Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr
A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown. Jesus was something of a rock star as he began his earthly ministry, bringing shock and awe to the multitudes by his healing miracles and prophetic teaching. To those in Nazareth, however, he was just Mary and Joseph’s boy. I can just hear the townsfolk remarking, we knew him when he was knee high . . . we watched him play with the other boys out in the street . . . we’ve seen him helping his dad in the carpenter shop . . . In his hometown, Jesus was a familiar neighbor, just one of the guys. What about us? Do we come to Jesus with a sense of awe and wonder, or with a familiarity that can sometimes hinder our faith?
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Our approach in life varies depending of course on the situations in which we find ourselves. Most people are who they are until a crisis seems to change the rules. When we look inward and truly reflect on our reality, we begin to understand we need an approach connected to something bigger than ourselves.
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
"When you're discerning something, sometimes God throws bricks, and sometimes he throws toothpicks" were the words of a man who had discerned out of the seminary and is now a husband and father. These words came to mind as I read today's gospel. The recollection was not due to discernment but to the fact that I feel like this passage has come up again and again over the years since I returned to the faith. So when it appeared in today's readings I knew immediately that it would be the focus of my reflection.
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
I recently attended a retreat where we reflected on the topic of awe and wonder. In today’s gospel story the disciples were filled with awe while on the lake with Jesus. Although Jesus is not walking the earth today, I wonder how often God’s creation and power is providing opportunity for our awe? What can we do to be more aware of these experiences in our daily lives?
Friday of the Third Week of Ordinary Time
“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.” (Psalm 51:3-4) The first verse of today’s responsorial psalm, one that I usually associate with Lent, is given us today as King David’s confession and plea for God’s mercy for his sins. These are not minor sins, but those of adultery (maybe even sexual assault), deceit, and murder that we read about in today’s first reading from the second book of Samuel.
Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
“Take care what you hear,” Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel. To “take care” of something means to put time, energy and attention into it. The term “take care” often makes me think of taking care of a garden. Tending a garden involves giving it daily attention and focusing our energies on it. We must provide fruitful soil, remove the weeds and be attentive to its needs. A garden that is ill-planned and ignored will die. When we “take care” of something we are vowing to commit our time and energy into it, because we value it and find it important, which will then produce results, much like a bountiful harvest.
Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
My friend is a gardener. He comes from a family of gardeners, and knows a lot about planting seasons, types of seeds, the effect of climate, soil quality. Their large vegetable gardens are a frequent topic of conversation among my friend, his parents, and his brother. His brother lives in Mississippi and is able to grow lush fruits and vegetables year-round with incredible yield, supplying many “farm to table” restaurants in his area. Here in Ohio, obviously, the growing seasons are more defined and specific; sowing and harvesting at the proper time and in ripe conditions becomes extremely important. Plant your garlic by All Saints Day and harvest it on the Feast of St Luke (4th of July)! The people of Jesus’ time were largely agrarian and lived according to the seasons. They knew a lot about sowing and reaping because their lives depended on it. Jesus’ parable today invites us into this realm of seeds, growing conditions, and crop yield. Let’s enter into Jesus’ parable and reflect upon the soil conditions of our souls. Our spiritual lives depend on it.
Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church
Consider the last time you were at a party that was very clearly happening to celebrate God’s presence in our lives. Maybe it was a baptism, confirmation, or carefully-prepared Christmas celebration. Some weddings are also a clear celebration not only of the couple, but of God’s love for us. Whatever your memory can supply, consider that party and the party portrayed in today’s reading from Samuel.
Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
I recently participated in the Pro-Life March in DC. There is a lot that could be said about the power of a common cause. All around us, there were many people with whom I disagreed with about a whole range of topics, but there was a common cause. Whether people were from what an atheist pro-life friend calls the misfits, or they were carrying signs advocating for overcoming abortion by throwing off capitalism or they were using this time to share their support of Trump or they were carrying a "Don't Abort / Don't Deport" sign, they had found some common ground upon which to gather. Even if they can't agree if they are protesting, advocating, marching, or demonstrating there is an assumption that there should be unity. Our interactions with one man, reminded me that sometimes in the divisiveness of the world, we can forget that Lord brings life and healing from authentic unity.
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
I spent tonight reflecting on the sacrament of reconciliation with my son, as he prepares to make his first reconciliation. On the drive home, we talked a lot about the prodigal son and how no person is bad, but people do make bad choices. And how even when we have made bad choices, God can still forgive us and use us for good.
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church
The story we hear in today’s first reading from the Book of Samuel is a transformational encounter between two enemies Saul and David. When Saul, who is on a mission with three thousand men to find and kill David, enters a cave and unknowingly puts himself in danger, Saul chooses not to lay a hand on him. Although Saul was right within David’s grasp, David chooses not to fight hate with more hate. It is as if David knew what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would say in 1963, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” In our world that often responds by piling darkness and hate on top of existing darkness and hate, let us learn a lesson from David. He even quotes an old proverb that says, “From the wicked comes forth wickedness.” But at some point, the wickedness has to stop and David takes the high road in this story to put an end to it.
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
When I read the story from Mark today, I am overcome with gratitude.
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
In today’s Gospel, the religious leaders attempted to challenge Jesus’ authority. They wanted to see if he would follow their interpretation of strict obedience to the Jewish law around sabbath observance. In their minds, God’s Law functioned as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice. They expected Jesus to adhere to religious teaching along with all God’s faithful people. The Pharisees and other leaders did not recognize Jesus as the Christ, and so they were blind to the fact that as God, Jesus himself was the ultimate authority. Jesus’ law is the law of love. He turns the challenge back on the religious leaders – is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it? Jesus nimbly pushes them to a defining moment. How could a person who professes to love God maintain that the Law trumps love and mercy? Jesus’ example of mercy in today’s text invites us to challenge our own understanding of right living and to grow in being radical disciples of radical love. Let us this day more fully embrace God’s love as the ultimate authority for our lives.
Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr
Hospital ministry is difficult and sometimes, there is a loss of words over what prayers might be offered. Sometimes when I prepare to pray with a family, I ask them “for what shall we pray?” The answers are sometimes surprising in that people say, pray for my family. When I ask if I can pray for the patient’s healing as well most will say yes. And we pray for patient and family. Like many of us, we put the needs of others before our own needs.
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
I love many things about my kids, but one thing in particular that makes me proud is their love of books. One book that I've read multiple times in the Christopher Churchmouse series and is called Load of Trouble. In this gripping yarn, our lovable little mouse Christopher steals his friend's wagon of bread crumbs. He justifies it to himself by replacing it with a wagon full of sawdust, telling himself that everyone needs more sawdust for more bedding and the like. The tale comes around to Christopher's friend visiting to offer him a taste of the special bread crumbs (now sawdust) and having to confess his deception. Surprisingly, it is this children's story that helps me approach today's first reading.
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Recently, I was talking to another friend who is Catholic. She told the story of an experience where she attended a Catholic funeral Mass. At the time of communion, the priest told the congregation that anyone “who was in a state of grace” was welcome to receive communion. My friend was taken aback by this comment wondering how many people may be turned away from receiving communion finding themselves unworthy. Today’s gospel dispels the idea that Jesus welcomes only those “good enough” to belong. All are welcome and Jesus particularly seeks out those most in need.
Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot
Have you ever gone to an event that is so crowded that you can’t even get in the door? Were you discouraged and decided to leave? Persistent and hopeful that you might still get in or at least catch a glimpse or hear a little from where you were standing? How motivated were you to find another way in? Motivated enough to have your friends break through the roof and lower you down?! Today’s gospel reading from Mark (2:1-12) invites us to reflect on our place in the story of the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof of the home where Jesus was preaching.
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
Today’s first reading offers us great encouragement for our life of prayer. I intentionally use the phrase “life of prayer,” rather than “prayer life” because I believe God calls us to live prayerful lives. As we become more and more mindful of God’s presence throughout each day, we can maintain an undercurrent of prayer, remaining open and receptive to the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Cultivating this approach prevents us from compartmentalizing our times of prayer to discrete moments during the day, or even from neglecting prayer altogether. Setting aside specific times for prayer is invaluable; so is “praying without ceasing,” as St Paul suggests, living a life of prayer in which every breath becomes communion with the Divine. In our first reading, God reassures us that despite our state in life, God speaks to each of us, and we can be confident in God’s presence with us.
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
When we think of prayer, the first type many people think of is an intention; a prayer of longing or desire, in which we ask God for something. It wouldn’t take us long to consider others- prayers of thanksgiving, praise, adoration, sorrow, reconciliation, communion, and more. But a big component of popular faith is believing the almighty God can grant requests. For some, it’s the only time they pray on their own. We like to know that someone more powerful than us can do things for us. Sometimes it’s tied up in our worship and praise of God, as well as in our sorry and reconciliation. At times we may even feel guilty for an immature ‘Santa Claus’ interaction with God.