Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
“For the love of money is the root of all evils” (1 TM 6:10) This statement from Paul today reminds me of another message from Christ: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (MT 6:24). Money tends to get in the way of true value in many aspects of life. It can fill our wallets but it cannot fill our hearts. We live in a culture that is constantly selling us propaganda about what will make us happy and bombarding us with distractions at every turn. Having new “stuff” tends to consume our attention--the latest phone, shoes, clothes, cars, jewelry, headphones, toys, the list goes on. It is when we pursue material things that we lose sight of our faith; when we get “trapped,” as he says, by “harmful desires” --faux or fleeting moments of false happiness.
Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The story that Luke’s Gospel puts in front of us today seems to me to be the Gospel in a nutshell. If we can get this story, then we’ve pretty much got what Jesus is about. Not only that, we also know who he wants us to be.
Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel text is a bit perplexing. We find Jesus drawing an analogy to children at play and a contrast between himself and John the Baptist in their approaches to the Gospel proclamation. I offer this reflection based on one possible interpretation of this text and invite you to consider the place of repentance in your own life.
Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
We see at the beginning of today’s gospel a funeral procession. For us as bystanders, the focus in on the sadness of death, but for the people in the story, the great tragedy is the widow. Remember that in society at that time, women had no place in the outside world; they could not work outside the home, have a farm, or own a business. So a woman needed to be attached to a man to avoid becoming destitute. A widowed woman was taken care of by her sons, or her daughters’ husbands if they were wealthy and kind enough to welcome her into the household. This is the situation that has Jesus “moved with pity for her…” No one else is obligated to take care of the mourning widow. She’s burying her son, and afterwards, she does not know how she will eat or where she will sleep.
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
I don’t like it when people that I disagree with teach me things that I should have known all along. Sound familiar at all? Let me give you some context.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Today we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Jesus’ death on the cross plays a significant role in our faith, but how exactly are we saved by the cross?
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
“I am grateful to him who has strengthened me...because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry.” (I Timothy 1:12) I appreciate Paul’s words of gratitude to Jesus in today’s first reading. Paul, who had previously been a terrible persecutor of the early Christian community, was shown God’s mercy and forgiveness. He was humbled in a much-needed way on that road to Damascus, and is now thankful that he has been found “trustworthy” despite his past, to minister to other Christian disciples.
Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, Jesus shares an important message with his apostles after spending days on a mountaintop in prayer. He commands them to love their enemies, turn the other cheek, love sinners, lend money, be merciful, stop judging, stop condemning, forgive, and give abundantly. Whew. It is easy to feel a bit overwhelmed with what seems likes a long to-do list that Jesus offers. I personally love the satisfaction that comes from crossing things off my to-do list. Accomplishing tasks and completing goals makes me feel successful and motivated. After reading this passage, we may be tempted to add more to our already endless to-do lists. But perhaps Jesus is challenging us to move beyond merely checking off boxes. In what ways can we reorient ourselves from extrinsic rewards and shift our lives toward a heavenly reward? If what Jesus asks seems too much for us, we are beginning to understand that it is through our response to His abundant love and grace that we can better serve him. Like the innkeeper who, earlier in Luke’s gospel, provided a humble space for the Word to enter the world, we too are called create room for the Spirit that Jesus promised so that we can bear witness to his love, mercy and peace.
Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Our lesson from the Gospel of Luke today is sometimes referred to as “The Sermon on the Plain” (Luke 6:17-7:1). It parallels Matthew’s account from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3-12). Luke offers a more condensed, concise version of Jesus’ teaching while communicating the same essence. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to “seek first God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). The way we do that is to follow hard after the footsteps of Christ, asking the Holy Spirit to help us become more and more Christ-like day-by-day, with a righteousness born of love, not of law.
Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Eckhart Tolle once said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Taking this statement literally would be an over-simplification of prayer, but the sentiment and spirit of the importance of gratitude is spot-on. Paul opens with it in today’s first reading: “As you received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk in him…abounding in thanksgiving.” When we worship God in prayer, we are only recalling the truth of God’s glory. When we pray our petitions and offer our longings to God, we are again only saying what God already knows we need. But a prayer of Thanksgiving tells God something new about ourselves: we are grateful. What do you want to thank Jesus for today?
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
The striking scene in today's gospel is so interesting to me. It contains history, irony, and a challenge even for us today. With my rudimentary understanding, I hope I can tease out all three that struck me in my prayer.
Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Do you like change? Do you see yourself as flexible and able to 'go with the flow' of life? Well, many of us do not fit in that category. When changes are necessary or inevitable, we struggle to keep our bearings. Even changes we perceive as 'good' can cause stress and disrupt our lives. But living as a disciple, living in the hope of the Gospel, necessarily implies we are on a journey of constant change—of conversion. Today's Scriptures invite us to reflect on how interconnected hope and change are for those who follow Jesus.
Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, Jesus was surrounded by the scribes and Pharisees who expressed their frustration with him and his followers about their disregard for the customary practices of fasting and prayer. The Pharisees did what people often do, they made comparisons. Why didn’t Jesus observe the laws and traditions? Why didn’t his disciples fast or pray enough? However, Jesus urged them to not look outward but to look inward and notice their own intentions and attitudes. He offered them this parable:
Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Every now and then Jesus (or God or Mary or the Holy Spirit) shows up in our lives in ways we cannot expect. And sometimes in ways we don’t want. And he/she makes demands.
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Luke locates today’s Gospel account at the start of Jesus’ ministry. If you go back to the beginning of Luke 4, it’s quite the whirlwind of experiences! Jesus spends his forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan; he proclaims the Isaiah text (61:1-2) that prophesied his Messianic identity and mission in the synagogue in Nazareth, following which he is run out of town by a furious mob; he exorcises a demon in the synagogue in Capernaum; and news spread like wildfire throughout the region as people shared their amazement about his teaching and his miracles. Next, Jesus visits the home of Simon (Peter) at the request of the family. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, and then proceeds to heal many more people and cast out more demons. Jesus attempts to get away to rest and pray, but the crowds find him and continue to press him for more miracles. If they would have had paparazzi in Jesus’ day, I’m sure they would have been all over it! In the midst of the hectic launch of Jesus’ earthly ministry and his rapid ascent to notoriety, it’s Peter’s mother-in-law’s response that I find the most intriguing.
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
In a recent workshop, our speaker was teaching us about the power of the spoken word. Yet they were quick to say that people remember seven percent of the words, thirty-eight percent of the tone of the voice and fifty-five percent of non-verbal communication. “They were astonished because he spoke with authority,” Jesus spoke with authority and the people knew it. But was this authority purely because of the words he said? It likely was also because of his tone and expression.
Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Before sitting down to write today’s reflection I was out mowing the grass and praying about what to write – I hadn’t yet read the readings. I kept praying, “Lord, there has been so much death surrounding us recently. It’s all I think I can reflect on. If you don’t want this reflection to be about death, I need you to give me the words.”
Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
There are some scripture passages that always leave me scratching my head and wondering exactly what Jesus is trying to reveal about God. Today’s reading about the parable of the talents is one of those stories. As I reflected on the passage I was struck by the phrase “Come, share your master’s joy.” Where does this joy come from and why are the two servants invited to join in the celebration?
Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
I have previously wondered about the seeming selfishness of the five wise virgins in today’s parable from Matthew’s gospel. Perhaps I could relate to the five foolish virgins and have been uncomfortable with the wise ones not sharing their oil when the others’ had run out. It’s an awful feeling to realize that the guest you’ve been eagerly awaiting, whose plane or train had been delayed longer than anticipated, has now arrived and is expecting you to pick them up at the airport or train station, only to discover that you forgot to fill the car with gas...and now all the gas stations are likely closed at this time of night. And when you ask your (wise) neighbor, the one who is always prepared, if you can borrow some gasoline, she says, “Sorry, but I won’t be able to make it to my destination if I share some with you.” And you are left unprepared, ashamed, and on your own. (At least that’s what comes to mind for me as I reflect on this parable about the Kingdom of God.)
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
As I prayed with today’s readings, I was reminded of the value and importance of human connection. Humans have an inherent desire to love and be loved.