Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
In 2024 31 billionaires passed away the world over. Most recent deaths of billionaires include Giorgio Armani, the 91-year-old fashion icon, who died in September 2025, and Indian auto parts billionaire Sunjay Kapur who passed away in June 2025 after swallowing a bee during a polo match. He had an internal bee sting. Their deaths brought home the reality that, as the Irish say, “there are no pockets on shrouds.” In other words, “You can’t take it with you.”
Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist
In our Gospel reading for today, we hear at least three lessons for anyone heading out into the world to spread the Good News of Jesus. And remember, they come to us straight from Jesus. He is trying to teach us how to evangelize in his name. So, we probably should pay attention.
Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Autumn is upon us with its beauty and melancholy as the days shorten and nature reminds us of our own eventual death. The Church also reminds us of our and our loved ones’ mortality as we approach All Souls Day in a couple of weeks (preceded by All Saints Day). And liturgically today as we celebrate the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr, we are given the reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, reminding us of our hope in the resurrection of the body, not just the soul.
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Romans is being highlighted this week in the first readings for daily Mass. St. Paul spends a fair amount of time discussing righteousness and faith. My understanding of what “righteousness” means for us is being in “right- relationship” with God, and therefore being in “right- relationship” with others. How are we called to be in relationship with God who is transcendent, omnipotent, and beyond our understanding? And how does this relationship with God lead to us to healthy and holy kinship with others and creation?
Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Jesus is not happy today. “Woe to you!” I can imagine Jesus pointing a finger at the Pharisees. And sometimes, when I pray with this text, I worry: Is Jesus pointing a finger at me? “Woe to you, Kelly!” Yikes! No doubt that self-examination is a good thing. And, I wonder, what is the good news today? How can we keep from swirling in worry that we are being condemned?
Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
An eye-doctor who I met recently listened to me share about the frustration with my glasses. I shared with her how many times I have to take my glasses off in order to function. Without my glasses I can only see about two feet with them on I can’t read. She asked me why I did not have bifocals. My own eye doctor told me it is best to wait as long as possible to get them. This doctor shared with me that waiting may make it impossible for my eyes and brain to adapt to bifocals. Her point of view gave me a new perspective on how to see near and far through the same set of lenses.
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The word “sign” is significant in Luke’s Gospel today. Life is full of signs: signs advertising products, traffic signs. Sacraments are signs. People reveal approval or disapproval through facial signs and body language. It is essential to pay attention to signs of the material and spiritual kinds and even dangerous not to do so.
Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
What does it mean to be a Christian? Many people say being a Christian means that they believe in Jesus- and this is true, but there is so much more. Jesus tells us in today’s gospel that “those who hear the word of God and observe it” are in fact the ones that are blessed. It is through our living that we most profoundly demonstrate that we are Christians- or disciples of Jesus.
Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
As humans, we have a tendency to categorize people into groups of “us” and “them.” Likely an evolutionary development for survival, our modern brains continue with that tendency to divide people into those categories of those that we belong to, thereby feeling safe and protected by (“us”), and those that we don’t belong to, deemed potentially unsafe and feared and therefore rejected or even attacked (“them”). This seems to pervade much of our social/societal interactions even in today’s “civilized” world, including within our own religion and church(es). Today’s gospel reading from Luke seems to reflect this same sort of tendency.
Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Today we hear the Book of the Prophet Malachi (450-400 BCE), one of the twelve Minor Prophets. His is the last book of the Old Testament and he himself the last of the Old Testament prophets. Minor or Major? The Major Prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Minor Prophets (“minor” because they are shorter) are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
There is something so lovable about Jonah. He is so…human! A prophet, called to do something he’d rather not do. A prophet called to reach out to a people he’d rather let be. God is persistent, though. And we meet Jonah today after he’s been in the belly of the whale, wrestling with his call, spit upon shore to do the thing he’d rather not do. He has been faithful and has preached repentance to the people of Ninevah. He has been successful in God’s eyes. The people of Ninevah have repented. You would think that he would be rejoicing! But, no!
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
In today’s Gospel we meet Jesus’ encounter at the home of his dear friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary and Martha embody two key dimensions of our prayer life - contemplation (pondering, reflection) and action (expressing our faith in actions of service, care and justice).
Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Our two readings today (Jonah & Luke) initially do not appear to have much in common. Upon further reflection they both narrow in on the dangers of tribalism which is currently running amuck and threatening the stability and unity of our land.
Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi
Turning to the disciples in private, he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23)
Our reading for today invites us to think through some challenging questions about seeing, hearing, and knowing. The verses quoted above remind us that it matters whether we see. And it highlights the point that just because something is available for us to see—may even be right in front of us—does not mean that we see it. Or, we might actually see something but pay no attention to it. In other words, Jesus is telling us, not all “seeing” really sees. Likewise, not all “hearing” really hears.
Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Can you imagine today’s leaders, people in positions of great power, especially on the national level, publicly praying this prayer with utmost humility?: “Justice is with the Lord, our God; and we today are flushed with shame…that we, with our kings and rulers and priests and prophets, and with our ancestors, have sinned in the Lord’s sight and disobeyed him.” (Baruch 1:15-17) Can you imagine?! I hardly can.
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
I have the privilege of being both a mother and a grandmother. Over the years, I have had opportunities to love and guide children as they develop. During these times, I have shared numerous instructions based on my love and concern for the child’s health, safety and personal growth. Eat your healthy food, do not run into the street, and be respectful or others are only a few of the directives that I have given. The little ones who were being instructed initially might be resistant, but most of the time when they realize that there is a deep love that is grounding these words, they learn to trust and follow the guidance given.
Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Jesus is on the move today, as he often is. I am struck by the first passerby, not yet a disciple, calling to Jesus, “I will follow you where you go.” I hear in this unprompted declaration of discipleship an enthusiasm and a whole-hearted commitment.
Jesus’ response to this unprompted declaration of committed discipleship feels at first like a wet blanket thrown on his enthusiasm: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." But I am reminded that Jesus also points us to birds and flowers to remind us not to worry, “Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds!” (Luke 12:24).
Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Today’s readings seem to contrast each other. In the first reading from Zechariah, people from all nations who speak different languages were seeking God in Jerusalem. The Gentiles (non Jews) identified the Jewish people as the ones who knew God first and saw them as key in their search for God. On the other hand, in the Gospel, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him in Samaria to see how the people there would welcome him. The Samaritans rejected Jesus. Consequently, James and John asked Jesus if they should ask God to destroy them. Jesus replied no and they proceeded to the next village. Despite their differences, these readings are connected to each other. Similar to the first reading, the Samaritans eventually receive the Gospel with joy as the Acts of the Apostles recount Philip’s time in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). Both the Gentiles in Zechariah and the Samaritans in Luke needed more time to accept God.
Feasts of Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Archangels
Michael, row the boat ashore. Halleluiah!
Michael, row the boat ashore. Hallelujah!
Jordan River is deep and wide. Hallelujah!
I’ve got a home on the other side. Hallelujah!
The trumpets sound the Jubilee. Hallelujah!
The trumpets sound for you and me. Hallelujah!
Today the church throughout the world celebrates Michaelmas, honoring the three principal archangels: Michael (Who is like God?), Gabriel (God is my strength), and Raphael (God heals). They are the only angels (from the Greek aggelos meaning messenger) mentioned by name in the Bible. Gabriel is found in Daniel & Luke. Raphael is featured in Tobit and Enoch.
Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul
Chapter nine of Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus giving his Apostles a share in his mission of healing and teaching. Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah marks a turning point in the Gospel, as Jesus then begins to predict his Passion. As the Son of Man, he must suffer and die. All who wish to follow him must also take up their cross. We witness in Luke’s Gospel the disciples struggling to understand who Jesus is and to grasp his mission. We, too, often struggle to comprehend and enter in. Luke masterfully helps us to recognize Jesus as both the suffering Son of Man and the glorious Son of God. All who would follow him must embrace him in the fullness of his identity. Today, let us pray that our eyes and ears might be opened more and more to better understand our Lord and for a willing spirit to follow him.