Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
St. Teresa who is remembered today lived in a time not unlike our own. It was a time of huge cultural, social, religious and economic change. Today, we are starting to recover from face the worst economic crisis in a generation, along rapid technological and cultural change; Christianity is under more pressure than ever to be relevant. St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is also written in a time of great uncertainty, yet his admonition to the people in Galatia is pertinent to us today.
Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
In general, it is my tendency to stress Christianity’s bodily nature. That is, Christianity is a faith that requires us to do certain things with our bodies. Unfortunately, many Christians think there is a dichotomy, or split, between the “body” and the “soul”, and even worse, that God really only cares for one of these. For these Christians, “salvation” is only about our souls, or what is “inside” or apart from our flesh (which is deemed “evil”). But we find something radically different in the life and teaching of Jesus. For example, Jesus’ followers were literally followers. His disciples imitated Jesus’ actions, touching lepers, sharing meals with the poor, giving to those who ask. These actions (also called the “Corporeal Works of Mercy”) reveal God’s salvation, now.
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
“For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” This is what St Paul admonishes in today’s passage from Galatians. Reflecting on this verse takes me to a couple places. It makes me ponder what the work of Jesus really means for me as a Christian and it invites me to look at how my day to day life is a testament to ‘standing firm’ against all the influences that draw me away from Jesus.
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I call myself a ‘foodie.’ Besides theology, I understand food. I love good food and I love trying out new food. I cook my food with passion. I am not a big eater but whatever I eat needs to excite my palette. For me, food is not just about the body; it is also about the soul. And that is why there is nothing I detest more than fast food or eating alone. Food is meant to be shared. If I get time, I cook for the staff the best part of it is sharing it with them.
Because I am a foodie, I totally get today’s scripture readings. Hear this from Isaiah: “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines; juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” I totally get the reason why life at God’s mountain is compared to a great feast with juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. Jesus continues this theme in today’s gospel reading as he uses the analogy of a wedding feast to teach important lessons about the kingdom of God.
Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
My dad and I don’t always see eye to eye on everything. I know that comes as a surprise for everyone. Despite our differences, I have tremendous respect for my dad’s views. I respect his views because he is not an excuse maker. For instance, he decided that there were things he’d like to see change in his state government and so he ran for office. Sure he didn’t have political experience or fit the politician mold, but that didn’t stop him. His tenacity to address the problems he sees and reluctance to hide behind excuses are two of his most admirable traits. While, I’d be hesitant to say my dad and Jesus are always in complete agreement, I think today’s gospel and my dad’s witness challenges us to put aside our complacency.
Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Attending a Marianist college and now working at a Marianist high school, we speak a lot about hospitality and what that looks like when it is lived out in our daily lives. A discipleship of hospitality calls us to embrace the stranger, love the sinner and serve our neighbor. When I hear today’s gospel, I immediately think of hospitality.
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians continues today to make the case for the Gentiles, that they need not become Jews in order to follow Jesus. Paul reminds the community in Galatia how he, Barnabas and Titus were given authority and commissioned by James, Cephas (Peter) and John while in Jerusalem. Paul describes how they preached the same gospel to the uncircumcised as Peter preaches to the circumcised. They were sent to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to be mindful of the poor.
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Today’s first reading is a short explanation from Paul of his own conversion. He describes himself before he encountered Christ as “a zealot for my ancestral traditions.” Lest we think that Paul has totally forgotten these traditions, however, he then quotes the Hebrew scriptures in the next line, saying that God “who from my mother’s womb had set me apart” called him to something more. Paul is paraphrasing Psalm 139, which is the Psalm for today as well. The verses speak to the intimacy between humanity and God, their Creator. According to the Psalmist, God knows when we sit or stand, when we journey and when we rest. God has formed us, and we are “fearfully, wonderfully made.” It is a beautiful reflection on the relationship between Creator and creature, one that is marked by intimacy and love.
Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
As Christians we are called to be merciful. In today’s scripture reading, Jesus explains what it means to be a “neighbor” by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer who was testing Jesus recognizes that the neighbor in the story is the “one who treated him (the victim) with mercy.” (Luke 10: 32) Being merciful is more than just being kind. Showing mercy implies that the person receiving the kindness may not even be “worthy” or deserving of the blessings, but the giver extends the benefits anyway. Because of Jesus, we can learn firsthand what it means to receive mercy, because He forgives us even though we are not worthy. Jesus paints a picture of love, compassion, and self giving in the parable of the Good Samaritan, and then He turns to us and sends us forth saying, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Every so often, I take the time to evaluate my life from the ‘big-picture’ perspective. This year, for example, I have been a priest for twenty years. Prior to that, I was in the seminary for twelve years. I have spent thirty-two of my forty-eight years in religious life. For most part, I am very content with where I am today. I feel exhausted with daily labor on most days, but inside, I feel I am in a good place with God and my communities. My faith in God has never been stronger. My life-vision is discipleship. But, life has not been a cake walk. I am not a man without sins, failures, numerous vocation crises, and some regrets. As I am approaching fifty, I think of the last 48 years as a gift from God. But then, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, how should I plan my life ahead? It is going to take some ‘big-picture’ prayer, reflection, and planning.
Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi
I’m in the midst of a Youth Ministry class right now. Recently we had a panel of individuals involved in Youth Ministry come in for half of our lesson. One of the guests reminded us of the importance of taking a posture of being “consciously incompetent.” In other words, knowing that sometimes we don’t know best. While that might not be the start of a motivational speech, it ties into a line from the Gospel today and our celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
There are many references to angels in the Bible: some as messengers, some as guides, others as guardians and protectors. In some cases, the person encountering the angel knows it is an angel, while in other cases the angel appears as a human being and is not recognized for what they really are. You may recall the verse from Hebrews (13:2), “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” Or the more popular translation, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Today’s readings for the feast of St. Therese known as the “Little Flower,” remind us that like Therese we are to follow the Lord completely. The dialogue in today's first reading from Job goes back and forth between understanding God’s power and then asking the question: Is it wise to challenge God’s wisdom? This discourse is a response to Job’s friend who says that God is a God of knowledge whose justice is fair. Job struggles with this argument. He has lost much, and yet has a clear conscience, and still God’s justice feels more like divine anger. Job’s suffering feels not as a “just” reward for sin, but more as a recipient of an arbitrary allocation of God’s power. Job realizes that the person (God) to whom he wishes to complain may in fact be responsible for his pain. Job’s catch twenty-two leaves him feeling powerless.
Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
“When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him…”
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels
I was visiting with my mom a few days ago and we were talking about some decisions I was trying to make. It always makes me nervous sharing with her because she knows me so well. I am the same way with my kids. It seems no one in the world ever knows you as well as your mom does. And that is what happened. I hadn’t even finished what I was telling her and she looked at me (with her exasperated mother look) and said, “Oh, Gaaaay-elll! You know exactly what you are supposed to do!!” I was sunk! I rolled my eyes and said to her, “I know….I hate it when you do that—I don’t like it that you know me so well!” Then we both laughed. It is so true. I think it makes us uneasy to know that sometimes there is another person that knows us even better than we know ourselves. It is a knowing that transcends our intellect and reason.
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel parable is the story of a vineyard owner and two sons. On the periphery the rhetorical question that Jesus poses to the chief priests is very simple. “Which of the two sons did his father's will?" The answer that Jesus opponents gave is also rather simple – “The first.” But then parables are never about the obvious. If I was a parent, I would not want a child who refuses my requests and then completes the task or a child who complies but then does not carry out the task. Would you? I would like my child to both comply and fulfils my request. The parable is actually about a ‘third son’ – Jesus Christ. This Son both said “Yes” to his Father AND fulfilled the task of human redemption assigned to him. But the chief priest and the elders could not look deep enough to recognize that.
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
God, in his infinite wisdom, will allow terrible things to happen and will intervene in ordinary and extraordinary ways to alleviate those terrible things. This paradox can be tough for us to wrestle with but I want to spend some time on the latter half of it today.