Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
Today’s gospel reading speaks about Jesus being “possessed”. To be possessed is to be “influenced or controlled by something (someone).” Although most people think of this term in a negative way, as I read today’s scripture I was drawn to the idea of being possessed by the Spirit of God. As disciples, if we imitate Jesus in all ways, we must surrender our wills to the power of the Holy Spirit. If we hope to live a life of compassion, mercy, healing, and love then we must allow our lives to be possessed by the Spirit of Christ who will use who we are to bring Him to the world.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
I find it truly interesting that the very scripture passage that was read for Christmas is today’s first reading as well. Isaiah says:
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.”
Yet, it is not all that strange this very scripture passage is used again. If you noticed, the gospel reading introduces us to the beginning of Jesus ministry. The light that Isaiah is referring to, is Jesus.
Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Today's Gospel is one of the shorter readings upon which we reflect. It is a mere two verses. Though these two verses contain a fascinating scene. Jesus' relatives deem him insane and seek to seize him. Whoa, what is going on here? I think it is a case of meaning well but having no idea.
Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Today's scriptures begin reasonably enough. The author of Hebrews declares in the first reading that Jesus has instituted a better covenant with his people - better than the one that existed before. "If that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second one." But the first covenant was not faultless - and who was at fault, but God's own people?
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
In our first reading, we hear about how Jesus fulfills the ancient requirement for a priest to offer sacrifice on behalf of all the people, to appease God’s requirement for a payment for sins. We see in this reading that the Christian way of seeing salvation is similar to the ancient way; the main difference is that the New Covenant in Jesus is a much better deal for us. God’s promises are better. Instead of the people paying, Jesus has already paid. To the mind of the Hebrew people this letter was originally addressing, this is very good news indeed! Everything they were ever taught about how the universe works is still true, but our great benefactor, Jesus, has made all the arrangements and taken care of us. All we have to do is say yes, and do God’s will, as today’s psalm proclaims.
Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
The profound nature of the universe is all around yet is difficult to fully appreciate in the midst of our seemingly mundane lives. Standing bedside with a family while their loved one goes quietly to meet God is an extraordinary honor as a chaplain. What seems truly miraculous about the moments is the love that is shared between the family and their dying loved one. It is, I hope, a reflection of the love and faith they have shared at many other times in their lives times which perhaps is perceived as ordinary.
Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot
I’m not often good at keeping Sunday as a day of rest and reflection. I get too caught up in preparing for the week, and distractions every Sunday. I might take moments of rest, but I certainly fall short in taking the opportunity to pray and reflect in addition to that rest. I put so much work into being prepared for the logistics of the week (meals, laundry, email, etc.) that I fail to recognize how God is with me in those preparations and how God might walk with me in the week to come. I become disillusioned to the fact that in some ways “Sabbath” calls us to actually do work – prayer can certainly be restful and rejuvenating but it also means putting in the work to grow with God.
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Many us have heard the term ‘hitting bottom’. Simply explained, it means one has come to realize they can no longer live the way they have been living and accept things must change. Whether loss of a job or legal difficulties, homeless or intolerable mental anguish, life is intolerable and one becomes willing to accept help and cooperate; they become obedient because of their suffering overwhelms them. How true this is for all human beings in so many different situations! And while much suffering is unavoidable and unrelated to disobedience, in the throes of acute suffering, we can forget we are never alone. We are always accompanied by the Incarnate One who experienced every facet of human suffering exactly as we do. Suffering, regardless of the cause, can be in the service of love if we have faith in God.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Sunday, on the Feast of Epiphany, I reflected with you on the star that led the magi. I remember saying that whereas the star was an external sign, the magi were also following a star within them - their conviction that their destiny lay in Christ. I also remember asking the question, “What is your star?” “Where is your star leading you?” “Who lies at the end of your star?” As we enter the Ordinary Time in our liturgical calendar, I would like to follow up my Epiphany homily with a further reflection on the questions.
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hosanna, our 16 month old daughter, had her first run in with a ‘stomach bug’ yesterday. The poor little girl was bewildered that we wouldn’t let her drink more milk, that she took two baths in one day, and that she kept getting put in new clothes. Conversely, I think she was pleasantly surprised by how much cuddle time and attention she got from Bess and me. Isn’t that how it is supposed to be when you are sick? Experience and today’s readings would seem to suggest, yes.
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
I don't think I would have expected this when I first started parenting nine years ago, but my kids actually seem to like time outs. The "time out" is often used as a disciplinary action for kids; it's called a "time out" because the parent (or teacher or adult in charge) asks the kid to take a break from the unhelpful activity they are doing for a while - hitting a sibling, having a tantrum, pulling the cat's tail - and go sit in a corner, or on a step, taking a few minutes to put physical and mental space between the kid and the cause of the tantrum or fight.
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
I am a procrastinator by nature. So when I read today's first reading I get a little bit of anxiety. So much of this reading is focused on one word - "today!" Fellow procrastinators all know that today is not really when we like to do things. We prefer tomorrow or next week or next month. But Paul makes it very clear to us that when it comes to heeding the word of God, we are not to wait until tomorrow, next week or next month. We must act now. We must act today. If we hear God's voice today, we should begin to act today.
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
There is a new Martin Scorsese film called “Silence.” The movie based on novel of historic-fiction is set in 17th century Japan. “Silence” captures the journey of two Jesuits to find their spiritual mentor who has gone there as a missionary but seems lost. I have not seen this movie and it does seem from its descriptions to be both violent and beautiful. This dangerous journey of these two Jesuits, answers God’s call for them to bring Christ to a country steeped in persecution to anyone who professes belief in Jesus. Their journey is both brutally physical and deeply spiritual as these men search for both their mentor and God.
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is from the Letter to the Hebrews. Scholars debate over whether or not this letter was actually written by Paul or by someone else, mainly because it seems so different from the other letters we are used to reading and hearing. Today’s excerpt is a bit complicated but it is rich and actually quite beautiful in its message. It asks the question about the difference between humans and angels, saying that it was humans to whom God “crowned with glory and honor.” The is an old Jewish story that when God made Adam, he presented his creation to the angels, telling them to bow down in worship of the image of God Adam bore. This letter evokes the same feeling of the absolute dignity and worth of the human being.
The Baptism of the Lord
Over the holidays I went to see the movie “Moana”. The film had amazing animation and lovely music, but I was particularly enchanted by Moana the young princess who was striving to know who she was and how she was being encouraged to live out that calling. How often as adults do we stop and take time to reflect upon who we really are and what is our deepest calling. Today’s readings demonstrate who we are at the core of our being- “beloved sons and daughters” of God.
The Epiphany of the Lord
A couple of weeks back I preached a homily titled, “Turning the Ahaz in Us into Jospeh” in which I drew a contrast between KIng Ahaz and Joseph. I had said that whereas Ahaz could not get himself to trust God unconditionally, Joseph showed incredible capacity for fidelity and trust in God. Today, I want to contrast King Herod and the Magi.
There are many points on which Herod and the wise men can be contrasted. First, the Magi were on a search. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” they asked. In contrast, the birth of Jesus went completely unnoticed by Herod. Neither did he hear the angles nor did he see the star. Second, the scriptures tell us that Herod was “greatly troubled” when he heard that a star had appeared announcing the birth of Jesus. He became afraid. His fear was so intense that it made him act irrationally. Many innocent children were killed in the process. In contrast, the gospel reading tells us that the magi were “overjoyed at seeing the star” and the “child with his mother.” Third, the magi did the child homage and offered him gifts. Herod on the other hand, sought to destroy the child.
Christmas Weekday
My son and I watched a little video yesterday about Christmas today. He loved it and I did my best to enjoy a film made for a 3-year-old. Due to my heroic efforts I caught some interesting tidbits. They talked about Christmas encouraging us to be generous, the challenge of Jesus’ humble birth, and Christ’s mission to lead us to heaven. It was that third topic that came to mind again as I read the first reading, particularly, “[Jesus Christ] is the true God and eternal life.” For John to call Jesus ‘eternal life’ seemed strange to me but I believe that is a failing on my part, not a peculiarity of John.
Christmas Weekday
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Today’s first reading is a core gem in the Christian Life. John is telling us how to Love. Christians must love one another. But we get tripped up when we ask, ‘what does it mean to love?’ Should I be sure to send Christmas cards? Is it just a matter of saying nice things and getting along? John is telling us that love is bigger than that, deeper than that.
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
When we are children, we often think in terms we might call black and white. For many of us, as we grow older we are taught to think more broadly. Then it becomes more difficult to see the world in such polarized way. This can be so true that we find black and white thinking offensive. Still in times of unrest it may be the thing we think that will give us order, whether be in a critical situation in the hospital or a crisis in governance. Yet sometimes the contrast is precisely what we need in order to refocus our being.