Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Over a decade ago, I lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania. On every Good Friday, the bishop would give the homily at the cathedral. He would always begin by saying (in a rather severe tone), “Today is the saddest day of the year.” There was something about that line that never sat well with me. I grew up praying the rosary—including the Sorrowful mysteries—as well as the Stations of the Cross and I never thought that I should be miserable doing so. I was, after all, praying with the Church, which exists precisely because of Christ’s resurrection. These prayers and liturgical actions only make sense in the context of the entire story of Jesus—we enter into His death knowing that He is risen! We die with Him, knowing that we too will rise with Him.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Today is the Exaltation of the Cross. We're far from Good Friday and there are historical reasons for that, but it is also just good to be reminded of what Jesus accomplished on the wood of the Cross and that message permeates every part of today's liturgy.
Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
This year has been an unusual year for me (and many others I suspect) when it comes to gardening. Since I have been at home all summer, I have had greater opportunities to put more effort into tending my garden. This year because of the pandemic and our quarantine, I have been able to water daily, pull weeds regularly and do the other little things that support a healthy garden. Today’s scripture readings remind us that God creates us and calls us forth to bear good fruit, but we need to make choices that allow our faith to flourish and bring forth those fruits. We are also called to put down deep roots that develop from our trust of God. Without God’s presence to stabilize our lives, the trials and tribulations of this world will wash us away.
Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
One of the “occupational hazards” of my work and ministry is the risk of being a hypocrite. I also think it’s one of the blessings in disguise. As a counselor and spiritual director I have to be so aware, so careful of, in the words of today’s gospel parable, “noticing the splinter in my brother’s (or sister’s) eye,” while not perceiving the “wooden beam” in my own eye. The challenging thing is that without reflection we’re usually not aware of the wooden beam in our own eye. I once had a client who lived in a poverty-stricken area rife with crime and addiction ask me if I knew what it was like to walk from her front door, that probably wouldn’t even close properly, down to the street where her car was parked, that may or may not start when she needed it to. I was starkly reminded of the caution not to judge someone unless you’ve walked at least a mile in their shoes.
Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, there is a lengthy list of what following Christ entails. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Whew! Jesus’ list seems impossible to live out, yet if what he asks seems too much for us, we are beginning to understand that we cannot accomplish these tasks on our own, but only through God’s grace. By receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments, we will be better able to witness the love, forgiveness and peace to which Jesus calls us.
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Today’s readings bring to my mind the concept of one’s state in life. This notion centers on the condition of life in which a person finds herself at a particular period on life’s journey. I’ve experienced various states in life – student, single adult, married person, mother, employed, unemployed. Within each such category, we identify much more specific descriptors that paint a picture of one’s state; characteristics of one’s socio-emotional state, economic situation, intellectual development, physical or mental health, relationships, geography, culture. State in life is best described through a holistic lens, considering all aspects of our lives. As disciples of Jesus, I believe we define our lives based not on our state in life, but rather on our life in Christ. I invite us to reflect on today’s readings with that foundational statement in mind.
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today is the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. Happy Birthday Mary! Why do we celebrate Mary’s birth? The answer is one word: Hope. We believe that Jesus Christ inaugurated the Kingdom of God, but we all hesitate to put have hope in the reality that it is here, or that it is even coming into existence. Why is it hard to believe in the complete redemption humanity and all of creation? We see little examples of it hardwired into nature; winter leads into spring, forests come back to life after wildfires, rivers heal when pollution is removed. We even see it hardwired into people: time heals most wounds. Widowed people get re-married, brothers and sisters and parents forgive one another, and new babies keep being born. Diseases will be cured.
Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
One of the hardest jobs I have as a parent is to correct my children. This is difficult for so many reasons, but one, in particular, shone through in today's readings. Do I correct with the heart of St. Paul or the heart of the Pharisees?
Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Two years ago my husband and I were fortunate to see Spectacle - a musical all about the founders of the Marianist order - at its showing on UD’s campus. A recurring theme throughout this musical is that we as the church are called to be a spectacle of saints. We are called to love in such a way that the world takes notice. As followers of Christ we are not called to simply “go with the flow” of our society but rather to challenge the norm so that we are creating a society and a world that is fueled by love and God’s will.
Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
A few years ago, we took a vacation to the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The area is covered with beautiful landscape and is probably best known as one of the premier wine regions in the country. The scenic lakes and rolling hills are a central figure and play a significant part in the renown of the region’s wines, particularly the variety of white wines like riesling. We visited a number of wineries during our stay to participate in tastings and purchased bottles from different places. We are by no means wine connoisseurs but it was fascinating to learn about each winemaker’s process in making the different varieties. In totaling up the bottles we purchased, we transported a couple of cases full of wine back home with us.
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
I can think of so many times in my life when I cast my net, and it came back empty. Maybe you can too.
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s first reading, St. Paul employs two helpful metaphors for our lives as disciples – eating and gardening. Both of his exhortations around these themes serve to ground us in Christ, remind us to remain humble, and call us to conversion. Today, let us consider what we’re consuming, who we are emulating, and how we are contributing within God’s Kingdom.
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
“The Spirit scrutinizes everything” (1 Cor 2:10B). Does that make you nervous? Or are you looking forward to a good look-over from the Spirit? Personally, I don’t enjoy it when someone is looking carefully through my personal business, because I think it’s none of theirs. But we all belong to the Lord, and we were made to serve God by working for the Kingdom. Jesus has redeemed our lives from sin and death, and so our lives and everything that pertains to us is God’s “business.”
Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
I have two confessions during this reflection. One might make me a mean Dad and the other makes me a pretty awful recruiter. They both have to do with the word “No.” I want to reflect on that word because of the scene that takes place in the Gospel today and our need to handle the word “no” properly.
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
I often wonder “what is my calling?” What is God calling me to do today, this week and for the rest of my time on earth? Have I used my time thus far in a way that has answered the calling I have been given. Today’s readings remind me that it is not about having power, knowledge or strength when assessing my role as a disciple. I am best able to be “who I am called to be” when I recognize that all I have are gifts from God. When I recognize this and then gratefully use these blessings in a way that gives God credit for what I do, then I will become who I am called to be.
Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
A car accident, a heart attack, cancer, covid-19, a tragic fall, drowning, gun violence...the list could go on. We “know neither the day nor the hour” that our life or the life of our loved one will end. Just recently hearing of the sudden death of the not-yet-40-year-old spouse of someone I know, this is what came to mind as I read the final verse of today’s gospel passage from Matthew. “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”(25:13) How suddenly and unexpectedly a life can end -- our own life, the life of someone we care deeply about.
Memorial of Saint Monica
In today’s gospel, Jesus uses a parable to contrast the faithful and prudent servant with the wicked servant. The good servant distributes food to the household. However, the wicked servant neglects his duty, beats his fellow servants, and spends his day with eating and drinking with drunkards. Jesus’ warning is made clear at the conclusion of the parable. The servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and hour and will punish him severely for not caring for his servants.
Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
At first glance, today’s readings appear quite harsh. I’ll admit, I cringed a bit at my first pondering. I see our first reading and the Gospel representing two extremes – complacency in the spiritual life on one end, and a strict legalistic approach to religious life on the opposite. Either side of the pendulum swing depicts a misrepresentation of the life of a disciple of Christ. Today, let us seek to be centered in the Gospel and anchored in the hope that we have in Christ Jesus.
Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
One of my favorite things about being Catholic is the sense of timelessness it gives me. As a member of this church, I feel closely connected to thousands of years of salvation history, and all the human sinfulness that comes along with it. The tendency of humanity to make up fake information and package it in a way that is believable to many is, unfortunately, not new. In Paul’s time, people were making up some crazy ideas about the end times, and trying to pass these ideas off as truth. It continues today; the medium has changed, but the goal is the same. Considering the truth that the Church teaches, it can be difficult for people to discern between what is actually true, and what a wack-job with a facebook or twitter account spouts off without any authority or credential whatsoever. Thankfully, this situation and those like it have been a part of our history for thousands of years, along with the remedy.
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Today is the feast of St. Bartholomew, one of the Chosen Apostles who followed the Lord. I read this passage with fresh eyes today as Bess and I recently watched the show "The Chosen." That YouTube series focused on Jesus through the eyes of those he chose. While Bartholomew (Nathaniel) has played a fairly small role thus far, I was able to read this as Jesus may have been imagined in the show.