Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The Parable of the Sower has always intrigued me. As such, when I saw that it was the Gospel reading for today I immediately got excited and I simultaneously got nervous, because the passages that intrigue me tend to also confuse me. So how am I to offer a reflection on a passage that I struggle to take to a deeper level? I think the best way is to just let Jesus do the work.
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
As we continue walking with the Lord in this 24th week of time, we encounter two excellent readings today. The first is from the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy, which we have been reading now for almost a week (with a few interruptions). 1 Timothy is a practical letter, and today’s excerpt contains some practical advice that is still relevant for us today. Paul instructs the readers to “set an example.” Actions are often more powerful than words, and sometimes the best persuasion of the goodness of Christianity is the example of Christian believers.
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
There was a young man who was at home when a friend ran by and said, “there is a flood, run and escape with me.” The young man unmoved said, “God will save me” and went back inside his house. Another friend came by in a rowboat and invited his friend get into his boat. The man once again stated, “Do not worry God will save me.” Finally a helicopter came by and tried to rescue this young man off the roof of his house. Again the young man refused saying, “God will save me.” Then the young man passed on and went to heaven. In heaven he asked God, “Why did you not save me?” God responded, “I sent a friend, a row boat and a helicopter. What more do you want?”
Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
What qualities do you think are most important in the head of a household? While most of us will never become bishops, the first reading has something to say for all. Perhaps there is a lesson here about vocation. God has a mission for each person; our gifts and character are whispers of the Spirit, giving direction. Discernment of vocation isn’t just a conversation between you and God. It happens in the context families and church community. By paying attention to others gifts, we can help the Spirit by gently suggesting to our friends and family what they might be called to do next, out of love for our God. Are you wondering what God is calling you to in this season of your life? Or, are you discerning one of the big “V” Vocations of sisterhood, brotherhood, the single life, marriage, or priesthood? If those who know you best aren’t already telling you what they think, consider asking them.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross—the Triumph of the Cross. The reading from the Letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:6-11) is among the most sublime in Scripture. St. Paul’s passage relates for us the entire mission, meaning, and consequence of Jesus Christ. And the verses of John’s Gospel relates to us the ‘why’ of the Cross of Jesus: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son…”. The Cross of Jesus was and is totally about Love.
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
AJ Jacobs is a New York journalist. He is also a Jewish agnostic. He decided to do a radical experiment – a year of living biblically. He attempted to follow every rule of the Bible literally for an entire year. The way he ate, talked, dressed, thought, and touched his wife – he did everything biblically. He did it, because he wanted to see if he was missing anything. He said later in an interview later that the hardest thing to do was avoiding the sins we commit every day: lying, gossiping, and coveting. But the greatest lesson he learnt was the power of behavior over thinking. Following Descartes’ famous line, “I think therefore I am,” we normally believe that thought influences behavior. But Jacobs says that the opposite is even more powerful. He said that most of us do underestimate the power that behavior has to shape thought. “It’s astounding. I watched it happen to myself. For instance, I forced myself to stop gossiping, and eventually I started to have fewer petty thoughts to gossip about. I forced myself to help the needy, and found myself becoming less self-absorbed. I even watched it happen with prayer. After a year of praying, I started to believe there’s something to the idea of sacredness. It was remarkable. So if you want to become someone different, just start acting like the person you want to be. Jacobs now calls himself a “reverent agnostic.”
Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
I love St. Paul. He is so honest about his brokenness. His honesty is not dramatic flair to help make a “really good” conversion story. He is honest so that you can sideline him and see God at work. This is what he says in today’s first reading, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example.”
Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
This time of year, I like to get outdoors and go hiking - I grew up hiking and I want to give that same sense of love of the outdoors and care of the environment to my kids.
We hiked a lot of difficult trails when I was growing up in Colorado. It's home to 57 mountain peaks over 14,000 feet, plus a number of other rugged trails. Given the weather and other variables, sometimes you just never knew what could be around a bend - a washed out trail, a flood, a rattlesnake. Sometimes my parents would ask us to stay put while they went ahead a little to see what was what. They'd return several minutes later having tried out several potential paths and found the one that was the most free of harm and potential pitfalls and then we'd all move on together.
Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Last Wednesday my newest niece, Hosanna Jayne was born. My brother and his wife could not be happier about the addition of their beautiful, perfect, new baby girl. Walking in to the hospital to visit Hosanna and her mom, I felt like I had entered sacred space - you could feel God's presence in the room. Then I got to hold her and I could not help but to praise God for the beautiful gift that this little one is to this world. Hosanna! Praise God!
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
A person at work asked me, “Is it God’s will that my loved one is sick?” My standard answer is that God is not the cause of the suffering, nor does God will the suffering, however God allows the suffering. While this answer may perhaps work for this question in particular, it does not get at the suffering which Paul is directing his challenge in today's reading from Colossians.
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today is the day the Church celebrates the birthday of Mary. We honor Mary in many different ways because she is so essential to God’s plan of salvation for us. Her willingness to have her life changed so radically when God asks her is an inspiring and humbling witness to her faith. Mary models so much for us, including discipleship, selfless love, and courage. She is the first disciple because she said yes to Jesus before he was even born; she is selflessly loving, putting the salvation of others before her own comfort by saying ‘yes’ to God; and she is courageous in both these things, willfully opening herself to scorn and stigma by essentially becoming an unwed mother in a time when this almost surely meant social exclusion.
Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
As we grow older, we hope that all of who we are matures, including our faith. When we are younger in our spiritual journey we are told what to believe. Then we believe because it has become part of our way of thinking and our faith takes roots. Finally, we just don’t believe, but we “do” our faith by how we live our lives. Jesus in today’s gospel illustrates that sometimes living out our faith may entail going beyond the rules and law to doing what is good. To live in this way requires the” treasures of wisdom and knowledge” which is hidden in the mystery of Christ.
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
I came into the United States fifteen years back. It doesn’t seem too long back. Yet, things have changed dramatically over the last fifteen years. I have to admit, for the first time, I live a little fearfully these days. I move about a little more cautiously. I went to the movies the other day and people’s bags were being searched before they entered the theater. I must say, I was just a little unnerved. There was a time when I would laugh off things like someone flipping me of on the road or cutting me in a queue. Today, I am afraid someone might have a gun. Even racially, I have become very sensitive these days. So when I hear Isaiah say in today’s first reading, “Be strong, fear not!” I am comforted, but I am not sure if I feel that strong.
Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus is bold. Do you think about that much? You could rightly call Him lowly, meek, or humble, but you can’t call Him a coward. He listened to the command of scripture to “Be not afraid,” because He knew who He was. If you want to see this in practice, just look to our Gospel reading today.
Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus suggests in today’s gospel (Luke 5:33-39) that people don’t want to drink new wine if they’ve drunk the old, because they’ll consider the old to be good. It is curious that he says this, for we know ourselves that aged wines are often better (or at least more prized) than new wines. Companies with longevity carry more respect, aged cheeses taste more distinctive, aged leather can (if treated correctly) become softer with age, and old wood demonstrates its durability.
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
(Two weeks back we welcomed a new contributor to the Ite Missa Est daily reflections- Mike Bennett. We are very glad that he had taken the baton from Eileen Miller and will write every other Thursday. Please be sure to read a message from Eileen at the end of this reflection. Many thanks to her for her years of writing reflections for Ite Missa Est).
I often find myself reflecting upon my own sinfulness and am tempted to believe that such sinfulness restricts me from being a faithful disciple. However, God is not ignorant to my human nature, the fact that I am flawed and that I make mistakes. Instead God continues to make God’s grace known to me amidst my sinfulness.
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Today I was confronted by a question about which I have prayed often. When certain tragedy lies before us, “Where is the hope?” Some situations can truly seem hopeless. It may be the loss of a job, or the loss of a loved one, facing the reality which one has had thrust upon them. This hopelessness can lead us to look at life with eyes of fear and uncertainty. Truly in the midst of the pouring rain of suffering it is difficult to believe the sun will shine again.
Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
When I was in 6th grade, I found myself in a new school. I didn’t know anyone, and the class bully found me to be an easy target. I noticed he never bothered me when I was around the biggest kid in the class, Brian, who towered over everyone else. So, I made sure I got to know Brian, and we became pretty good friends.
Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
I don’t know about you, but discussing politics or religion with members of my extended family (and many of my friends) can get very sticky. Most everyone (myself included) comes to these conversations with their pre-established agendas and strong personal opinions; the so called ‘conversation’ can easily lead to arguments that end in hurt feelings or worse. I got to thinking about this while reading today’s Scriptures and began wondering how I could change my approach to these discussions in a way that reflects my life as a disciple of Jesus. I need to try something new.