Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Consider the faith of the Prophetess Anna and of Simeon. The Lord told them they would see the salvation of Israel early in their lives, and so they waited in hope. For weeks, months, years, and across decades, they waited for the Christ that God had promised. Have you ever had that sort of hope? What are you hoping for today?
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The lives of the great Catholic Saints always seem so remarkable to me, and for good reason. By the inspiration of their example, the witness of their faith, and through the grace of Christ made available through their prayers, we are able to grow in our own discipleship of Christ and all that that includes. Nevertheless, we may look at the lives of the saints and still feel discouraged, thinking to ourselves, "I could never do that" or "I'm so far from being a saint." It's easy to subconsciously confuse the saints as being superhuman. But in reality, they are actually the most human, because to be human is to be in union with God. All of us are called to sainthood, to dwell with God forever in this life and in the next, even if the cause of our beatification or canonization is never taken up. We are husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. By many standards, perhaps even our own, our lives may not seem extraordinary. But because we are first disciples of Jesus, we have been called to live ordinary lives in extraordinary ways.
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Faith, Hope and Love are central to our life as disciples. Today’s scripture readings center on faith and how we are called to believe in God’s promises even in the midst of strife and struggles. Having doubts about what the future might hold is a human tendency, but we can increase our trust in God through the gift of faith. Jesus shows us the perfect example of how to overcome doubts and struggles as He journeys through His passion and death to His resurrection. Jesus shows us that God’s love never ends and this love will always overcome. When we recognize and trust in this great love of God, then we can have faith to keep moving forward, even when the path seems unknown and unsettled.
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
I recently discovered a beautifully powerful a cappella choral piece, “Even When He is Silent,” by Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen (recordings can be found on YouTube). It is based on words found scratched on the wall of a concentration camp after World War II. The brief poem (now lyrics) by an unknown prisoner resonated with me and came to mind as I reflected on today’s readings:
I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining.
I believe in love, even when I feel it not.
I believe in God, even when He is silent.
Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
In today’s gospel from St. Mark, Jesus offers a parable to his disciples. He has a knack for using very simple images to compare the everyday things of the life and the things of the Kingdom of God. Jesus says, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.” From the moment of our baptism, we received the light of Christ. To quote the Catechism, “Through baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church, and made sharers in her mission.” In other words, baptism connects us to Christ, therefore connecting us to all those who are baptized. We become the body Christ through the sacrament of Baptism, but how have we used the light we received? Jesus wants his close followers to let the light of his teaching shine out for all to see!
Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Time spent in the woods recently inspires me to think about today’s Gospel, the familiar parable of the sower, in a different way. What if rich soil can be found on the rocky ground; what if fertile soil lies among the thorns? When God’s Word is sown in our hearts and minds, we have a choice to make. We can choose to plunge our roots deeply into faith, or we can choose to be distracted. Today, I invite us to consider the ways in which our experiences among the rocks and thorns might actually prove to be life-giving.
Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops
For many people, this time of year is the “post-Christmas slump.” The joy of that season has ended. The short days and cold weather lead us to get even less natural light than normal. Meanwhile, the bad-news cycle continues to assault our senses and attempts to steal our peace, replacing it with melancholy. Thank God for the Psalms, and particularly today’s.
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
Today is the feast of the conversion of St. Paul. It is hard to think of St. Paul without first thinking of him lying flat on his back after the Lord decided it was time to talk some sense into him. Arguably, he has one of the most intense conversion experiences of anyone in Scripture. We see that there is power in it too. He uses the radical change that Christ wrought in his life to make clear that Christ is the Son of God. However, I think most of us have a decent level of familiarity with Paul's part in his conversion, let's turn our eyes instead to Ananias.
Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel passage captures one third of something called Lewis’ Trilemma. Here is how Lewis describes it: "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. … Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse" (Mere Christianity 56). This is commonly represented as “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.” The goal today is not to discuss all of the flaws or merits of his argument, but to draw from it the startling connection in Mark today.
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
I have a friend who often uses the phrase, “God does not call the qualified; God qualifies the called.” Our gospel message today speaks decisively to this exact sentiment. “Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him” (Mk 3:13). Saints and sinners alike throughout history have questioned their value and worthiness to be a disciple of Christ. St. Therese of Lisieux described that “he does not call those who are worthy, but those whom he pleases.” We should also note that the initiative completely comes from Jesus. He summoned “those whom he wanted.” They were “to be with him” – as disciples and friends “to be sent forth.” Like the apostles, each of us is called by name; we are called into a profoundly personal and intimate relationship with Jesus. It is when we allow him to look on us in this way that we get a sense of our deepest significance and personal worth. Jesus called twelve ordinary people to help carry out his mission, to share the good news.
Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
People are coming from just about every direction to see Jesus. More than that, they want to touch him. They have heard stories of his miraculous healing power. If he just touches them, they’ve been told, they will be cured of whatever affliction they suffer from. So many people are desperate to get close to him, that Jesus actually fears for his safety. Mark’s gospel tells us that they were likely to crush him. In order to escape that fate, Jesus asks his followers to fetch a boat for him. Out on the water, he will remain safe from the multitudes. What an incredible scene!
Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17).
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12).
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
A new semester is just beginning at the University at Dayton. For those of us privileged to teach there, that means we have been hard at work on our syllabi for our courses. Much of the work that goes into a syllabus focuses on the substance of the course—the readings, discussion topics, paper assignments, and so forth. Just as important as the content for a course are the rules set forth in a syllabus that determine such matters as when assignments are due, whether late work will be accepted, and how many absences are allowed.
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
I might be the only one, but have you ever questioned why you should go to confession? Maybe the idea didn’t even come from you. Maybe you were having a conversation with someone that went a little like this (we’ll call the other person Siegfried):
Siegfried: Hey, do you want to come over on Sunday.
You: Actually, I can’t I have to go to church.
Siegfried: Oh, ok. So are you Christian?
You: Yeah, I am; I’m Catholic.
Siegfried: Don’t you have to go to a priest or something when you do something wrong?
You: Well, I mean, kind of…
Siegfried: Why?
You: …
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Our current society is filled with fear, anger, hatred and condemnation, and yet as Christians we know that we are called to live differently as followers of Jesus. Today’s readings remind us that each one of us must recognize our sinfulness and need for healing as we turn to Jesus as the source of mercy and forgiveness. As Christians, we are called to face the evil both within our hearts and around us, and ask Jesus for timely help to restore peace and love for all people.
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Being in the “helping profession” of counseling as well as the ministry of spiritual direction, not to mention the ministry of mothering (yes, even as they enter later adolescence and young adulthood), I am used to “carrying” others in a sense. That’s a role I am comfortable with and believe that’s where God uses my gifts. I am also aware, however, that sometimes I am the one who needs to be “carried.” Today’s gospel reading gives us an opportunity to reflect on our place in the story: as the one being carried and lowered through the roof to Jesus, or one of those doing the carrying. Let’s take a closer look.
Thursday of the First Week of Ordinary Time
In today’s first reading, the author of the letter to the Hebrews issues a warning against faithlessness. Shortly after the Israelites left Egypt, where they were enslaved, and when they arrived near the promised land, God invited them to take possession of it. Several men went out to see the new land and discovered it was very fertile. However, they were also fearful of the powerful Canaanites who inhabited the land. They were worried that they would have to engage in battle, so some of the scouts spread false rumors about the promised land. The people did not obey God’s command and refused to take possession of the land. As a consequence of their disobedience and lack of faith, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings prompt me to consider the implications for us of Christ Jesus becoming fully human in his incarnation while retaining his full divinity. As we enter into Ordinary Time, let’s keep fresh in our hearts and minds the wonder of Christ coming into our midst as Emmanuel. This is a great day to be grateful for the gift of salvation and to thank our Lord for paying the price for our sins and for setting us free. This is a great day to remember that Christ’s coming in human form sets us free to be our most free, fully human selves, and that by our baptism, we become partakers also in Christ’s divinity.
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Each of these readings are providing some good insight into who Jesus is. He is God, creator of the universe, with all things subject to him. Jesus is also a man. Every Christian knows these two facts. This is contradiction enough, but another prominent layer comes as well; that it was fitting for Jesus to suffer. None of us likes to suffer. For most of human history, however, it has been such a near and present companion that people accepted it as part of life. In the last hundred-plus years, we have made great strides at reducing human suffering. Praise the Lord! But for us, when it can at times seem possible to live a life without very much suffering at all, it is especially strange to read in sacred scripture that it is fitting that Jesus suffers. We know all about his passion and death, but we feel the injustice in it, since he was without sin. Why then, is it fitting that Jesus suffers?
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
These opening lines in Hebrews are some of the most interesting to me, "In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son." This line is expressing, in Scripture, a reality that the Word of God properly understood should not be limited to Scripture. For some, this is a no-brainer but for others, this could be a challenging idea.