Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Is there someone close to you that knows you so well that they can anticipate what you are going to do or say? They know your likes, dislikes, how you think, and even all the little habits that make you unique. Today’s readings and psalm remind us that God knows us better than we even know ourselves. When we recognize God’s presence within, and allow Him to direct our paths, then Jesus tells us the tiniest bit of faith in this loving God will bring incredible results.
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
At every baptism, after the child is draped in white garment, the celebrant lights the baptismal candle from the Paschal candle, and hands it to the child with these words, “Receive the light of Christ.” And then the celebrant says to the parents and godparents: “Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He (she) is to walk always as a child of the light. May he (she) keep the flame of faith alive in his (her) heart. When the Lord comes, may he (she) go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.” These words are a direct reference to to parable of the ten wise and foolish maidens in today’s gospel reading. The symbolism of the lighted candle is simply this - that our baptism, at which we receive the new life of Christ, is an invitation to live that new life, wisely and not foolishly, with faith rather then faithlessly, in anticipation of Christ’s coming rather than aimlessly. Our baptism is a commitment to intentional living.
Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
The Lord is hard at work teaching me how to ask for help more frequently. I sat here reading the Gospel passage again and again trying to figure out what Jesus was saying. He talked about dishonest wealth and I frankly had no idea what He meant, but I wanted to figure it out because the confounding part of Scripture seems to be the most appropriate part upon which to reflect. So I read it a few more times and then, wham, it hit me! Out from the recesses of my memory I was reminded that I own Scripture commentaries, so I turned to A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture for help.
Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
One of my daughters' favorite books is Mercer Meyer's book Just a Little Sick. In this book, Meyer's Little Critter is at home from school because he has a fever. At first, he's very excited because he thinks being a little sick is fun: he can stay home and play. But then he discovers that his mother's idea of what sick kids can do and his idea of what he can do when he's sick differ quite a bit. And then he discovers that he's really not feeling so well, after all - certainly not well enough to play. So by the book's end, he hopes that tomorrow, he'll be able to go back to school and play with his friends. The Little Critter learns that being "just a little sick" is actually different from being wholly well, even if being "just a little sick" isn't quite as bad as being a lot sick.
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Today we celebrate the dedication of the Church of St. John Lateran, so we have a treasure of temple readings. Buildings are symbols of community and institution. Buildings can be a physical reminder of the activities and mission of an organization. We sometimes forget that an empty building is meaningless. It only matters when it is used for its purpose. God’s word says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. What is your original purpose? What were you made for?
Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
After mass one day a parishioner asked me what would they need to do in order to be holy. Having just heard the reading of the greatest commandment, I reminded them to love God with their whole heart, mind, and soul, and to love their neighbor. This seemed to be answer to the question of that moment, but I could tell the person was looking for more. It could be the person was hoping for a deeper understanding of what it means to love.
Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The master invites all the people of means in his town to a great dinner party. The invited guests refuse the invitation citing excuses that don’t pass muster. In response, the master commands his servant to fill each seat at the table with people who live without means until there is no room for any of those who declined the invitation. This story challenges us to think about our relationship to the great feast that is the Kingdom of God in at least two ways.
Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
''Blessed indeed will you be because of our inability to repay you' is what the Gospel speaks to me this day. I am surrounded by those who cannot repay me. As well, I am surrounded by those I cannot repay. So often I find myself in this quandary. And what must I do?
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Tuesday, the Church observed the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On the 31st of October, 1517, Martin Luther, an Augustinian Monk, nailed his 95 theses to the door of the chapel at Wittenberg castle. Luther’s main issue in the 95 theses was indulgences. There are very few events that divided humanity in the way the Reformation did. It is not my intention to criticize Martin Luther, to discuss indulgences, or to judge 16th Century Church leaders. Historians tells us, though, that the schism caused by the Reformation could have been avoided. Depending on which side of history the Catholics and Protestants find themselves, they look at the Reformation very differently. Yet Catholics admit that perhaps that the Popes of the time, Pope Julius II and Pope Leo X, misread the signs of the time. As Renaissance Popes, they were more interested in art, music, and architecture rather than paying serious attention to the needs of their flock. The rest is history.
Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
A couple years ago, I went to a talk at the University of Dayton where the presenting professor defined virtue as “points held in tension.” His easy example was courage. Courage is the tension point between cowardice and reckless folly. Today’s gospel provides us a tension view of humility.
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
“But they were unable to answer his question.” (Luke 14:6)
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
I love the feast of All Saints day that we celebrated yesterday. I appreciate having the chance to recognize all of those people who have gone before us, who are our role models and our guides. At the same time I start to feel disheartened, because I can’t help but think that saintliness (what this day celebrates) is out of my grasp.
Solemnity of All Saints
One of the chaplains with whom I minister, worked especially hard on one of the bigger team efforts of our year. Her generosity was truly a labor of love that inspired me. In thanking her I remarked that she was a saint. Although my coworker did not readily accept what I meant as a complement, My explanation was that her energy was clearly that of a saint in the making. This is the universal call to holiness, that like the saints before us, we are all striving for sanctity on earth.
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
A recent national poll shows that seven out of ten Americans think this country has reached a new low point in its politics due to divisions among Americans that are as bad or worse than they were during the Vietnam era. Americans who were adults during the Vietnam era and who, therefore, can actually remember what that level of division felt like are even stronger with 77% of them saying that we are at least or more divided now than we were then. We are a deeply divided nation, and that is bad news for all of us.
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
The first reading from Romans contains lines of scripture that many of us find familiar. St. Paul reminds us that we are called to be led by the Spirit of God, and therefore we should consider ourselves children of God. But then St. Paul mentions that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. What exactly does it mean to be an heir of God? What do we “inherit” as an heir, and how is this inheritance passed along to us?
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The great Christian mystic, John of the Cross, once said, “In the evening of our lives we will be judged by love alone.” Today’s readings are bound to create a genuine problem for preachers and congregations in Catholic parishes across the world, unless of course, preachers decide to by-pass the issue. The very first statement in today’s first reading says- “Thus says the LORD: You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.” Across the globe, national elections are being won and lost based on particular political party’s stand on both documented and undocumented aliens or immigrants. Not only do some Catholics disagree with the Catholic Church’s pastoral teaching on immigration, but they have gone so as far as to openly dissent with Pope Francis and the US Catholic bishops on the issue.
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
When we have a big decision to make we sometimes say, “Let me get back to you, I need to sleep on it.” Jesus, in today’s gospel, would not be impressed by our conventional wisdom. Luke’s gospel tells us that Jesus went up the mountain to pray and “spent the night in prayer.” For Jesus, having a decision that you sleep on would be inadequate. While I don’t think that Jesus is calling us to insomnia, there are a few thought provoking implications that come from this passage.
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's scriptures are so important. In today's gospel (Luke 12:54-59) Jesus wants us to resist the temptation to get an easy win in our arguments and dealings with others. Sadly, I know what the hot button topics are for my friends and family members - and I know that oftentimes it is better just not to engage in that fight. Sometimes it is just so tempting, though, to slip in a snarky comment I later wish I hadn't made.
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Have another helping of Humble Pie! Most of us don’t like being called weak, or a slave. And I certainly don’t like division; there’s enough of that in today’s politics! Following Jesus is a challenge, whether we’re just starting, or we’ve been doing it for decades. For me, it seems like the hardest part is letting go of my ego, my plans, my belief about how good I am. The epistle, Psalm, and Gospel all invite us to turn toward God more fully, and set aside our pride.
Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture Readings
Every one to whom much is given, much will be required. Let us think for a moment of the countless blessing we have received during our lives. Many of them we know quite well. Many, many others are unknown to us. For each of our lives are filled with blessings. Happiness, family, friendships, people who minister to us, and this does not even include our temporal blessings. Let us consider today the question of whether our life is a generous response to all the good things God has granted us.