was given and how he is being called to use them. As Christians, we are called to a similar inventory of our time, talents, and treasure in order to see how we are being called to use them for building the Kingdom of Heaven.
Today's Mass Readings
The title for today’s reflection comes from a Spiderman movie. In the movie, Peter Parker is contemplating the variety of gifts he was given and how he is being called to use them. As Christians, we are called to a similar inventory of our time, talents, and treasure in order to see how we are being called to use them for building the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, continues St. Paul's mystagogical catechesis focusing on how we are united in peace to God in God's household through Christ. The Letter to the Ephesians can be seen as a mystagogical catechesis, because it talks about the mysteries. In many ways, at least some of the sacraments are discussed throughout the text, like baptism, marriage, etc.
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, continues St. Paul's mystagogical catechesis focusing on how we are united in peace to God in God's household through Christ. The Letter to the Ephesians can be seen as a mystagogical catechesis, because it talks about the mysteries. In many ways, at least some of the sacraments are discussed throughout the text, like baptism, marriage, etc.
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Luke is one that ought to be familiar to us. The rich man Jesus describes in his parable describes a very human tendency. When we have an abundance of wealth, we feel we can relax and not worry, just “rest, eat, drink, and be merry!” (Lk 12:19). Indeed, part of the human condition is to worry about what lies ahead, and we feel comfort when we think we are secure, with all of our needs and desires met. But what Jesus points out is that this is an ephemeral wealth. A storehouse of grain is great when one is still walking the earth. But, like money, you can’t take it with you when you die. Hence Jesus suggests that his listeners would be better to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. This treasure in heaven is what matters to God, and, so also, to us.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Luke is one that ought to be familiar to us. The rich man Jesus describes in his parable describes a very human tendency. When we have an abundance of wealth, we feel we can relax and not worry, just “rest, eat, drink, and be merry!” (Lk 12:19). Indeed, part of the human condition is to worry about what lies ahead, and we feel comfort when we think we are secure, with all of our needs and desires met. But what Jesus points out is that this is an ephemeral wealth. A storehouse of grain is great when one is still walking the earth. But, like money, you can’t take it with you when you die. Hence Jesus suggests that his listeners would be better to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. This treasure in heaven is what matters to God, and, so also, to us.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading today from the book of Isaiah deals with a very important event in Israelite history. The people of Israel were taken as exiles to Babylon in 587 BC. For fifty year they lived in a foreign land with no temple to worship, no land to own, and no future to look forward to. This was the single most devastating tragedy to befall the people. The important things is that no one questioned God because of the tragedy that befell them. In 537 BC, the Persian king Cyrus set these people free to go back to their own country.
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading today from the book of Isaiah deals with a very important event in Israelite history. The people of Israel were taken as exiles to Babylon in 587 BC. For fifty year they lived in a foreign land with no temple to worship, no land to own, and no future to look forward to. This was the single most devastating tragedy to befall the people. The important things is that no one questioned God because of the tragedy that befell them. In 537 BC, the Persian king Cyrus set these people free to go back to their own country.
Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist
Today's Mass readings
We learn in today’s first reading that St. Paul had one companion on the trip that would end his earthly life – Luke (2 Tm 4:11). Others have deserted him on his way to Rome because they are “enamored of the present world.” Yet, Luke accompanies him.
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, companion of Paul, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Luke was a Gentile, a non-Jew, and is thought to have been born in Antioch, outside of Jerusalem. Appropriately, his gospel emphasizes the relevance and, indeed the necessity, of the Good News to the whole world. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ ministry to the outcasts – the poor, sinners of all varieties, and women and he displays how tough Jesus was on the proud and self-righteous.
Today's Mass readings
We learn in today’s first reading that St. Paul had one companion on the trip that would end his earthly life – Luke (2 Tm 4:11). Others have deserted him on his way to Rome because they are “enamored of the present world.” Yet, Luke accompanies him.
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, companion of Paul, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Luke was a Gentile, a non-Jew, and is thought to have been born in Antioch, outside of Jerusalem. Appropriately, his gospel emphasizes the relevance and, indeed the necessity, of the Good News to the whole world. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ ministry to the outcasts – the poor, sinners of all varieties, and women and he displays how tough Jesus was on the proud and self-righteous.
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Today's Mass Readings
Today is the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch who was martyred by the Romans in the early part of the second century. The tradition concerning St. Ignatius is that he was a disciple of the Apostle St. John the Evangelist. St. Ignatius wrote seven letters that have survived, and in them he focuses on a number of important theological themes, including the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of Christians, the role of Christian bishops, and the importance of baptism.
Today's Mass Readings
Today is the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch who was martyred by the Romans in the early part of the second century. The tradition concerning St. Ignatius is that he was a disciple of the Apostle St. John the Evangelist. St. Ignatius wrote seven letters that have survived, and in them he focuses on a number of important theological themes, including the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of Christians, the role of Christian bishops, and the importance of baptism.
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The selections for today’s readings make an interesting pair. In the gospel passage from Luke, Jesus continues along a strand of “woe to you” statements. Undoubtedly, it was not a pleasant message to hear. The people listening were meant to feel convicted for their participation in the past persecution of God’s prophets; Jesus intended to affront them with accusations regarding their behavior. In fact, the least surprising part of this passage is the last two verses: “When Jesus left, the scribes and the Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him in something he might say” (Lk. 11:53-54). It’s no surprise that the people would be upset by Jesus’ words. And yet it is perhaps a bit surprising that they felt they needed to interrogate him further. This indicates that his accusations were not unfounded; Jesus’ statements in today’s passage were not cause for Jesus’ own conviction.
Today's Mass Readings
The selections for today’s readings make an interesting pair. In the gospel passage from Luke, Jesus continues along a strand of “woe to you” statements. Undoubtedly, it was not a pleasant message to hear. The people listening were meant to feel convicted for their participation in the past persecution of God’s prophets; Jesus intended to affront them with accusations regarding their behavior. In fact, the least surprising part of this passage is the last two verses: “When Jesus left, the scribes and the Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him in something he might say” (Lk. 11:53-54). It’s no surprise that the people would be upset by Jesus’ words. And yet it is perhaps a bit surprising that they felt they needed to interrogate him further. This indicates that his accusations were not unfounded; Jesus’ statements in today’s passage were not cause for Jesus’ own conviction.
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus
Today's Mass Readings
St. Teresa who is remembered today lived in a time not unlike our own. It was a time of huge cultural, social, religious and economic change. As we face maybe the worst economic crisis in a generation, along rapid technological and cultural change, Christianity is under more pressure than ever to be relevant. Let us reflect on today’s readings and try to be like St. Teresa, a person who gave her whole life for God. St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is also written in a time of great uncertainty, yet his admonition to the people in Galatia is pertinent to us today.
Today's Mass Readings
St. Teresa who is remembered today lived in a time not unlike our own. It was a time of huge cultural, social, religious and economic change. As we face maybe the worst economic crisis in a generation, along rapid technological and cultural change, Christianity is under more pressure than ever to be relevant. Let us reflect on today’s readings and try to be like St. Teresa, a person who gave her whole life for God. St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is also written in a time of great uncertainty, yet his admonition to the people in Galatia is pertinent to us today.
Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Both today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians and today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke deal with the same issue, freedom from the Mosaic ceremonial law. In the case of the Letter to the Galatians, the issue is circumcision, must a male Christian be circumcized in order to be saved and enter heaven? In the context of today's Gospel reading we might ask the question of whether or not Jesus has committed a sin by not performing the ritual washing before eating?
Today's Mass Readings
Both today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians and today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke deal with the same issue, freedom from the Mosaic ceremonial law. In the case of the Letter to the Galatians, the issue is circumcision, must a male Christian be circumcized in order to be saved and enter heaven? In the context of today's Gospel reading we might ask the question of whether or not Jesus has committed a sin by not performing the ritual washing before eating?
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
In today’s gospel passage from Luke, Jesus criticizes those who seek a “sign.” He suggests that they are an evil generation, like the Ninevites, whose sign from Jonah was a call to repentance, to sackcloth and ashes, to a complete change of life. Here Jesus sits – the Son of Man, the incarnate God with them and among them, and the people are unable to appreciate him for what he is. Ultimately Jesus is something much greater than Jesus because he has come to call the people not merely to repentance but to freedom.
Today's Mass Readings
In today’s gospel passage from Luke, Jesus criticizes those who seek a “sign.” He suggests that they are an evil generation, like the Ninevites, whose sign from Jonah was a call to repentance, to sackcloth and ashes, to a complete change of life. Here Jesus sits – the Son of Man, the incarnate God with them and among them, and the people are unable to appreciate him for what he is. Ultimately Jesus is something much greater than Jesus because he has come to call the people not merely to repentance but to freedom.
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The parable of the wedding feast served as an important purpose in the early Christian community. These were very traumatic times. The early Christian community was undergoing a crisis – it’s painful separation from the Jewish Synagogue. In light of this separation, Christians interpreted the wedding feast as the Kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus. Those who refused the invitation to the wedding feast are the Jewish people. The servants sent to invite them and were killed were the prophets. The ones invited from the main roads were the gentiles. The most puzzling character, however, is the one who slipped in without the wedding garment and got booted out. (Plesae see this Sunday's homily for an explanation).
Today's Mass Readings
The parable of the wedding feast served as an important purpose in the early Christian community. These were very traumatic times. The early Christian community was undergoing a crisis – it’s painful separation from the Jewish Synagogue. In light of this separation, Christians interpreted the wedding feast as the Kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus. Those who refused the invitation to the wedding feast are the Jewish people. The servants sent to invite them and were killed were the prophets. The ones invited from the main roads were the gentiles. The most puzzling character, however, is the one who slipped in without the wedding garment and got booted out. (Plesae see this Sunday's homily for an explanation).
Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s First Reading begins with the mysterious statement that “scripture confined all things under the power of sin.” This remark, at least at first glance, implies a particularly bleak view of the world in which we live. Contextually, however, St. Paul is simply arguing that the Law of Moses is without power to save. Despite what his readers may have been led to believe, St. Paul insists that the whole narrative of salvation history that is recorded in scripture teaches that the Promise made to Abraham was not fulfilled in the Law, and so it is not the following of that Law that makes someone an heir to the Promise. According to St. Paul, the true heirs to the Promise that God made to Abraham are those “who have faith in Jesus Christ” and not those who attempt to follow the Law of Moses. (Galatians 3:22) In recognizing the inadequacy of the Law to save, St. Paul explains, sacred scripture itself acknowledges the pervasive power of sin in a world without Christ.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s First Reading begins with the mysterious statement that “scripture confined all things under the power of sin.” This remark, at least at first glance, implies a particularly bleak view of the world in which we live. Contextually, however, St. Paul is simply arguing that the Law of Moses is without power to save. Despite what his readers may have been led to believe, St. Paul insists that the whole narrative of salvation history that is recorded in scripture teaches that the Promise made to Abraham was not fulfilled in the Law, and so it is not the following of that Law that makes someone an heir to the Promise. According to St. Paul, the true heirs to the Promise that God made to Abraham are those “who have faith in Jesus Christ” and not those who attempt to follow the Law of Moses. (Galatians 3:22) In recognizing the inadequacy of the Law to save, St. Paul explains, sacred scripture itself acknowledges the pervasive power of sin in a world without Christ.
Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians is intimately connected with the antiphon from today's responsorial psalm: "The Lord will remember his covenant for ever" (Psalm 111:5).
St. Paul alludes to the final covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 22, when Abraham offered his only son Isaac to be a sacrifice to God. God stops Abraham from completing the sacrifice and therefore saves (or "restores" in early christian and Jewish interpretation) Isaac's life.
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians is intimately connected with the antiphon from today's responsorial psalm: "The Lord will remember his covenant for ever" (Psalm 111:5).
St. Paul alludes to the final covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 22, when Abraham offered his only son Isaac to be a sacrifice to God. God stops Abraham from completing the sacrifice and therefore saves (or "restores" in early christian and Jewish interpretation) Isaac's life.
Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
“O Stupid Galatians!” begins our passage from Paul’s letter today. Paul’s frustration with the church of Galatia is expressed here full-force. The subject of this letter is circumcision, which Paul argues is not necessary in order to be a Christian. This is contrary to those Judaizer Christians, who argued that to become Christian one must first become Jewish. This was a way of excluding Gentiles from becoming Christian. For Paul, however, this is not just an issue of exclusivism; it is an issue of understanding the workings of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, in fact, the one who has led these people to faith in Christ. An emphasis on circumcision as a necessity seems to contradict God’s work through the Spirit, placing the focus instead on now unnecessary Jewish ceremonial practices. Paul calls the people back to the Spirit and back to faith in the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Today's Mass Readings
“O Stupid Galatians!” begins our passage from Paul’s letter today. Paul’s frustration with the church of Galatia is expressed here full-force. The subject of this letter is circumcision, which Paul argues is not necessary in order to be a Christian. This is contrary to those Judaizer Christians, who argued that to become Christian one must first become Jewish. This was a way of excluding Gentiles from becoming Christian. For Paul, however, this is not just an issue of exclusivism; it is an issue of understanding the workings of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, in fact, the one who has led these people to faith in Christ. An emphasis on circumcision as a necessity seems to contradict God’s work through the Spirit, placing the focus instead on now unnecessary Jewish ceremonial practices. Paul calls the people back to the Spirit and back to faith in the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians continues today to make the case for the Gentiles, that they need not become Jews in order to follow Jesus. Paul describes how the Gospel that he, Barnabas and Titus preach to the uncircumcised is the same Gospel that Peter preaches to the circumcised. Paul reminds the community in Galatia that they were given authority and commissioned by James, Cephas (Peter) and John while in Jerusalem. They were sent to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to be mindful of the poor.
Today's Mass Readings
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians continues today to make the case for the Gentiles, that they need not become Jews in order to follow Jesus. Paul describes how the Gospel that he, Barnabas and Titus preach to the uncircumcised is the same Gospel that Peter preaches to the circumcised. Paul reminds the community in Galatia that they were given authority and commissioned by James, Cephas (Peter) and John while in Jerusalem. They were sent to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to be mindful of the poor.
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Today's Mass Readings
The month of October is dedicated to the rosary, and today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. How appropriate that we find in today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke a passage which focuses on the contemplation of Jesus by a woman named Mary. This Mary is of course not the same Mary that is Jesus' mother, but like Jesus' mother Mary, this Mary contemplates Jesus, sitting at His feet listening to Him. This passage is not meant to demean work, but it does emphasize the importance of contemplating Jesus.
Today's Mass Readings
The month of October is dedicated to the rosary, and today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. How appropriate that we find in today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke a passage which focuses on the contemplation of Jesus by a woman named Mary. This Mary is of course not the same Mary that is Jesus' mother, but like Jesus' mother Mary, this Mary contemplates Jesus, sitting at His feet listening to Him. This passage is not meant to demean work, but it does emphasize the importance of contemplating Jesus.