The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
Paul's letter to the Romans has some strong declarations in it and is a powerful letter that should help us center our lives around Christ, His grace, and the gospel. Verse five of chapter five is no exception. It reads: “Hope does not disappoint, because God will give you everything that your heart desires as long as you say please and thank you.” Oh, wait, that's not right. That is what I want it to say, but instead it reads: “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Now, why is my idea of 'hope never disappointing' and Paul's explanation of it two different things? I'd like to propose a threefold answer to that question. They are different because I have the wrong sense of what it means to hope, my priorities are backwards when it comes to what I'm hoping for, and sometimes I completely lose sight of what I already have.
Solemnity of All Saints
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
There are many images of Jesus: Jewish man and carpenter; a healer and forgiver of sins; one who could fish and laugh with his friends and captivate a crowd with his words; the crucified and risen Lord with pierced hands and feet; the judge sitting at the right hand of his father in heaven.
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Lord works in mysterious ways. While we know this to be true do we truly understand that? Today’s scripture reminds us that the Spirit comes to our aid in our weakness. And perhaps for St. Paul that is easy for him to see and believe. He understood his weakness and he saw the Spirit use those weaknesses to help him become a better disciple.
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
In his now famous interview in America Magazine, our Pope Francis draws a distinction between optimism and hope. On one hand, he describes optimism as a “psychological attitude.” On the other hand, he describes hope as the faith of the Fathers who “kept walking, facing difficulties.” Both of today’s passages speak to the difference between optimism and hope.
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
While reading today’s Scriptures passages I was reminded of our Parish theme for this year—“Being the Body of Christ”. The idea of being “set apart” is central to both the Gospel and the first reading from the Letter to the Ephesians. It occurred to me that this being “set apart” is something most of us must grow into gradually. Like most everything in the spiritual life, we are always “on the way”. As a member of the Body of Christ, I am aware that my thinking does not always reflect this membership. It is often a struggle to think like Christ in daily life. On the other hand, when I have experienced the grace to think spiritually, as Jesus did, the world seems to be a completely different place. Things that were so important no longer seem to matter and other things I missed are suddenly apparent. It is then that I realize my way of thinking is not God’s way of thinking.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
What do you think of a $20,000 bathtub, built-in closets costing nearly $500,000, a $35,000 conference table, a $1.1 million in landscaped garden, a fitness room larger an apartment, and a personal chapel? What do you think of a $40+ million home renovation? And what if I told you that these were the expenses of the Bishop of Limburg, Germany? Bishop Tebartz-van Elst, now also known as the “Bishop of Bling,” was shown the door by Pope Francis this week. In complete contrast is today’s Psalm response: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”
Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
What a set of readings! Today includes some of Romans 8, which is exciting in and of itself. Then, we hit the gospel and Christ talks about two current events of His time, and we follow all of that up with the parable of the fig tree that is bearing no fruit. Out of all of that, it was the fig tree that spoke to me the most. I appreciate the message it conveys about our need for repentance, and God’s patience with us. Even more though, I want to reflect on the fig tree as it relates to our three relationships: God, others, and self.
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12: 49) Perhaps some of Jesus’ disciples (both then and now) wish this gospel verse were a literal statement, looking for a warrior savior who would “take the world by fire!” It would certainly make for a popular movie or computer game. But seriously, it’s somewhat jolting at first read as Luke in today’s gospel reading (Luke 12: 49-53) continues with Jesus preaching to his disciples, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Really?
Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Recently, I was struggling to get everything done at work. While my workload kept growing, my ability to juggle the amount of tasks was diminished because I was overwhelmed. Ministry is often an unpredictable vocation. The message that kept coming to me in prayer was be prepared. As an Eagle Scout I understand that motto well, yet my ability to handle unexpected realities suggested otherwise.
Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans. In this passage, Paul is explaining the good news of salvation in Christ by reminding his readers and listeners about the stories in Genesis. In Genesis 2 and 3, God creates Adam and Eve, who then disobey God’s one rule: do not eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. At first, God can seem a little capricious here: anyone who has children knows that specifically telling a child not to do something means that the temptation to do that very thing is inevitable.
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Sometimes I find it difficult to live as a disciple in the midst of this world. I am bombarded with newspaper ads, TV commercials, billboards, and people around me all telling me I need the newest, nicest cell phone, car, clothes, house and lifestyle. I find it so easy to slip into this mindset where if I want something, then it must be OK to pursue having that item. Yet, if I am a follower of Jesus and walk in His ways, I think that my choices of what I buy and what I do with my possessions should be something that I always try to see from His perspective. I believe that today’s scripture readings remind me “what matters to God.”
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I wonder if I would be too wrong if I said that that there are many people among you who have long standing petitions before God, and for reasons beyond our understanding, they are still unanswered. Often Monica is presented as an example of persistent prayer. She prayed for her son Augustine for twenty years. Not only did he have a change of heart but rather Augustine became a saint. My mother has been praying for my brother for over twenty-five years. Her only prayer is that he returns back to the church. Not only is her desire unfulfilled, but the possibility of his return at present looks more remote than ever. My mother says to me that this is God’s way of keeping us close to God. I am not convinced about my mother’s rationale but my mother faith is stronger than mine. I am not sure how you explain your unanswered prayers but I hope your faith is as strong as my mother’s faith.
Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
In today’s gospel, Christ says, “When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” Now this is a passage I have to mull over time and time again. I find myself drawn to it because of the way I returned to my faith. I came back into my faith, from complete apathy, through apologetics (defending the faith from a rational perspective). With the help of God’s grace, my family’s prayers, and many wise people I wrestled my way back into my faith, often by first engaging why it was reasonable and then embracing how it is mysterious. Reading this passage reminds me of three lessons I learned from having a spiritual diet that was too saturated in apologetics.
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus
Amidst the discussion buzzing around our Pope Francis, it seems there are a couple of things that can be said, with confidence, about his vision for our Church. First, he wishes for us, his flock, to proclaim the Gospel in both word and deed. Second, he wishes for us to welcome any and all who would be embraced by the Church. Reflecting on today’s passages, I was struck by how profoundly they resonate with this simple but also challenging vision.
Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist
Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
One of my favorite books is an obscure collection of writings by the desert fathers called The Philokalia. In this collection of writings, one common piece of advice given by the fathers is “pay attention to yourself”. Today’s Scripture readings reminded me of this piece of advice. The passage from the Gospel of Luke has not one, but two instances—back to back—of the disciples clearly not paying attention to their own behavior. They seem so caught up in comparing themselves with one another and competing with persons they consider outside of their own group that they neglect to see the bigger picture. I can certainly identify with them! How often have I found myself so concerned with the actions of other people that I fail to see the real problem is me?
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I used this anecdote sometime back, so pardon me if this is a repetition for you. I often read the daily cartoon Pearls before Swine. The main characters in this cartoon are the rat, the pig, the goat and crocodiles. In one of the clips the goat asks the pig, “Do you have any religious beliefs? …Things you know in your heart are true?” The pig answered, “Just Nachofication.” The goat asks, “What is Nachofication?” The pig replies, “The belief that everything tastes better with melted cheese.” The goat looks disgusted as he turns around and exclaims, “I was hoping for something deeper than the church of cheese.” Our life is more than food, sports, and the daily drudgery of life, is it not? Meaning, purpose, character, a vision and goal in life, faith, relationship… these are the things that add flavor to life, is it not?
Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
As I read today's gospel my eyes were drawn to the phrase at the very end, “they were afraid to ask him about this saying.” I think this one phrase captures an often overlooked part of our journey to faith and our journey in faith; fear. I think the word fear deserves a little attention and I think from this passage we can reflect on the beauty we can appreciate and the errors we should avoid.