Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever felt rather unpopular for what you believe or maybe even for speaking out in truth? Jesus and Amos both were criticized, disliked, and rejected for speaking the truth. There were some important people who didn’t particularly like what they had to say.
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture Reading -
Hate evil and love good. Surely, most us believe this wisdom. When we hear such wisdom we often nod our heads in agreement. The words wash over us like an unfailing stream, but do they sink in beyond the surface?
Blessed Are You Who Believe
I sometimes wish that I could have been alive when Jesus walked the earth. To be able to have seen him walk, talk, pray, and preach and to have gotten to know him as a living, breathing human being would have been an awesome experience. Not only that, but it sometimes seems to me as though it would be easier to have faith if I had been a witness to his life during that time instead of connecting with Jesus so many years after he lived his life on earth. It seems to me that the scriptures for today point out that this is a mistaken way of thinking. It was not easier for the first disciples than it was for us.
Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I have found one of the truest tests of how completely I am following Jesus is when I am experiencing fear. A number of years ago my family went through a period of time when my young son was struggling with substance abuse. As anyone who has lived this scenario knows, there were times we found ourselves sicker emotionally than my beautiful son. Would I go upstairs and find him unconscious—or worse? Every time the phone rang my heart stopped. For many, many months we lived in constant fear and pain and it bled into every area and relationship in our lives. At times it was just plain crushing. I found myself on my knees repeatedly each day and night for months on end and praying constantly to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin. And it was during this very time that I learned what it means to be completely powerless and dependent on God night and day, hour after hour, minute by minute. I learned that the bottom line of this experience for me was not about my son—it was about my relationship with God.
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I would like to draw your attention to the very first sentence of today’s second reading; “As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also.” (2 Cor 8:7) It is the “gracious act” that I would like to focus on. What is the gracious act that Paul is referring to?
Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s first reading from the book of Lamentations, we hear about the shear desolation of the Jewish people. This book comes from the period of the destruction of the temple in the sixth century BC, a deeply trying time for God’s chosen ones. We see that part of their desolation is in feeling complete abandonment, even those who rose up as prophets were false ones (Lam 2:14). Yet many are undertaking practices of repentance: covering themselves in sackcloth and ashes (the common practice of penance), prostrating themselves (Lam 2:10), weeping (Lam 2:11), and Jerusalem itself is imaged as praying (Lam 2:18-19).
Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles
Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. These two men are so important to our tradition that their feast is ranked a “solemnity,” the highest designation that the Church has. While both men were instrumental in passing on the Christian faith and leaders of the early Church, they are an unlikely pair, different in many ways and known to have disagreed at one time. Peter is regarded as the first pope, the rock on whom the Church was founded. Paul is known as the Apostle to the Gentiles and the author of most of our New Testament.
Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr
My family and I were vacationing at the beach last week. For several days I watched my son build structures in the sand that would later be washed away as the tide came in. Sometimes my husband would help. But even when they built the walls higher and thicker, the water would eventually wash over it and it would collapse.
Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
In our house we just finished reading the Last Battle, the final book of the Chronicles of Narnia. Narnia is a magical land where many of the animals talk and it is ruled by just royalty. C. S. Lewis created this world to invite people to more deeply understand Christianity.
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
It has sometimes troubled me to hear that the gate that leads to eternal life is narrow and the way that leads to destruction is very broad. On the surface this is one of Jesus’ harsher sayings. It would not be the first thing that I would quote if I were presenting Jesus’ teachings to someone for the first time. Yet the scripture readings for today reveal a very positive message that can be uplifting for Christians today as we attempt to live a life of discipleship.
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Recently I had the opportunity to watch daytime TV programming. As I sat several hours waiting for my car to be repaired, I was amazed to see the number of court room shows (Judge Judy etc.) that were on during the day. I had to wonder what was the fascination that so many people would spend hours watching these shows. As I reflected more, I realized that many people (including myself) have a tendency to believe that what we think is right, and therefore we feel justified in placing judgment on others and their choices. I think that this sense of righteousness stems from a sense of pride and leads to an unhealthy desire for power. Today’s readings give us helpful insights on why only God should be the judge.
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
What matters for you? Would it matter if your child did not return home from school one day? Would it matter if you lost your job? Would it matter if your spouse or partner was becoming an addict? Would it matter if you were diagnosed with a terminal illness? How much does it matter that Miami Heat won the NBA championship? How much does it matter if the Reds lose their first place in the National League Central division? What does it matter that you gained a pound or two in the last month? How much does it matter when your prayer life is in a mess? How much do you care that according to the best of your knowledge, your life reflects God’s will?
Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings continue the theme of idolatry and true worship of God.
In the first reading, from the book of Chronicles, punishment is meted out to King Joash because of his consent to idolatry. What we know, though from the verses immediately proceeding those of today’s reading is that King Joash wasn’t always so unfaithful. When he took the throne at the tender age of seven, he was blessed with the wise advisor Jehoiada who worked to restore temple worship and observe the Mosaic law. But after Jehoiada’s death (2 Chr 24:17) Joash is taken in another direction and when challenged by his old advisor’s son, moves to have him stoned to death instead of listening to him (2 Chr 24:21). What a changed man! This killing proves to be the source of Joash’s own downfall – all brought on by idol worship.
Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
"That's just not real life." That's the phrase my students will say when I ask them to think about how to buy clothes (as an example). What do they think about buying clothing made by companies that pay fair wages and don't use sweat shop labor? What do they think about shopping at a thrift store instead of buying new clothing? Their response of "That's just not real life," relates to their heartfelt sense that looking good, especially in Ugg boots and skinny designer jeans, is necessary in "the real world."
Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious
In today’s selection from the Sermon on the Mount from the gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus instructing his followers on prayer. The passage, not to mention the prayer, is so familiar to us that we might easily pass it over. This would be a mistake, however. As we often hear at Mass, this is the prayer “that Jesus taught us.” This is “the Lord’s Prayer.” This is the prayer of the whole Church.
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever called someone or been labeled a hypocrite? As a person who reflects on theology regularly, the thought has crossed my mind that we are all hypocrites at times. Consider Jesus’ words “let those without sin cast the first stone.” Still when someone, who was supposed to be supportive of me, looked me in the eye and told me I was hypocrite, it was cutting.
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
The first reading continues the story of Ahab’s and Jezebel’s treacherous actions. Yesterday we read how Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard and how Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, takes matters in hand and plots against Naboth to have him killed. In the first reading for today we see how Ahab takes possession of Naboth’s vineyard after Naboth is killed. In response, the Lord sends Elijah to meet Ahab and to call Ahab out for his rebellion against the Lord. Ahab’s response is noteworthy. He tears his garments, puts on sack cloth, and begins to fast. In doing this, Ahab is repenting of his misdeeds before the Lord.
Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Scriptures, in one sense, could not be further apart in describing human behavior. The verses from 1 Kings relate a story of King Ahab and Jezebel and their murder of Naboth to obtain his vineyard. Ahab and Jezebel epitomize how godless and base human behavior can be. Idolatry, lying, stealing, and even murder appear to come fairly easily as they pursue their own personal interests.
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
When I celebrate mass with our school kids, I sometimes ask them where heaven is. It is not uncommon for them to point toward the sky and say, “There.” One of the concepts that is very close to the word heaven is, kingdom of God. And because most of us imagine heaven to be up there, we also think that the kingdom of God lies beyond us in the far distant future. Even though we often pray “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is heaven,” we really do not believe that heaven and kingdom of God have anything to do with us in the here and now.
Memorial of The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today we celebrate the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We commonly associate the heart of a person with love, as in “I love you with all of my heart.” We also associate the heart with the very essence of a person, the deeper place where the most real aspect of a person resides as in, “in my heart of hearts I know…” Both of these aspects come together in this memorial, which directs our attention to Mary’s joys and sorrows, her virtues, and, above all, her love—for God, for her Son, Jesus, and for all people.