Thursday of the First Week in Lent
In our modern culture, we have a tendency to believe that we are self-sufficient. We can take care of ourselves... and indeed, those who fail to take care of themselves are considered weak or, in the language of our tax forms, “dependents.” To be dependent upon others is considered by many a form of humiliation. To rely on another for food, money, clothing, shelter is something only appropriate for children, we believe.
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Lent has begun, and we will be hearing selections from the Hebrew exodus in the Old Testament. In today’s passage from Deuteronomy, Moses presents the Israelite people with a choice: they can choose either life or death, blessing or curse, the one true God or many false gods and idols. This choice is a constant theme throughout the Old Testament, and the Hebrew people struggle, sometimes choosing false gods, and sometimes turning to God. It is a choice and a struggle that have great consequences. In choosing for God, the people can be assured of God’s protections. In abandoning God, however, the people may face their own destruction and damnation.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
As we bring this first section of Ordinary time to a close and rapidly approach the season of Lent, it is good to remember that we are a people of hope. The antiphon (Psalm 40:5) for our responsorial psalm for today, Psalm 1, the first psalm of the Psalter, explicitly reminds us that, “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord” (40:5). This antiphon sums up nicely the emphasis of today’s first reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.
Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Scripture
In Mark’s gospel, the story of Jesus is portrayed as a cosmic battle between Christ and the devil, beginning with Jesus’ temptation in the desert by Satan (Mk 1:12-13) and continuing with the exorcisms in which Jesus casts out demons (Mk 1:21-28, 34; Mk 5: 1-20). By the time that we reach Chapter 8 in Mark, the audience could have clearly understood Jesus’ mission only in terms of the Jewish expectation of one who would come to save the Jews. Of course, Jesus was a Jew and so were most of the people whom he healed and taught. This perspective could have been confirmed by the first feeding story (Mk 6:34-44) in which Jesus multiplies loaves and fishes in a predominantly Jewish area with an emphasis on Jewish symbolism.
Memorial of Saint Scholastica, virgin
Although little is known about St. Scholastic’s youth, we do know that she was a twin from a wealthy family. Her and her brother Benedict joined religious orders that were separated by five miles. Over their lifetimes they grew deeply rooted in the Lord and closer to one another. The readings today are well suited to celebrate a woman who seemed so wise in her faith.
Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Those of us who have been following along with the first readings over the past few weeks will remember that King David wanted to build a house (or temple) for the Lord. David did not want the Ark of the Covenant residing in a tent while David was comfortable in a palace. However, God told David instead that God would make a house for David; a dynasty that would be everlasting. David’s son Solomon fulfilled David’s wishes by overseeing the construction of a splendid temple that would house the Ark of the Covenant. And today we read of the great joy experienced by the people in bringing the Ark of the Covenant into such a wonderful resting place.
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Scripture
Many of the prophets we can immediately think of in the Old Testament are rather fiery and often dramatic. They challenge apathetic authority and call the people back to their covenant with God. As they delivered the message of God, prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah and especially Ezekiel engaged in many public displays that must have been something like street theatre, all with the intention of drawing the Israelites back to God.
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Today's Scripture
Today we continue our celebration of Christmas, so merry Christmas!!! We are now in the fourth day of the Octave of Christmas. But today in the midst of our rejoicing that God has come to us as a humble babe, we have a bit of sorrow. It should not surprise us that the greatest of joys also comes with pain and suffering, especially since we know that this small child Jesus will end his earthly life nailed to a cross. Yet even before Jesus’ own death, others suffered. Our feast today commemorates the “holy innocents,” the ones who were put to death at Herod’s command when he sought to eliminate competition to the throne by massacring all the boys of Bethlehem under the age of two. Even before Jesus’ own death 30 years later, these boys and their families suffered for the new life that God had brought to the world. In a sense, they are martyrs, that is, they are witnesses to God dwelling among us on earth and the conflict that often brings.
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Today's Scripture
Today, in the Octave of Christmas, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. The Holy Family is at one and the same time a model for all families, and also unique among all families. No other family on earth can boast God as their child. No matter how holy a mother in a family might be, no mother apart from Mary was conceived free of original sin, nor is it likely that any other mother remained completely sinless. These are just a few of the anomalies which confront us in the Holy Family. At the same time, we are called upon to strive for the holiness and love modeled for us in the Holy Family. This can be difficult, not only because of our own sinfulness, but also because we do not have much in Scripture concerning the Holy Family to serve as a model.
Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
Today's Scripture
It’s always struck me as very profound that on the second day of the octave of Christmas, the second most important feast in the entire year, the Church has deemed it appropriate to celebrate the feast of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. Lest we get caught meditating too long on the pastoral beauty of the holy family in the stable, surrounded by barn animals, shepherds, and angels, we are immediately thrust into a graphic vision of the radical implications of the birth of Christ.
The Nativity of the Lord Christmas
Today's Scripture
I think it strikes just the right note that so many Christmas carols emphasize the poverty of the baby Jesus. “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.” “Once in Royal David’s city, in a lowly cattle stall.” And many of them make the connection between the singer’s own situation and that of Jesus: “Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too.” “What can I give him, poor as I am?”
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Today's Scripture
We are almost there! Our Advent longing will soon be fulfilled with the birth of our savior, the coming of the Christ into our world! In this last day of Advent, our readings turn our thoughts to that amazing mystery – the mystery of the perfect union of human and divine that comes to us in the person of Jesus, that small babe born to us on Christmas.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Today's Scripture
As with all of Advent, today’s readings challenge us to prepare our hearts for the coming of the savior. The prophet Malachi speaks of a messenger who is sent to prepare the way. The messenger will testify to a covenant in which our loving God is coming. Malachi prophesied to the people and called on them to purify themselves so as to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. This purification and preparation not only prepares hearts for the Lord’s coming, but it also draws families closer to one another in love.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Today's Scripture
In less than three days, we will begin Christmas celebrations. Advent is drawing to a close, and thus the beginning of the liturgical year is near its end, and with Christmas we will begin to immerse ourselves in the deeper waters that flow to us in the Liturgy throughout the rest of the liturgical year. Today’s readings are especially appropriate by way of anticipation of the Solemn Feast we are rapidly approaching.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Today's Scripture
Today is the last Sunday in the season of Advent. The Christmas Masses celebrated on the evening four days from now will usher in the compact Christmas season. As we approach the end of Advent we would do well to reflect on how well we have celebrated the season, on how well we have prayed and served others in preparation for Christ’s coming at Christmas.
Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Today's Scripture
As we enter into the final days of preparation for Christmas, we are presented with two types of fear– a holy fear of the Lord and a prideful fear of losing earthly power.
Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Today's Scripture
3rd Week Advent Thursday 17 December 2009 An Everlasting Kingdom Today we continue our Advent reading with a passage from Genesis. Here Jacob, also called Israel, is addressing his sons. There is a special honor for Judah described here: the scepter shall never depart from Judah. In other words, through him there will be an everlasting kingdom. The great king David was of the tribe of Judah, and Jesus was known as the Son of David.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Today's Scripture
It is the season where expectations begin to run high. For many children there are advertisements, store windows and TV commercials peddling the toys they ought to have. For many adults, there is decorating, parties, cleaning, cards and cooking. These activities are in addition to our already busy lives. Of course, our goal is that all of these things happen in a picture perfect way. In this, our own expectations can lead to our possible unraveling.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Today's Scripture
Today’s readings continue the Advent theme of the coming of Christ, with a particular focus on His final coming at the end of history. The reading from the Gospel of St. Matthew as well as the first portion of the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah both tell of future judgment. We could go in many directions with the rich readings presented to us today, but I especially want to focus on the second half of the first reading from Zephaniah, in light of Jesus’ first coming.
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church
Today's Scripture
Now and Near In this penultimate week of the liturgical season of Advent, we find ourselves with first readings taken from a selection of Old Testament books. These passages will highlight the Christological reading of the Old Testament; in other words, we find the coming of Jesus foretold in the books of the Hebrew Scriptures which became known as our “Old Testament” and which were written centuries before the birth of the infant Jesus.