Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Serving God faithfully is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple and it demands a radical trust in the Lord. This is not always an easy task as it seems we regularly encounter obstructions to our faith. These challenges may be people or situations that present roadblocks or bog us down leaving us without the energy to move forward. These truly may be impediments. However there is another level that lies below the surface and they call us to dig deeper. The pretenses of today’s scripture stories leave us mystified as to the depth of courage needed to serve the Lord.
Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
In our first reading, Samuel has called the whole town of Bethlehem together for a banquet. Everyone is supposedly there, including Jesse and his sons, one of whom will be the next king. The sons are dressed up and looking their best. But the Lord reminds Samuel, and us, that the outward appearance is not an accurate way to judge.
Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot
“He's in his honeymoon period.” When have you heard that line before? Maybe it was said about you when you started a new job, got married, or entered into a contract of some kind.
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Over the past year, I have enjoyed viewing the series “The Chosen.” This series follows the gospels and focuses on the lives of those who had been chosen by Jesus to follow Him. The creators use some creative license to bring to life these people who lived and traveled with Jesus long ago. One point that is emphasized throughout the series is the idea that all are called- even those who seem unworthy or undeserving. Today’s scripture readings highlight this same theme of being chosen. Saul and Levi are both called by God to follow God’s will for them. We are also being called by God to follow. Are we listening and are we able to say “yes” to that call?
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
As a parent and having previously been a child myself, I recall both speaking and hearing something like, “Well, don’t complain (or come crying!) to me when…” after stubborn persistence won out and warnings fell on closed ears. (You can probably fill in the blank above from your own experience.) Today’s Old Testament reading from the First Book of Samuel (8:4-7, 10-22a) has a similar feel. Let’s take a closer look.
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel we find Jesus moved with pity after encountering a leper in the street. Leprosy was a living death sentence. The afflicted person was isolated from family and members of the community. Because they were highly contagious, lepers had to shout “Unclean!” wherever they went. Not only did Jesus approach the leper but he touched him, spoke to him, and gave him his freedom to be fully human again. However, Jesus’ next move can be a bit puzzling. “Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” Why was Jesus so worried that people would find out about his healings and miracles?
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Well now what? After all of the joy and wonder of the past few weeks, we have now entered ordinary time through the bookend of the Christmas season that is the Baptism of the Lord. It is through the waters of baptism that we enter a life of discipleship. Our discipleship can sometimes get lost in the day to day grind of living, our own “ordinary time”. Today’s reading is a guide of how to be alive in a ways that lead us to serve the Lord faithfully.
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
I am always struck by how hard Jesus works to keep his identity a secret in the Gospels. Today’s Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) is one such example. In it, we see Jesus perform the first miracle in Mark – curing a man possessed by a demon. Notice what the demon says before being cast out, “I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24) Jesus, having heard enough, commands the demon to be quiet and get out of the man. I come away from this passage with one burning question: Why is the demon knowing Jesus’ identity such a threat?
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
On Christmas Eve I stopped at a CVS to pick up some last minute items. When I entered the store I stopped dead in my tracks. It was only Dec. 24 and the CVS was decked out for Valentine's Day. Heart shaped candy boxes and valentine greeting cards as far as the eye could see--- and not a sprig of holly or a single candy cane in sight. Elevator music supplanted Christmas carols, even Santa displaced by Cupid. Of course, I had to remind myself, our consumerist culture doesn't follow the liturgical year of the Catholic Church.
Saturday after Epiphany
“He must increase; I must decrease.” These words of John the Baptist at the end of today’s gospel are the mantle of Christian humility. We know that John the Baptist came before Jesus and baptized his followers, always speaking of one greater who will come and baptize with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, earlier in the Gospel of John, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:36). According to all of our sources, John had quite a following in first century Palestine. One could imagine that as such a renowned figure, he would be tempted to draw all of the attention to himself. Yet, by God’s grace he humbly fulfilled his role as the one who prepares the way of Jesus. John the Baptist becomes one of the most profound examples of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus – a disciple is one who always directs attention to the Master. Despite John’s important role in God’s plan, he didn’t think himself worthy even to untie Jesus’ sandal straps (Jn 1:27).
Friday after Epiphany
Today’s Gospel story from Luke tells of Jesus healing a leper. It is profound, miraculous, and joyful. The courage of the leper to approach Jesus, the great compassion and love Jesus shows, and the impact of the miracle (“great crowds assembled”) are all noteworthy and insightful. Twice in the same day, in two completely different places and contexts, I read the words, “hope is an action.” Luke describes how the leper saw Jesus, fell prostrate, and pleaded with him. These actions are manifestations of the leper’s hope. He hoped for a better life for himself and took action to make it happen. If we, as disciples, are truly people of hope, we must also be people of action. We can take action to advocate for our own needs and the needs of those around us.
Thursday after Epiphany
When Jesus arrives in Nazareth, the people of his hometown have some idea of who he is. His ministry is in its early days yet the word is getting around. And the people of his hometown are excited. Their hometown son is a thing. And he has chosen to come home.
I try to imagine an analogy. Try this one. It’s obviously limited. But maybe it works, in a way.
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
In today’s Gospel, I see three potential barriers that keep us from recognizing the presence of Christ and his activity in our world – fear, lack of understanding, and hard-heartedness. Our first reading offers a solution: God’s love being perfected in us. Today, let us be receptive to God’s extravagant love and so seek to be filled to overflowing with that abundant love.
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
“God is love.” It is easy for me sometimes to forget how important the message is that is conveyed by this simple phrase. These words have been spoken and heard so often that their meaning for Christians can become lost. The readings in the lectionary for today focus our attention on the question of what it means to say that God is love. In short, they teach us that God’s love is revealed to us through God’s gift of Godself in the person of Jesus Christ.
Monday after Epiphany
It may feel to us that Christmas is already over. The pre-Christmas shopping frenzy has been changed into a post-Christmas clearance shopping. Gifts have been exchanged, family gatherings have happened, and now the world moves on to the next holiday. In our Church, however, we continue to celebrate Christmas – that wondrous even that brought our savior to us as a humble babe.
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
As the New Year begins, many hope that there will be something good and positive in the year ahead. The scripture readings today speak about God’s desire to bless us and fulfill the promises of mercy and love that have been made from ages past. Mary shows us how to trust in God’s word and to live out that faith filled with hope and courage.
The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
I admit it’s long confounded me: what exactly is meant by “the Word”? This beginning of today’s poetic gospel passage from John (1:1-18) about the preexistence of Jesus Christ and His relationship to God the Father, similar to other poetry, calls for some reflection and even a little scholarly interpretation. I understand from the later verse, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” that it is referencing Jesus; but why, “the Word”?
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
“Did you forget?” I hear that question sometimes. Maybe I was supposed to ask an important question, or maybe Bess and I are preparing to host a guest. For any number of reasons there is something that needs to happen or is happening, and I need to remember it. I need reminders. I need a google calendar notification, a note on the fridge and a verbal reminder from Bess. We all need constant reminders sometimes and today's first reading has a few for us. I have three quick points to draw from them.
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
I’m captivated by Simeon in today’s Gospel. Luke tells us that Simeon was righteous, devout, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. Simeon was hyper-alert to the presence of Christ. Let us pray today for that same level of receptivity to the Holy Spirit and to the presence of Christ in and around us. Today, may the salvation given to us through Christ become our worldview, influencing and guiding how we live our lives.
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
I have been reflecting a lot on the person of Joseph throughout this Advent and Christmas season. I am struck by his humanity amidst the divine. He is the only member of the Holy Family who was not immaculate - he was sinful, just as we all are - and therefore so deeply human and in many ways so much more relatable. Joseph to me is a prayerful, faithful man. He listens to God's will and he says yes. But what really connects me to Joseph is that he often seems like the do-er in the family. He sees what has to get done and he makes it happen - and in that there is great love. Joseph loves through his actions because he is meeting the needs of those he loves. And right now in my life, I often feel like this is what I can contribute. I can prayerfully listen to God's will and then live out this will, working to do what needs to be done to take care of the people around me.