Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest
Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you made a dwelling place for the Lord in your life? Moses does this literally in today’s first reading, after receiving instructions on how to build the Tent of the Lord’s Presence. We have also received instructions telling us how to open our hearts and minds to Jesus. At each Mass when the gospel is read, we sign our foreheads, mouth, and chest, praying “Jesus be in my mind, Jesus be in my words, Jesus be in my heart.” Making a place for the Lord (and spending time there) is the beginning of discipleship.
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Recently, we had a conversation at hospital about the ability of people to change. What struck me was that most of us felt people could change, while others thought generally people cannot change. Experiences with people are unable to break free from addiction has shaped this perception of the inability to change. What I find so profound about this conversation is that we all work for an organization whose main mission is to be change agents for the patients well-being.
Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
The text we have from Exodus today is truly extraordinary. In it, the Lord not only speaks to Moses directly, which in and of itself is an amazing thing. The Lord chooses to reveal who the Lord is to Moses. And, as readers, we are privileged to hear what the Lord has to say. Incredible!
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Ignatius was a soldier in every sense of the word; his first authentic experience of God occurred while recovering from a devastating battle injury. His deep desire to defend and protect the interests of his homeland drove him and allowed him to express his passion. Having said this, he was no saint. Like most of us, he was a human being attracted to things less than 'holy' and God, knowing this, directed his passion and desire toward the glorious work of the Kingdom. Ignatius's story inspires me because it is a perfect example of how God works through our human desires—and human weakness—to accomplish the work of God's Kingdom. I am also inspired by how Ignatius shared his deep personal experiences of God; he realized the power of personal testimony in bringing others to God. But his greatest legacy is the community he gathered together which, to this day, thrives around the world.
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I wish that today’s first reading was read prior to last Sunday’s reading from the book of Wisdom. Today’s reading recounts the story of God’s gift of wisdom given to Solomon. The book of Wisdom was written after God gave Solomon the gift of Wisdom.
Memorial of Saint Martha
Today is the Memorial of Saint Martha we were not only offered a different gospel for her feast, we were given the choice of two gospels. Our first impression of both gospels might make us feel bad for Martha. They don't they paint the most flattering picture of her. In the gospel from John, Martha is giving Jesus a piece of her mind as she wrestles with her brother's death. In the gospel from Luke, she tries to get Jesus to get Mary off her tuchus but instead gets told to be more like Mary. However, I think it is in these unflattering moments that we have the greatest lesson to learn from Martha.
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus' parable in today's gospel reading (Matthew 13:18-23) really strikes me this week. All the ways he describes seeds and soil make me wonder - what kind of soil am I planted in? In particular, his admonition to seeds sown among thorns, which are distracted by worldly ambitions and the lure of riches, makes me think about the soil of me and my community here in the middle-class US. As a person with a good job, and a job that encourages me to be very ambitious, I find it helpful to use these verses to reflect on my situation today.
Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
A good friend was recently telling me about a book she read, Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace by Anne Lamott. I have not read it, although I plan to. But the title alone got me thinking.
Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Life demands that we use all our senses, taste, sight, touch, smell, and hearing. Discipleship and ministry are best exercised when we use all of them as well. Recently, at work I was reminded just how important it is to listen. In the midst of critical care situations in the hospital it can be difficult to hear the voices of those around you. Especially for families, the volume of information can be overwhelming. Each member may see the situation different or weigh one doctors opinion over another. When possible, the foundation for most discussion of treatment plans are best started with, “What would the patient want?” Sometimes the patient understands the futility of aggressive care and says no more. When this recent patient reclaimed their voice, they made it clear, “I want to live.” Their voice broke through and cleared up for all concerned what was the patients perspective.
Feast of Saint James, Apostle
A distinguishing feature of Gnosticism – a set of ancient religious ideas originating in first and second century Judaism and Christianity – is that matter is evil. This includes the human body. As a result, redemption requires an escape from our material selves.
Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to be at the bedside of two close friends that were close to death. As I prepared for these visits, I tried to think of what things I could bring to show each of them my love. After these experiences I realized that my presence was in fact the greatest sign of my love for them. In both of the readings today, God reminds all people that it is His presence among us that is the greatest sign of His love and concern. We are called to open our hearts and minds in order to recognize that He is right here by our side, and then we are called to share this gift- His presence- with others.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I am going to begin my homily with a few sayings: “A jealous ear hears everything, and discordant grumblings are no secret” (Wis 1:10). Here is another one: “A great number of wise men is the safety of the world” (Wis 6:24). One more: “Our lifetime is the passing of a shadow; and our dying cannot be deferred because it is fixed with a seal; and not one returns” (Wis 2:5). The last one: “Age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, not can it be measured in terms of years” (Wis 4:8). All these saying are from he book of Wisdom, the book from which our first reading is taken.
Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
Scripture Readings
(This reflection is based in part on the optional passage from Song of Songs for the first reading)
Today is the Memorial of Saint Mary Magdelene. Like many of the earliest disciples, little is known about the life of Mary Magdelene. There are several enduring legends about her life after the Lord’s Ascension, but we really cannot be certain about their validity. Even the widely held notion that she was a repentant sinner is not based in historical fact. What we do know for sure is truly the most important thing. As Jesus says in the gospel, she has “loved much”. When I try to imagine the way she loved Jesus, I think of the word “fierce”. This is strong and curious way to describe the way a person might love, but that is the word that comes to mind when I think of the way she loved him. Obvious negative connotations aside, I see the fierceness of loving as that aspect which grips and impassions and compels one toward a single focus—to become one with the beloved.
Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Scriptture Readings
It is interesting to have today's texts side by side. The first (Exodus 11:10-12:14) is the story of how the great feast of Passover came to be. It is one of the most important feasts of the year because it commemorates that God saves and protects the Israelites by leading them out of Egypt. God makes observing the feast a kind of law: "This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution."
Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
We have all seen a rescue mission on a TV show, movie, or fairy tale. People get caught up in a dangerous spot, and they can’t get out with help from the outside. God has similar plans for humanity. Ever since the fall, we’ve been caught up in sin. And, ever since the fall, God has been making plans for our liberation.
Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Walking on holy ground is how I like to describe chaplaincy. But indeed it is a theological statement that can undergird all ministry, and even our life as disciples. It is in approaching a patient, a friend or a stranger with a sense of wonder and awe that we realize a sacredness in the moment. These instances have the power to transform situations and bring about conversion for all involved.
Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
A lot is going wrong as we enter the Exodus text for today. To start, Pharaoh has issued a decree demanding that all male babies born of the Hebrews be drowned in the Nile. To live amidst the darkness of such a decree, especially if you are of that ethnicity or religious identity, must be hell on earth. Not only that, Pharaoh chose to use the Nile—perhaps the most powerful source and sign of life for all the people of that region—as the instrument of death. Hell, indeed.
Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
A few days ago, a friend of mine was reading my print out of today's readings and said, "You see…this is a perfect example of why I do not understand Christianity! How can you believe in this?" Needless to say, my friend does not identify himself as a Christian. The passage from chapter 10 of Matthew's Gospel (Mt 10:34-11:1) can be easily misunderstood—even used to point out the 'defects' in the teachings of Jesus. The conversation that followed led me to relate a number personal testimonies (anonymity protected) I have heard in recent years. Yes, even now and in our own communities, belief in Jesus causes division. Yes, children and parents are set against one another and those we always saw as our enemies are now part of our own households.
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The use of parables to teach the lessons of life was one of the most brilliant strategies that Jesus used. Besides the fact that Jesus used imageries and analogies from the daily events to connect with his audience, parables by their nature are open ended. We can draw multiple meanings from parables. For that matter, a parable never runs out of meanings. The parable of the Sower and the Seed is one of the richest parables in the gospels.