Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
How embarrassing for that person who was asked to move to a lower place in Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel. The society that Jesus lived in was hierarchical with some social classes higher than others. This social hierarchy was even reflected in celebrations where people of higher social standing sat in certain spots or “places of honor” while others of lower status were not able to be in those seats. St. Paul addressed this issue with the early Christian community, Luke’s intended audience, in which during the Sunday communal meals in private homes, the rich ate sumptuously in the dining room while the poor ate in the atrium with less food or none at all (1 Corinthians 11: 20-22, 33-34).
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Have no anxiety at all?? Surely, Paul’s letter to the Phillipians (4:4-9) does not apply to us today, right? With all that is happening in our world, it’s hard to imagine having “no anxiety at all.” If Paul were writing to us in this day and age with multiple wars, significant political divisions, mass shootings, global climate change and increasingly severe natural disasters, disease and pandemics, surely he wouldn’t exhort us to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” Or would he?
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
(All Souls)
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls. We remember those faithful departed who have left this world. Today’s readings remind us that we should not focus on death, but rejoice in the “hope of immortality” that God promises to those who believe.
Solemnity of All Saints
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints Day. This Solemnity celebrates all of the Church’s Saints, both those we know about who have been formally canonized by the Church, and those we do not yet know about. The first reading for today from the Book of Revelation provides us with a magnificent glimpse into the heavenly life of the glorified Saints. This vision gives us hope of joining their numbers upon our own death and entrance into glory. An important part of this vision is found in 7:9 where we see the unity of God’s people, called from “every nation, race, people, and tongue.”
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus uses two powerful images to help teach us what the Kingdom of God is. In the first image, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. From a tiny seed, a great tree grows. Jesus ends the description of the tree by stating that “the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches” (v. 19). The quoted phrase here is a reference to Ezekiel chapter 17, where Ezekiel also uses the image of a tree—in this case a cedar tree—to talk about how God will demonstrate his power. The cedar tree planted on a hill that Ezekiel mentions is intended to represent God’s promise to restore David’s line after the Babylonian exile of Judah is over. Those who heard Ezekiel’s prophecy would have found renewed strength in the prophecy that God would renew his promise to Israel. In a similar way, the image that Jesus paints of the mustard tree gives us hope that God is present with us and that God is in the process of restoring our broken world through Jesus Christ. It also conveys the thought that a small change can have a significant effect not only in our lives but also in the lives of other people.
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burdens. Psalm 68: 20
Today the psalmist praises our God “who daily carries our burdens,” all that weigh us down. Perhaps the heaviest burdens are the unexpected ones, especially those knockout punches that bring us to our knees.
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
It seems to me that in today’s world, many people are searching for meaning in their lives. In this search, some try to root themselves in material possessions or in themselves as individuals. Others explore a variety of spiritualities and religions, hoping to find some sort of spiritual rootedness. Often these explorations focus on where and to whom we belong. Today’s first reading helps us recall that we belong to God. We have a home in God that is built upon the foundations of Christ and what the Apostles taught us about Him. The first reading challenges us to reflect on where and what we base our lives on. Is it on God or something else?
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Why do people like to talk about the weather? It’s a safe conversation–everyone can observe it; we are all impacted by it; it’s a pretty neutral and objective topic; and it fills time and space. It’s almost always easier and safer to talk about the weather than politics or religion. The weather is not political; it’s comfortable to discuss. It is mostly fact; can’t really argue about whether (pun intended) or not that wet stuff outside is rain. It doesn’t take a special degree or certification to prepare to talk about it. So, I find it amusing today in the gospel that Jesus uses weather to make his point to the crowds. “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Lk 12:56)
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12: 49) Perhaps some of Jesus’ disciples (both then and now) wish this gospel verse were a literal statement, looking for a warrior savior who would “take the world by fire!” It would certainly make for a popular movie or computer game. But seriously, it’s somewhat jolting at first read as Luke in today’s gospel reading (Luke 12: 49-53) continues with Jesus preaching to his disciples, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Really?
Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Recently, I was struggling to get everything done at work. While my workload kept growing, my ability to juggle the amount of tasks was diminished because I was overwhelmed. Ministry is often an unpredictable vocation. The message that kept coming to me in prayer was be prepared. As an Eagle Scout I understand that motto well, yet my ability to handle unexpected realities suggested otherwise.
Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans. In this passage, Paul is explaining the good news of salvation in Christ by reminding his readers and listeners about the stories in Genesis. In Genesis 2 and 3, God creates Adam and Eve, who then disobey God’s one rule: do not eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. At first, God can seem a little capricious here: anyone who has children knows that specifically telling a child not to do something means that the temptation to do that very thing is inevitable.
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to his people to set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. Luke 2:29-33
As an inheritance from the synagogue services of, in the words of John Paul II, “our Jewish elders,” we respond to scripture with scripture in our liturgies, usually with a psalm. However today our response to the 1st reading is not a psalm but the Nunc dimittis canticle from Luke. Simeon sings this at the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple.
The theme of today’s readings is faith. The first reading is about Abraham’s faith and how he and his descendants “would inherit the world” (Romans 4:13) because of his faith. If we look at Abraham though, we might doubt that. For instance, he lied about his wife being his sister, left Hagar and Ismael in the desert, and almost killed his son Isaac. Not exactly an exemplar of virtue. However, it is because of his faith that God has a covenant with him and his descendants. What does that mean for us today? Abraham didn’t earn a covenant with God. Likewise, we don’t earn God’s grace and love. Still, we act as if what we do can give us brownie points with God or rather that God’s love can be taken away if we don’t do certain things. Over the years, I’ve heard people treat Reconciliation, spiritual direction, Adoration with Eucharistic Exposition, acts of service and volunteering, and other prayers and rituals as ways to gain God’s favor to get into heaven. They had a focus on doing the right thing rather than simply loving God and our neighbors. This reading reminds us that God freely gives grace and love to us regardless of what we do. We receive God’s grace and love through our faith.
Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The other day, a student asked me what Christians think about fear. Interesting question - and not one I've thought about much, on purpose, until that question. Fear is something that we try to keep at arms' length. While we tell our children not to be afraid of the dark, how often do we have meaningful conversations about the things we really fear: death, violence, losing independence, and so on?
Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
In our society today, there is a great deal of discord within our society. More emphasis is placed on the differences between one another than on the ways that we are similar and connected. St. Paul reminds us in today’s reading that we are all equals. No one is better than another, and we are all in need of God’s grace and mercy.
Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist
Today, on the Feast of St. Luke, we read in his gospel a story of Jesus appointing seventy-two disciples and sending them out in pairs to every place he intended to visit. There are two main things that stand out to me about Jesus’ very specific directions to these disciples. First, “carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals...” I was reflecting on this Gospel once as my husband and I packed for a weekend camping with our family. Preparing for two adults, multiple young children, and a dog to sleep in a tent and cook food over a fire required carrying way more items than Jesus had in mind for the disciples! But if I was going on a trip to share the Good News and spread the message that Jesus was coming, what would I want to pack? I hear Jesus’ message as a call for simplicity. Go out into the world each day with the clothes on your back, a smile on your face, open ears, and a receptive heart. As I think about evangelizing I often get caught up in the complexities. What if I don’t know all the answers or what if I can’t convince people to care? This passage reminds me that I do not need to be a scripture scholar or a theologian to evangelize. I do not even need to carry a Bible with me. I literally just need to show up and be present to people, bring Christ to the world through joy and gratitude, offering and receiving hospitality.
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
We have strong readings today! St. Paul’s letter to the Romans gives us an unsettling warning, and Jesus scorns the people who invited him over for dinner. What a dynamic God we serve; sometimes gentle, sometimes very stern.
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
All things culturally change, even the way that people greet one another. Modern slang salutations include: ‘Sup? Hah-ya-do-win? Yo! Was es goin on? Wah-sup? Whach-a-up-ta, dude? Add new gestures to the mix, such as a hand slap or elbow bump (the later a vestige of the pandemic). Some traditional rituals seem on the verge of extinction.
Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that those who hear the word of God and observe it are blessed. This is reflected in the First Reading. The prophet Joel reminds us that wherever God dwells, there are blessings. He uses rich agricultural imagery to illustrate this; “The mountains shall drip new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk; And the channels of Judah shall flow with water,” (Joel 4:18). In receiving these gifts from God, the Responsorial Psalm responds by rejoicing. We are called to remember that God dwells within us. Therefore, we are to rejoice, be glad with God, and live a life of gratitude in which we see God’s goodness everywhere.
Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
I loved athletics as a kid as did my family. As one of six children, I spent a good portion of my childhood at sporting events, whether they were my own or my siblings’. I learned a lot about competition, sportsmanship, winning, losing, and teamwork. My favorite memories are from playing high school football. There is a phrase from today’s gospel that led me to reflect on the contrast between the team my freshman year and the team my senior year: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house” (Mt 12:25).