Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The story before us in Luke today is, like so many stories in the Gospels, extraordinary. In it, a wealthy man of some years and a “chief tax collector” runs through a crowd to get a glimpse of Jesus. Because he is a short man, that is not enough. He still can’t see Jesus. So, he climbs up a tree.
Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
When I read the Scriptures for today, especially the reading from Maccabees, I was struck by how closely it relates to what we are experiencing in our own time. I have never been one to blindly follow 'commands' or 'directives', however the Responsorial Psalm offers firm and simple guidance in all the midst of all the confusion and opposing viewpoints I (we) encounter on a daily—or hourly—basis. "Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands". Can it be that simple?
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Latest data tells us that now the richest 1% own 86% of the world’s wealth. In the United States, top 20% of Americans own 86% of the country’s wealth and the bottom 80% of the population own 14%. I begin with my homily with these statistics not only because of staggering the inequality, but also because in a Capitalist economy such as ours, the Parable of the Talents might make us conclude that the top 1% are really the heroes of the parable, and that the rest of us are lazy, stupid, and incapable. After all, the master said, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich.” Matthew’s purpose of writing this parable is certainly not economic. If the Master is God and the servants are us, it becomes very important that the parable is interpreted correctly, least it become a tool for oppression.
Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture has two authors. The human being writing it in a specific time and place, and the eternal God who, as spirit, is outside of time and space. Thus, there are always two senses through which to approach a passage, the literal and the spiritual. In other words, what did the specific person, in their specific setting intend to say, and what is the limitless God still saying? It is through this spiritual sense that I want to look at the first half of our passage from the book of Wisdom.
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
I have friends who say, "Jana, I don't need to go to church because I find God in nature." It's a common statement, especially among those who identify as "spiritual but not religious." I have some sympathy for this view because, as I usually tell my friends, I too see God in nature, and I get that religion sometimes seems cold, hard, unforgiving and lifeless. It's just that I don't find nature (or similar ways of trying to find God) sufficient for finding God or seeing God or knowing God - for that, I do need the whole Body of Christ that I encounter on Sunday mornings and every other day besides. I do need to be both spiritual AND religious.
Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Christ speaks of the Kingdom of God, and how we will not know when it is here. It will not be announced or observed, like a holiday. Rather, it will be found in the ordinary. We will come to know the Kingdom of God in our day to day lives and in living out our daily motions. It is now, has been and ever will be around us, every moment of the day.
Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Our readings today challenge us to single-mindedly seek out God. In the book of Wisdom we read that all power on earth is given by God. The test is whether the power is used to exalt our own purposes or for God’s purpose. The Lord’s mercy is great and just, yet to those who are given many possibilities, much will be expected. That is why the Old Testament author calls us to deeply desire that which is holy. When we learn wisdom and keep holy God’s precepts, then our response to the test will be: we have walked in the ways of the Lord.
Tuesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In the six verses that precede the reading from Luke for today, Jesus gives instructions to his disciples about how to follow him. The first takes the form of a warning: do not become an obstacle or stumbling block to someone else’s faith. In other words, don’t do anything that might encourage someone else to turn away from God. If I give someone else reason to doubt God or I encourage them in some way to sin and, thus, be in wrong relationship to God, I am a stumbling block to their faith. The second is a call to hold accountable the brother or sister who sins and, even more, to forgive them no matter how many times they sin so long as they repent each time. That could mean enduring a whole lot of someone else’s sinning and offering up a whole lot of forgiveness to boot!
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.