Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Our readings today speak to us about God’s justice and the power and mercy of the Just One at work in human lives. How are we to understand God’s justice? Today is the Memorial of St John of the Cross. In St John we find a beautiful exemplar, a soul seeking to know God and to find union with God. Through St John’s witness, I am persuaded that the only way to understand justice is to know the Just One. Indeed, the only way to understand and to embody any godly virtue is to know the One in whom those virtues were perfected. St John of the Cross, pray for us, that today we might grow in intimate knowledge of the Just One and that we might be people who seek God’s justice.
Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
In the gospel today Jesus tells the story of two sons. Each is given a task to do by his father. One of them initially says “no” to his father but later changes his mind and does what his father has commanded him to do. The other immediately agrees to do what his father asks, but he does not end up doing it. Only the first is to be commended for what he did. Jesus applies this to the people of his time. The Pharisees are the ones who initially said “yes” to God but do not follow through. He names “tax collectors and prostitutes” as examples of those who initially said no to God but changed their minds. They became receptive to the promptings of the Spirit, perhaps because they recognized that they needed to be saved. In this they demonstrate humility and an openness to God’s grace in their lives.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Revelation 12 illustrates an apocalyptic, archetypal, and ancient tale of God’s intervention involving a woman and a dragon. The dragon is red with the blood of the martyrs, and wishes to thwart God’s plan of salvation for humankind. The woman is secured by God and is taken up to a place of safety.
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
When you hear the name Elijah, you might be like me and think of the song “Days of Elijah” you sang (constantly) at youth group. To the Hebrews, Elijah was a bit of a bigger deal. Looking in the book of Kings, you will see the many wonders God showed through the prophet. Today’s first reading recounts these great signs and his destiny to repair the division of the tribes of Jacob and to put an end to the wrath before the day of the Lord. Like our shortsightedness to Elijah the prophet, we must be aware of when we become shortsighted to God’s wonders.
Memorial of Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
?Then I saw her face! Now I’m a Believer!? Today is the feast of St. Juan Diego. One of my favorite Catholic apparel companies, Sock Religious (feel free to ask me to pull up my pant leg next time you see me), has a t-shirt attributed to Juan Diego with a very punny meme of him revealing the image of Our Lady on his tilma with the aforementioned line from the well-known song by The Monkees. Humor aside, Juan Diego, the humble, peasant, native of the Americas, chose to cooperate with God. He chose to believe in our blessed Mother in the apparitions on Mount Tepeyac. The good news of Christ is for all.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I love teaching the capstone for the English major at UD. The course is designed to help seniors reflect on their personal story, how they changed over the course of their years at UD, where they might be headed, and, who they are called to be.
Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Rest. What does that word mean to you? I invite you to take a deep breath and sit with that word for a moment. Rest. I fear many in our society have forgotten what it means to rest. Our lives are frantic, hectic, and not only fast-paced but we’ve been lapped by life – life has not only run ahead of us, but it’s actually beaten us by a full lap and is now dragging us along in its wake. Through the Word, God invites us today to rest. God’s rest is holistic; God invites us to something deeper than a cessation of striving. God calls us to into the very rest of Christ. Let us abide in Him today and find rest for our souls.
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Sometimes it seems like human beings really need a leader. I’ve heard it said a lot recently that there is a need for leadership in the world. There is a need for insightful leaders, since so many of the problems that we are facing today are much bigger than any one person can address. In my life, too, I find myself needing a shepherd. I want more guidance on how to live my life. It’s not always clear where life is going. In modern times there are few certainties, and it often seems that people are looking for someone or something to give them assurance that they are doing things the right way. The scripture readings for today present us with the idea that ideal leader is Jesus, because he is willing to do all that he can for the sake of those who are in his care.
Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Scripture Readings
Today Isaiah proclaims, “Here is your God who comes with vindication.” And a saint who lived his life as God’s own vindicator was St. Nicholas of Myra, whose feast is tomorrow.
Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Have you heard God speak to you? If so, have you listened to what was said and followed those directions? Today’s readings challenge us to realize that God does in fact speak to us and calls us to do many things. During this time of Advent, we are invited to reflect on how we can be better listeners and become laborers for the Kingdom of God.
Friday of the First Week of Advent
Around the start of the pandemic I began taking sunset walks pretty regularly and discovered something about myself. If I watch the sky slowly darkening at sunset or just after sunset beginning with dusk, then I don’t mind the shortening of the days as much as I used to. If I witness its beauty, especially observing the change that comes with day closing into night, then I’m much more at peace the rest of the night. Occasionally hearing an owl or glimpsing deer or witnessing a great heron fly home for the night, it’s become something I look forward to. And at this time of year, for me, it’s become connected with the waiting and watching of Advent.
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Today is the Feast of St Andrew, Apostle. He and his brother Simon Peter were the first men whom Jesus called to be his disciples. Jesus summoned Andrew by name and called him to the vocation of Apostle. After Jesus’ Resurrection, Andrew was sent by God into specific areas to evangelize. It is no different for us! Jesus calls each of us to be his disciple and sends us into the world to share the Good News with others in our spheres of influence. Let us ask St Andrew’s intercession today for the graces we need to be bold, confident, and grateful witnesses to God’s love, mercy, and grace.
Monday of the First Week of Advent
The 2022 version of Ebenezer Scrooge loves Christmas. As owner of the mega-discount chain Ebenezer-Mart, he can’t get enough of it.
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today marks the vigil of the first Sunday of Advent and the new liturgical year. And rightly so, we are given a gospel reading highlighting the need to be “vigilant at all times.” Because…… how did we get to Advent already?! Where did this snow come from?! Why is it so dark outside?! In preparation for this reflection, I had to double check the dates and liturgical calendar. I guess my reaction is very fitting for the message taken from today’s gospel. I need to wake up!
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Beware! The end is coming! Jesus tells us today, “know that the Kingdom of God is near” (Lk 21:31b). For us Catholics, we are literally coming to the end of our liturgical year. For a smart-alec like me who enjoys pushing back on popular culture, you might find me telling everyone ‘Happy New Year’ in a couple of days! ;) I cannot wait for the confused look that students at CJ will give me. While we are experiencing the end of a liturgical cycle, the last couple of weeks, our readings have focused on the end times; not just a flip of the calendar, but actually the end of the world. In the Gospels, Jesus has been sharing his final discourse. In revelation, John shares his elaborate and fantastical visions.
Thanksgiving Day
Every now and then (it doesn’t happen a lot), a student will take the time to write me a thank you note at the end of the semester or after they have finally submitted their Honors thesis. I always do the same thing with such cards. I save them. I put them in a drawer in my desk so that the next time I’m feeling discouraged, I can pull one or two of them out of the drawer. After reading just one of those notes, I feel a rush of gratitude that gives me new perspective on whatever was getting me down.
Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
We, the Church, the Body of Christ, process toward the end of this liturgical year. On Sunday, we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King, and this coming Sunday begins Advent. In between these two significant Sundays, our readings keep us in the end times, anticipating Christ’s return and the celebration of his Advent. The scriptures from the last couple weeks have reminded us to be prepared, prayerful, and penitent as we await the coming and return of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Today’s Gospel assures us, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” Today let us focus on God’s promise of wisdom during persecution, and the confidence we have as God’s creation, “great and wonderful.”
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Memorial of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
As we conclude liturgical year “C,” the last week has featured the Book of Revelation. No book of the Bible is more misunderstood or more widely misused.
Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Every time we pray the Nicene Creed we close by saying, “and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” We finish this creedal statement focusing on the hope of our eternal future with God. Although I profess these beliefs regularly at Mass, these concepts of resurrection and life after death are hard to comprehend. Both of today’s readings refer to the resurrection, and therefore invite us to reflect on what this means for us as Christians today.