Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
A sound started up, rattling like thunder. The bones came together, bone joining to bone. Sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top (Ez 37:7-8). Our boys are big fans of Super Mario Bros (as is dad). I couldn’t help but think of one of the characters as I spent time with Ezekiel. In Super Mario, Dry Bones are skeletal versions of Koopa Troopas–villainous turtle members of an evil army led by their angry and antagonizing dragon-like leader, Bowser. Their purpose is to stop Mario and Luigi from saving Princess Peach. Not quite a direct parallel to our reading but Dry Bones is part of a massive army of Koopas. Similarly, we read that Ezekiel connected dry bones that soon “stood on their feet, a vast army.” (Ez 37:10) What an amazing scene from the exile when he is told to call forth new life from a field strewn with dry bones.
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Scripture Readings
Wedding and wedding planning are often a big deal. Trying to figure out how many people to include on the guest list, what you will serve, and even the attire for the event are often topics for much discussion. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a royal wedding feast. This wedding feast is like no other, and we are called to be a part of the celebration.
Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
The parable Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel is one of my favorites. Every reading of it brings fresh conviction to my heart. This time, what stood out to me was God’s question, Are you envious? I don’t think of myself as an envious person, and you likely don’t see yourself that way either. Let’s not be so sure, however! Envy that lurks beneath the surface deceives us and trips us up. I pray we each have an openness today to examine our consciences for what St Augustine called “the diabolical sin.”
Jesus’ parable closes with these words, “Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last (emphasis added)." The laborers hired first were envious of the ones hired last who received the same wage. Why this envy? Psychologists speak of envy as having both cognitive and emotional aspects. The thinking part goes like this, “Your gain is my loss.” From an emotional standpoint, one may feel a deep lack, unusual sadness, confusion, or even hatred when considering the blessings of another.
Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church
Today’s readings have been a source of astonishment for many generations of Christians. In today's first reading from Ezekiel, the wise and prudent ruler of the great city of Tyre is proud. When he reflects on his many successes, he can only conclude that he has divine power. How else could he be so good at everything? But Ezekiel’s message to him is simple: ‘Prince, you are a mortal man, you and will die soon at the hands of murderers.’
Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Recent popes have referred to today’s Gospel of the rich young man in their many addresses to young people throughout the world. Through this familiar narrative they have encouraged young people, like the rich one in today’s Gospel, to grow their own conversations with Christ and to know first hand the truth that Christ still gazes lovingly, as he does at the young man. Like today’s youth, that rich young man was rich in talents, energy, and dreams.
Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are childlike. As an adult, how am I to be like a child?
Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Earlier this week, we had our opening retreat for all employees at Chaminade Julienne as we embark on a new school year together. We were led through a beautiful workshop by my colleague, friend, and fellow IC parishioner, Caitlin Bennett, where she guided us through the core tenets of improv and how it applies to our work in Catholic education. One of the takeaways that I am still reflecting on is the concept of building on the work of one another, saying “Yes, and…” to add to the scene. Additionally, we ended the retreat celebrating mass together with Fr. Jim Heft, S.M. from the University of Dayton. In his homily, Fr. Heft spoke briefly about the etymology of the word commitment and community. Commitment is borrowed from the latin word, commitō, meaning ‘to bring together, join’, from com- (“together”) and mittō (“to send”). We make commitments all the time in our lives–to our families, our work, volunteer opportunities, friends, neighbors, and more.
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I confess that over the years I have read poorly the passage we have before us today from Luke. That is, I didn’t take a number of the specifics seriously enough. I am grateful that the occasion to write this reflection took me to my favorite commentary—Wisdom Commentary published by Liturgical Press (a Catholic and ecumenical press). And I learned a great deal.
Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
This summer my husband and I and our four children, ages 12 to 5, were blessed to be able to attend a family retreat. We spent 5 days intentionally spending time together, praying together, laughing together and refocusing our family on Christ. We spent this time reconstructing our domestic church.
Today’s Gospel calls to mind this experience for me. We came into this retreat as many families do – losing sight of the immense blessing each member of our family is. We were taking each other for granted, snapping at each other and quite honestly being selfish and unkind towards one another. At one point the retreat focused on forgiveness. What a powerful gift we have in forgiveness. We hear Christ tell the apostles, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” I think sometimes we lose sight of how immensely powerful this loosing and binding can be, especially in our families. It’s so important to set time aside and practice the art of both sincere apology and sincere forgiveness. I know that when I have asked forgiveness from someone and truly feel forgiven, I can quite literally feel myself getting looser, feeling less bound up – feeling free. While it’s important to do this for all our relationships I think it’s especially important in our families.
Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The gospel today brings up the idea that there is something childlike about Christian faith. This raises the question of the main differences between children and adults. It occurs to me that being an adult comes with certain privileges but it also includes many responsibilities that children do not have. Adults have more autonomy and they can make more decisions for themselves, but they are also responsible for their decisions in ways that young children are not. Adults may have other people – family and friends – who depend on them for material and emotional support in ways that children do not experience. And adults perhaps have more to worry about – making ends meet, providing for their families, and planning for the future.
Jesus addresses his words in today’s gospel to his adult disciples, yet he points out that it is necessary to be childlike in one’s faith. It seems to me that it is specifically humility that Jesus is putting forth as something for us to strive for as Christians.
Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s lectionary features the beginning verses of the Book of Ezekiel, highlighting his wild prophetic call. Some imaginations have surmised that what Ezekiel envisioned were actually UFOs – “spinning wheels and rims, shooting up into the sky.” Amidst this celestial dance are creatures emitting sounds akin to sonic booms. When the “crafts” stop shooting about and simply hover, the thundering voice of the Almighty warns the Judeans to straighten up (or else).
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Today is the Feast of St. Lawrence. Not much is known about his life. As a deacon in Rome, he managed church goods and distribution of alms to the poor. Today’s readings fit with St. Lawrence. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that God abundantly provides grace so that what good we do is abundant too. St. Lawrence must’ve believed that. One legend tells of a time when the prefect of Rome ordered him to show all of the Church’s wealth within three days. Consequently, St. Lawrence gathered a large group of the poor, the sick, widows, orphans, and others who were most vulnerable in society. He then proclaimed, “These are the treasure of the Church.
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s optional memorial for St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as St. Edith Stein (her given name) is fitting especially for today’s gospel reading. A German Jewish Philosopher who converted to Catholicism and entered the Carmelite convent having been greatly influenced by the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila (Carmelite mystic and Doctor of the Church). Pope John Paul II canonized Edith Stein in 1998 as a confessor and martyr of the church given her death in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942 as a “Jewish-Christian” in solidarity with the Jewish people. In the words of Robert Ellsberg (in his book, All Saints) the remarkable thing was her understanding of that death, “in solidarity with her people, as an act of atonement for the evil of her time, and as a conscious identification with the cross of Christ.” (p. 345)
Memorial of Saint Dominic, priest
As a disciple of Jesus, we are called to follow Him, however, sometimes knowing exactly what we are being called to do can be a challenge. There may be choices that seem like reasonable options, but I oftentimes stop to consider, “Is this what I want, or what God wants for me?” How do we learn to think like God does or have the mind of Christ?
Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
In today’s Gospel, we see a stark contrast between the attitude of Jesus’ heart and that of his disciples toward a woman in need. This startling account highlights how very much we, too, stray from the heart of God. Our Lord’s Gospel always functions as a mirror, inviting us to peer into it and examine ourselves. We might ask ourselves today, do I tend to be merciful or unmerciful?
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Transfigure us, O Lord, transfigure us, O Lord.
Break the chains that bind us; speak your healing word,
and where you lead we'll follow. Transfigure us, O Lord.
—Bob Hurd, 2002, Published by OCP
Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle of Jesus found in all four gospels, it was that important for the earliest Jesus believers. With eucharistic overtones, it suggests the “end time banquet” when all have plenty and everyone is invited to the table, no one excluded.
Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel seems gruesome. John the Baptist was beheaded and then his head was put on a platter. Behind all that, Herod seemed plagued by other people’s opinions. He wanted to kill John but feared the people who regarded John as a prophet. Herod arrested John because of his wife and became distressed over beheading John after impulsively promising Salome to fulfill any request she (and her mother) had. Other people determined Herod’s actions. This Gospel passage can inspire us to reflect on the motivations behind our own actions.
Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever noticed in the Gospels when Jesus performs miracles, there is always a correlation to the faith of the receiver of the miracle? Today, we read, “And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith” (Mt 13:58). The people of Jesus’ own hometown, the ones who maybe ‘knew’ him the best, turn out to be some of his biggest skeptics. Jesus’ miracles tend to either reveal his great mercy or his divine identity as the Son of God. I think it’s important to distinguish between Jesus’ ability to perform mighty deeds in our lives and our willingness to receive the gift. How often do we get in our own way? How often do we set or project expectations onto someone that blocks our vision of reality when that person is not what we expected?
Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
The reading today from Matthew’s gospel at first sounds good and then is rather unsettling. The idea that the Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea that catches every sort of fish sounds good! We’re all in!
But then Jesus goes on to say that once the net is brought to shore then the good fish are kept and the bad fish are thrown away. Not so good.
And then it just gets worse. Jesus talks about the end of the age at which time the angels will separate the good and the bad, with the bad getting thrown into a fiery furnace. Yikes!
So, my question is: who are the good and who are the bad? Who’s going to be thrown away or, worse, tossed into the fiery furnace?