Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s scripture readings are reminders that God calls each of us to be with Him. Our choice lies in the ability to trust in God instead of relying upon our own wisdom and strength. It is in our humility to say “yes” that we are able to follow and become a disciple of Christ.
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
The early Church at Corinth suffered from division and disunity. St Paul’s first letter addresses all its many unhealthy expressions. In our passage today, we see Paul attempting to hold the Corinthian Christians accountable for forming cliques around certain leaders rather than following Christ as a unified Body. Paul addresses these believers with a specific analogy, and it applies to us today. It’s this metaphor that I want to zero in on today, and also to remind us that we, like Paul and Apollos, are God’s co-workers. Are we growing and equipping ourselves for this assignment?
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
“The Spirit scrutinizes everything” (1 Cor 2:10B). Does that make you nervous? Or are you looking forward to a good look-over from the Spirit? Personally, I don’t enjoy it when someone is looking carefully through my personal business, because I think it’s none of theirs. But we all belong to the Lord, and we were made to serve God by working for the Kingdom. Jesus has redeemed our lives from sin and death, and so our lives and everything that pertains to us is God’s “business.”
Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Following his baptism at the Jordan and his showdown with the devil in the wilderness, Jesus returns home to Nazareth’s familiar synagogue. Neighbors gathered on that Sabbath would have known him since infancy. But this time his homecoming caused an uproar.
Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings seem a bit harsh. In the first reading, Paul in a way calls the recipients of his letter foolish, weak, and despised. In the Gospel, the “Master” or owner takes away the talent of one of his servants. However, neither reading is meant to be harsh. They can give us insight as to how to live as a disciple of Jesus.
Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
“How good is the good God!” As I spent time with the psalm for today, this familiar quote from St. Julie Billiart keeps reverberating in my thoughts. It is a quote of awe and wonder at the beauty that exists in creation. I am well-aware that goodness is sometimes clouded heavily by bad news seemingly around every corner–most media outlets suffer from “bad news bias” and operate under the motto “if it bleeds, it leads”. However, today I am drawn to our psalm refrain: “The Earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” (Ps 33:5) There is beauty to be found in creation, in our relationships, in our work, in our play, in our joy, and even in our struggles.
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Let’s just be honest. The Bible is, in many ways, a foreign country. There are lots of stories that feel right—like when Mary responded to Gabriel with a resounding yes or Jesus healed the woman who had been bleeding for years or the Samaritan crossed the road to help an untouchable in need. And then there are other stories—the foreign ones. Like the one from the Gospel of Mark that is before us today.
Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
I currently teach 6 – 9-year-olds in a Montessori classroom. My co-teacher and I spend a lot of time talking about the “prepared environment.” A lot of time, energy, planning and preparation goes into setting up the room so that students can use the space appropriately to learn and grow. We often talk about how the adults in the room are part of the prepared environment. To prepare ourselves means taking time for quiet, for self-reflection, for training. If the adults have not consciously taken time to prepare their hearts and minds for this work it will seem empty and meaningless – and believe me, kids can pick up on that.
Memorial of Saint Monica
May the intercession of St. Monica, our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.
Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Monica, a fourth century saint and mother of St. Augustine of Hippo (memorial on August 28th), who became a Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Monica was in an abusive marriage and her long-suffering patience, sorrowful tears and persistent prayers for changes in her husband’s violent temper and her son Augustine’s immorality are attributed to both of their conversions to Christianity and leading virtuous lives. Her faithfulness in prayer and belief that things can change are a model for us all. She is a patron saint of wives, mothers, conversions, alcoholic and abuse victims.
Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Years back a friend of ours from our former parish in Cincinnati lost her forty year old husband suddenly to a heart attack,
leaving her to raise their four boys alone. She was a convert to Catholicism, raised in a strict fundamentalist faith. Her father was a preacher in that faith.
The funeral liturgy was both beautiful and heart breaking. There was just one oddity. And it was a whopper. Her father preached the sermon (not really a homily) and it was all fire and brimstone. He used the opportunity to warn those of us who didn’t accept-Jesus-Christ-as-our-personal-Lord-and-Savior (according to his formula) that we would be dragged down into the pit by Satan himself. And the word he emphasized continuously was the word “Woe.”
Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle
Today is the feast of St. Bartholomew, and today’s Gospel tells the story of how Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew, met Jesus. Jesus observed that “there is no duplicity” in Bartholomew. This reading encourages us to look at ourselves and see if there is any duplicity in our lives.
Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
A sound started up, rattling like thunder. The bones came together, bone joining to bone. Sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top (Ez 37:7-8). Our boys are big fans of Super Mario Bros (as is dad). I couldn’t help but think of one of the characters as I spent time with Ezekiel. In Super Mario, Dry Bones are skeletal versions of Koopa Troopas–villainous turtle members of an evil army led by their angry and antagonizing dragon-like leader, Bowser. Their purpose is to stop Mario and Luigi from saving Princess Peach. Not quite a direct parallel to our reading but Dry Bones is part of a massive army of Koopas. Similarly, we read that Ezekiel connected dry bones that soon “stood on their feet, a vast army.” (Ez 37:10) What an amazing scene from the exile when he is told to call forth new life from a field strewn with dry bones.
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Scripture Readings
Wedding and wedding planning are often a big deal. Trying to figure out how many people to include on the guest list, what you will serve, and even the attire for the event are often topics for much discussion. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a royal wedding feast. This wedding feast is like no other, and we are called to be a part of the celebration.
Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
The parable Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel is one of my favorites. Every reading of it brings fresh conviction to my heart. This time, what stood out to me was God’s question, Are you envious? I don’t think of myself as an envious person, and you likely don’t see yourself that way either. Let’s not be so sure, however! Envy that lurks beneath the surface deceives us and trips us up. I pray we each have an openness today to examine our consciences for what St Augustine called “the diabolical sin.”
Jesus’ parable closes with these words, “Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last (emphasis added)." The laborers hired first were envious of the ones hired last who received the same wage. Why this envy? Psychologists speak of envy as having both cognitive and emotional aspects. The thinking part goes like this, “Your gain is my loss.” From an emotional standpoint, one may feel a deep lack, unusual sadness, confusion, or even hatred when considering the blessings of another.
Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church
Today’s readings have been a source of astonishment for many generations of Christians. In today's first reading from Ezekiel, the wise and prudent ruler of the great city of Tyre is proud. When he reflects on his many successes, he can only conclude that he has divine power. How else could he be so good at everything? But Ezekiel’s message to him is simple: ‘Prince, you are a mortal man, you and will die soon at the hands of murderers.’
Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Recent popes have referred to today’s Gospel of the rich young man in their many addresses to young people throughout the world. Through this familiar narrative they have encouraged young people, like the rich one in today’s Gospel, to grow their own conversations with Christ and to know first hand the truth that Christ still gazes lovingly, as he does at the young man. Like today’s youth, that rich young man was rich in talents, energy, and dreams.
Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are childlike. As an adult, how am I to be like a child?
Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Earlier this week, we had our opening retreat for all employees at Chaminade Julienne as we embark on a new school year together. We were led through a beautiful workshop by my colleague, friend, and fellow IC parishioner, Caitlin Bennett, where she guided us through the core tenets of improv and how it applies to our work in Catholic education. One of the takeaways that I am still reflecting on is the concept of building on the work of one another, saying “Yes, and…” to add to the scene. Additionally, we ended the retreat celebrating mass together with Fr. Jim Heft, S.M. from the University of Dayton. In his homily, Fr. Heft spoke briefly about the etymology of the word commitment and community. Commitment is borrowed from the latin word, commitō, meaning ‘to bring together, join’, from com- (“together”) and mittō (“to send”). We make commitments all the time in our lives–to our families, our work, volunteer opportunities, friends, neighbors, and more.
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I confess that over the years I have read poorly the passage we have before us today from Luke. That is, I didn’t take a number of the specifics seriously enough. I am grateful that the occasion to write this reflection took me to my favorite commentary—Wisdom Commentary published by Liturgical Press (a Catholic and ecumenical press). And I learned a great deal.
Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
This summer my husband and I and our four children, ages 12 to 5, were blessed to be able to attend a family retreat. We spent 5 days intentionally spending time together, praying together, laughing together and refocusing our family on Christ. We spent this time reconstructing our domestic church.
Today’s Gospel calls to mind this experience for me. We came into this retreat as many families do – losing sight of the immense blessing each member of our family is. We were taking each other for granted, snapping at each other and quite honestly being selfish and unkind towards one another. At one point the retreat focused on forgiveness. What a powerful gift we have in forgiveness. We hear Christ tell the apostles, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” I think sometimes we lose sight of how immensely powerful this loosing and binding can be, especially in our families. It’s so important to set time aside and practice the art of both sincere apology and sincere forgiveness. I know that when I have asked forgiveness from someone and truly feel forgiven, I can quite literally feel myself getting looser, feeling less bound up – feeling free. While it’s important to do this for all our relationships I think it’s especially important in our families.