Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
I love post-it notes. I love all the fun colors and different sizes and how they help me organize my life. While I use post-it notes to remind me of my to-do list, record groceries we’ve run out of or make lists of the things I need my kids to do, I also love to write sayings or verses that strike me that I need to remember. I write them and hang them on my mirror or my door – places I will be sure to see them every day. As I read through today’s readings, I needed my post-it notes.
In the first reading I found myself drawn to the lines, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord…but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.”
Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings present several invitations to keep our focus on God’s gifts to us and “the hope that belongs to God’s call” (Alleluia verse).
Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
Psalm 93, our responsorial today, is the basis of one the most popular of Catholic hymns: On Eagles Wings: “You who dwell in the
shelter of the Most High/ who abide in the shadow of the Almighty/ Say to the LORD, “‘My refuge, my God, in whom I trust.’"
Writer Colleen Dulle put it this way: “We Catholics hold a few unshakable truths: Jesus is present in the Eucharist, Mary was conceived without sin, and when On Eagles Wings plays, we cry.”
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
“My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.” (Psalm 63:2)
I used to live in Southern California. While I lived there, I learned that people talk about water quite a bit or rather the lack of water. California is in a drought, so much of the vegetation there is brown, not green. I lived in a city called Riverside which is next to a river, but the river is dried up. People referred to the spring, summer, and early fall as wildfire season, but because the land was so dry, wildfires could happen any time of the year. However, during one of the winters while I was still living there, the area received a lot of rain. Afterwards, grass grew and flowers bloomed. To illustrate, in Riverside, there is a mountain with a hiking trail called Mount Rubidoux, which usually looks brown and dry, but with all the rain, it was very green, covered in grass. Upon reflecting on today’s Responsorial Psalm, plants needing rain is a good analogy for our faith. Do we water our faith and let it blossom or does it dry up?
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I don’t recall previously knowing that my grandmother’s birthday is on the Feast of the Visitation, although there’s a good chance I did know it when younger and forgot. Now that I’m older and reflecting more on family and faith, especially those who “have gone before us,” this seems important to me. My mother’s mother whose middle name was Elizabeth and named her youngest daughter (my mother) Elizabeth, who gave her middle daughter (that’s me) the middle name of Mary, who gave her (my) only daughter the middle name of Elizabeth. This feast of the visitation of Mary to her kinswoman Elizabeth has a greater significance for me in this year of my mom’s passing.
Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s first reading, we are called to be “living stones” just like Jesus. Nature is often used to convey ideas about experiences related to our faith, although our busy lives lessen our awareness of the created world around us. What might it mean to be “living stones” and how are we called to live out this calling?
Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Isn’t it wonderful to recognize progress in the spiritual life, both in yourself and in others? “Every day is a new day to begin again,” my husband always says. Every day brings a new opportunity for conversion; another invitation to become a little bit more holy, slightly more like Jesus, perfected in love even just a bit. As I prayed today’s Gospel, I suddenly recognized some of the conversion that took place in the Apostle John. Perhaps the growth that marked the life of this great saint might inspire us to lean into our own conversion this day.
Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
“Be holy because I am holy” Our readings present a call to discipleship that is very challenging. At first glance it’s nearly impossible. We are to be holy like Jesus? That’s a non-starter. I am very aware of my foibles and failings, and get discouraged facing big projects and long-term goals. When I view holiness as a perfection that only canonized saints ever attain, I want to give up even trying.
Yet, the call to holiness is for everyone, and is rooted in our Baptism. The meaning of the word holy is being sacred, set apart and belonging to God, and to be a vessel of God’s presence. Each of us is unique, with our own set of gifts and challenges. The call to holiness is to be truly and fully who we are as beloved of God - no more and no less. The world needs each of us!
Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” - Mark 10:25.
Since the third century, scholars and saints alike have explained that the “eye of the needle” referred to a particular gate in the wall of Jerusalem. During the day, this large entry was wide open through which a camel could easily pass. But at night, the larger gate was closed leaving a smaller opening in the gate that allowed only people to pass. A camel, however, could not meander that smaller opening unless it got down on its knees, had its load removed from its back, and crawled through.
Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is about the importance and power of prayer. St. James advised Christian disciples to pray when someone is suffering and/or sick, for each other, and for those who have wandered away from the faith. He wrote, “The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful,” (Jas 5:16). I remember when I was an RCIA sponsor, the catechumen I was sponsoring asked me for recommendations on prayers to pray. Even though she was asking for specific formulaic prayers, I told her to just talk to God instead. Weeks later, during a small group discussion during an RCIA session, she spoke about how helpful her conversations with God were to her faith. As St. Alphonse Liguori in his work Selected Writings wrote, “Never forget the sweet presence of God, as do the majority of people. Talk to God as often as you can, for he never tires of listening to you as do the great ones of this earth.... Tell him everything that happens to you; tell him about all your concerns just as you would to a dearest friend." If we are to deepen our relationship with God, especially as a “dearest friend”, we need to encounter and spend time with God, which is done through prayer.
Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
“Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another” (Jas 5:9). Oh man, talk about coming right out of the gate with a strong message in the first reading today. Naturally, I think about the many ways my children find to complain about each other on a daily basis. I have distinct memories of doing the same thing with my siblings growing up. It seems to be a natural human habit that begins at an early age and continues throughout life, in every group, setting, relationship, and community. I can cite examples in my house, at work, in the church, and find lots of examples throughout the Bible. But James warns us today to beware of internal bickering. Do not turn on one another. We need to lean on our brothers and sisters for strength, encouragement, accountability, compassion, and love as we journey through the joys and challenges of this world. And despite our complaints and grumblings, “the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (Jas 5:11).
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Two Sundays ago (May 12), Father James Heft gave those gathered at the 11:00 Mass at Immaculate Conception a brilliant homily in which, among other things, he reminded us that the Bible is complicated and that we need to be able to hear when the texts we encounter are hyperbolic. One of the examples he pointed to was the reading before us today. As he put it (I am obviously paraphrasing) is that if all sinners—that is, all of us—were to take Jesus’ commands in Mark’s text literally, we would be reduced to torsos with no appendages and no eyeballs.
Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
“Lord willing!” I remember my sister-in-law sharing that her grandmother would end every meeting with this phrase. When they were saying goodbye or “see you next week”, she would add on a matter-of-fact “Lord willing!” I remember being struck by how freeing this simple, yet profound phrase, can be. I also remember thinking – “wow, she knows she’s not in control!”
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel has a lot to unpack — the foreshadowing of the crucifixion and resurrection; the disciples caught in a moment of pettiness and pride; Jesus’ teaching on the holiness and importance of children. But it is this last lesson that resonates with me today, as my current ministry is working as a kindergarten aide and religion teacher at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School here in Dayton. With my first year of teaching coming to a close, I find myself nostalgic and hanging on to all my favorite memories and moments with my students. They have taught me more than I could ever teach them, and in echoing Jesus’ message for today, they have taught me what it really means to be holy.
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Today’s memorial, revived recently by Pope Francis, honors Mary in her ancient title as “Mother of the Church.” The praying church chose the Wedding Feast at Cana as our Gospel of the day for this very old feast. From the Fourth Gospel we hear, once again, the words of the Crucified Christ who addresses his mother as “woman.”
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Following Jesus is the main theme of today’s Gospel reading. What does it mean to follow Jesus? We see two examples in yesterday and today’s Gospel through Peter and the beloved disciple. In yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus predicted that Peter would be crucified, and today, Jesus called the beloved disciple to remain with him. While disputed among theologians and believers, early tradition suggests that the beloved disciple is John the Apostle and the writer of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. If we are to go with this correlation, then John the beloved disciple was banished to the island of Patmos and didn’t die of martyrdom like Peter. Peter and John’s lives were distinct from each other, yet they followed Jesus as outlined in Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, and Luke 9:23 which is to deny themselves and pick up their cross. The Gospel challenges us today to carry our cross and follow our own unique path God calls us to walk on.
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Almost like an annoying child or insecure lover we hear Jesus ask Peter repeatedly in today’s gospel reading (John 21:15-19), “Do you love me?”. Although Jesus isn’t an annoying child or an insecure lover, I wonder what Peter thought at the time. We read that after answering Jesus affirmatively the first two times, Peter was “distressed” when Jesus asked the question yet a third time. “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” And that’s it exactly.
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
There are many times throughout the gospel that Jesus prays for unity. In today’s gospel, He asks the Father to help us be “brought to perfection as one.” As I look around at our country, our world and even our church, it seems like this “oneness” is a nearly impossible goal. And yet, Jesus lives in this perfect unity with the Father and Spirit and calls us to do the same. How can we begin to build this unity that Jesus calls us to attain?
Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Imagine yourself as the Apostle Paul in the scene our first reading describes. You’ve spent three years with a community, enculturating yourself, making friends, pouring yourself out in ministry; it’s become like a tight-knit family. Now it’s time to leave. You’ll never see these dear ones ever again. What do you say to them? What is the final message you want to impart?
Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle
In the first reading for today, Peter and a crowd of Jesus’ followers gather to elect a new apostle to lead and tend to the world’s first Christians. This is one of the few times that Judas is mentioned after Jesus’ crucifixion and death. I imagine this could have been a tense moment for the apostles. They finally have to address the fact that one of their members betrayed them, and as a consequence, there is now an imbalance to their core group.