Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“The glory of the Lord shall dwell in our land.” These words, from our responsorial psalm, is both a hope and a promise. Right now, in our land, there are so many feelings, emotions, ideologies and different voices vying for our attention it is hard to feel like the Lord dwells anywhere near our land. There are messages of hate. There is massive division among families, friends and neighbors. We have become a polarized society, constantly assessing and labeling others as “us” or “them” - on any number of issues. And it is exhausting.
Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
I keep hearing how we are living in unprecedented times. Sometimes I think, “hasn’t that always been the case?” No one else has lived on these days, so they are always unprecedented, right? But now, everything we have come to expect has been thrown out the window. There is no such thing as a “typical” day and no way to truly make plans for a future date. These are unprecedented times. Times when the future depends on our collective response. One individual alone cannot change the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. One individual alone cannot bring an end to systemic racism and injustice. One individual alone cannot live his or her life without being affected by the decisions of other people. We are in this together, whether we like it or not, and the only way to make progress is to care for one another. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This commandment is critically important in these unprecedented times.
Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church
The passage before us from Matthew makes explicit what we Catholics know very well: when we encounter a story about a banquet, we are encountering a story about the Kingdom of God. Jesus is explicit in this parable—that in this parable he is talking about the Kingdom of God.
Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Convicting. That’s how I would describe today’s readings. As I prayed the passage from Ezekiel in preparation for writing this reflection, I could literally feel God’s word burning in my heart. I felt the heaviness of that text in my body; I felt deeply grieved over God’s message to the shepherds of God’s people; I felt, I felt . . . convicted. Similarly, with the Gospel, I experienced a visceral discomfort. I cannot avoid confronting the sinful tendency we all share to be selfish and uncharitable, to take offense when we feel slighted, to question God’s dealings with others. The Gospel acclamation from Hebrews reads, The word of God is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart. I sense the Holy Spirit leading us to allow that living and effective word of God to convict us today according to God’s intimate knowledge of each of us. Might we accept this gracious invitation?
Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings have been a source of astonishment for many generations of Christians. In today's first reading from Ezekiel, the wise and prudent ruler of the great city of Tyre is proud. When he reflects on his many successes, he can only conclude that he has divine power. How else could he be so good at everything? But Ezekiel’s message to him is simple: ‘Prince, you are a mortal man, you and will die soon at the hands of murderers.’
Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
I've taken on more house projects in the past few months than I did in the entire year that we were renting. In doing so I have noticed that once I begin a project I can be overwhelmed with my desire to "do it right." I want the perfect tools and I want to make everything just right, even if no one else would notice. In some instances I think I am taking healthy pride in my work, at other times I'm going too far, which Bess sometimes challenges me on by reminding me that at some point the goal is just to get the project done!
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Scripture Readings (Mass During the Day)
Today we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of Mary. The readings refer to Mary’s role in salvation history through her “yes” to God. One sentence in particular caught my attention while reflecting on today’s readings. “The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.” Why would God provide a place in the desert for this “woman” who had just given birth to a son who “was destined to rule all the nations”? Is there something about a desert that reveals God’s presence in our lives? In this time of tribulation and turbulence, could God be leading us into the desert to draw us into a deeper relationship of love and trust?
Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
Divorce is never easy or pleasant. I don’t know of anyone who honestly and sincerely enters into marriage with the intention for it to end in divorce. And yet, it is a reality of our humanity since at least the time of Moses. Today’s readings are not easy or pleasant either, but as I reflected on them I became aware of God’s faithfulness to us, no matter what.
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, Peter asks Jesus how many times one should forgive. Peter thought seven times seemed like quite a lot, yet he is surprised by Jesus’ response that one should forgive seventy-seven times. Of course, Jesus is not indicating that we should calculate carefully the times and cut off the forgiving at 77! In the ancient world, seven was a perfect number, and so Jesus is kind of taking Peter’s number to infinity, as is even clearer in some translations which render Jesus’ words as “seventy times seven times.” To drive home his point, Jesus offers a parable about the two servants in debt. The one who had a huge debt to the king was forgiven. However, he then refused to forgive the relatively small debt of a fellow servant. When the king found about this, he handed the unforgiving servant over to torturers until he could pay back the whole of his original debt.
Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Why is reconciliation so difficult for us humans? At least in our U.S. culture, it seems we’ve become conditioned to avoid addressing issues with others and to shun opportunities to talk through conflict and work things out. We often experience even the thought of confronting another person as awkward at best or fearful at worst. For sure, we wouldn’t want to offend anyone, right?! So we simply avoid relational problems, hoping that they’ll resolve themselves, dissolve away, or at least not get any worse. Reconciliation is inherently part of God’s plan for us as God’s children. As much as we want to cringe away from it, becoming reconcilers is part of maturing as disciples of Jesus. In fact, Jesus addresses his disciples in today’s Gospel and provides a clear and specific formula for restoring brokenness in our relationships. Today, let us be mindful of our need for reconciliation with God and with our brothers and sisters. Let us ask God to give us the grace and the courage we need to take steps of reconciliation today.
Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin
The United States began by declaring independence from the King of England; it’s hard to criticize rebellion when it’s the reason we exist as we do. Of course, we could all agree that there’s a time and place to rebel, and the rest of the time we need to obey those who have authority. The trouble is, the one who decides whether authority is legitimate is the individual, and individuals have a way of making all sorts of decisions that are unpredictable and incorrect. Pride, one of the most dangerous sins, is at the root of Rebellion, and that vice is what today’s readings speak against.
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
As I read today's readings I was encouraged by a common theme, trust generosity. This trust of generosity is not a guarantee that we should count on those around us to suddenly meet our needs (though that has happened for Bess and I more times than I can count and I am so humbled by it). Rather I am reminded to trust what we do when we act in generosity.
Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest
Today’s gospel passage caught me off guard. I found myself wondering, “Who is this grumpy and snippy Jesus?” This poor guy wanted his son healed and Jesus seemed like someone spit in His wine. However, after I spent some more time with it, I realized this passage might be deeper than I first suspected. It might be easier to reconcile the “I’ll be with you always” side of Jesus with this “How long will I endure you?” side of Jesus then I first anticipated. There are two phrases from Jesus that I want to consider as we look this passage. Matthew records Jesus telling the disciples that they have little faith and he spoke these words, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?”
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Bishop Robert Barron (Founder of the Word on Fire Institute and auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles) differentiates between the terms “ego-drama” and “theo-drama”. Ego-drama refers to the corner of the universe that we create where the entire world revolves around us and our own ego dominates the story. By contrast, theo-drama, originally coined by Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, refers to the idea that we are all part of God’s story and that our lives, our actions, our decisions, and our freedom are all understood in relation to others and to a higher power. Our Gospel today invites us to be part of the theo-drama:
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
The transfiguration. What an incredible scene. Can you imagine being a mere mortal and witnessing Jesus’ metamorphosis (that is the Greek word that gets translated as transfiguration)? Watching him talk with Moses and Elijah? Seeing some big cloud suddenly come over you? And then hearing the very voice of God?
Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I imagine we’ve all had the experience at one time or another of feeling far from God. Sometimes that sensation comes from a place of spiritual dryness; other times we allow the concerns of life to cloud our relationship with God; at times our sin becomes a very real separation between us and our holy God. Whatever it is that creates distance between us and God, either real or perceived, God always pursues us and calls us to new or renewed intimacy with Godself. In today’s first reading, God woos us, With an age-old love I have loved you. Today, let us turn or return to the God of mercy who longs to receive and restore us.
Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest
Consider a deeply faithful, spiritual person you may know. Are they attractive to you? Do you want to be more like them? Have you ever wondered how to ‘get that?’ Jesus’s response to Saint Peter and the crowds in today’s readings show us the way: Keep your eyes on Jesus!
Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
While reflecting on today’s Gospel I was struck by how doubt plays such a significant part in our human journey. For me, the word ‘doubt’ carries an inherently negative connotation. But when I thought a bit more about my own experiences of doubt I began to realize that many good things have transpired in my life because I have allowed myself to experience doubt. In other words, even though doubt may be associated with insecurity, ambiguity, and other such uncomfortable feelings, most significant changes in my life have been a result of my acceptance of the particular discomfort and/or insecurity associated with doubt.
Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
As I read and reflect on scripture, I often wonder how God might be calling me to find similar expressions of truth and grace in our current world. In today’s scripture, both readings describe prophets who are instruments of God. Both Jeremiah and John the Baptist accept the rejection and suffering of speaking out to proclaim God’s call to renewal and repentance. At the recent passing of Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis, I have come to recognize that in many ways this man was a prophet for our age who spoke of love, hope, courage and equality for all people. God speaks through prophets in every age- the question is “are we listening?”
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
I had a dry spell in my young adult life regarding an interest in the lives of the saints. Thankfully it was renewed while my children were still young, in part through James Martin’s “My Life with the Saints” and Robert Ellsberg’s “All Saints,” which helped bring them back to life for me. Today, I draw upon Ellsberg’s writing to reflect briefly on the life of St. Ignatius Loyola whose memorial is celebrated on this anniversary of his death. Along with today’s readings from Jeremiah and Matthew, I hear a theme of growing and moving beyond our childhood and familial origins to respond to God’s call. A call that often requires leaving behind the comfortable and familiar.