The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
Today's Mass Readings
Today, the Church commemorates all the faithful departed.
In the first reading from the book of Wisdom, there is a contrast drawn between the wise judgment of the just and the foolish judgment of the wicked. The wicked, the book of Wisdom says, refuse to acknowledge life after death (Wis 3:2). By doing so there are two things they reject – God, and the need to live a righteous life. Their logic, then, is very simple – if there is no afterlife there must not be a God and if there is no God, then there is no demand to live a virtuous life in the here and now.
Today's Mass Readings
Today, the Church commemorates all the faithful departed.
In the first reading from the book of Wisdom, there is a contrast drawn between the wise judgment of the just and the foolish judgment of the wicked. The wicked, the book of Wisdom says, refuse to acknowledge life after death (Wis 3:2). By doing so there are two things they reject – God, and the need to live a righteous life. Their logic, then, is very simple – if there is no afterlife there must not be a God and if there is no God, then there is no demand to live a virtuous life in the here and now.
Solemnity of All Saints
Today's Mass Readings
It is tempting, and matter of course in our culture, to think of “church” as something entirely different than the portrait that we get in today’s readings. It’s very difficult for us Americans to think of “church” as a reality that isn’t only a group of individuals who have chosen to join together. Sometimes we use “church” to designate a building, which indeed it does, but there’s more. Sometimes we use it to refer to bishops and priests, who are all indeed part of the Church, but there’s more. Sometimes we use it to refer simply to the group gathered in one place for Mass, which indeed is “Church” is a profound way, but there’s more.
Today's Mass Readings
It is tempting, and matter of course in our culture, to think of “church” as something entirely different than the portrait that we get in today’s readings. It’s very difficult for us Americans to think of “church” as a reality that isn’t only a group of individuals who have chosen to join together. Sometimes we use “church” to designate a building, which indeed it does, but there’s more. Sometimes we use it to refer to bishops and priests, who are all indeed part of the Church, but there’s more. Sometimes we use it to refer simply to the group gathered in one place for Mass, which indeed is “Church” is a profound way, but there’s more.
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Tomorrow is the Feast of All Saints Day, which means that tonight will be All Hallow's Eve. In light of that, I think we could benefit from reading over St. Paul's words from today's first reading from his letter to the Philippians very carefully. I would suggest reading them over slowly as if he were writing those words to us. As we read them over carefully, imagine St. Paul saying these things to us from heaven: he gives thanks to God for us, he holds us in his heart, we are partners with him in grace, etc.
Today's Mass Readings
Tomorrow is the Feast of All Saints Day, which means that tonight will be All Hallow's Eve. In light of that, I think we could benefit from reading over St. Paul's words from today's first reading from his letter to the Philippians very carefully. I would suggest reading them over slowly as if he were writing those words to us. As we read them over carefully, imagine St. Paul saying these things to us from heaven: he gives thanks to God for us, he holds us in his heart, we are partners with him in grace, etc.
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Reaadings
In today’s gospel passage from Luke, Jesus continues on his journey toward Jerusalem. This is an important feature of Luke’s gospel, which describes Jesus pushing ever closer to his final destiny. Geographically, this destiny is the city of Jerusalem, and theologically, this final destiny is his passion, death, and resurrection. In today’s passage it is clear that Jesus is aware of both his geographical and theological destinations. Despite the warnings of others, he will continue toward Jerusalem precisely because this is where he will die. Jesus’ motivation for this is indicated in the second half of today’s passage; he has pity for the people of Jerusalem, who have often turned away from God. He knows that his death will enable some to recognize God’s love represented in the person of Jesus, and particularly in his passion, death, and resurrection.
Today's Mass Reaadings
In today’s gospel passage from Luke, Jesus continues on his journey toward Jerusalem. This is an important feature of Luke’s gospel, which describes Jesus pushing ever closer to his final destiny. Geographically, this destiny is the city of Jerusalem, and theologically, this final destiny is his passion, death, and resurrection. In today’s passage it is clear that Jesus is aware of both his geographical and theological destinations. Despite the warnings of others, he will continue toward Jerusalem precisely because this is where he will die. Jesus’ motivation for this is indicated in the second half of today’s passage; he has pity for the people of Jerusalem, who have often turned away from God. He knows that his death will enable some to recognize God’s love represented in the person of Jesus, and particularly in his passion, death, and resurrection.
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Luke is difficult to understand and perhaps even more difficult to accept. For example, why would the Lord say to anybody, “I do not know where you are from.Depart from me, all you evildoers!” (Lk 13:27). And again, why the rejection when the people claim that they ate and drank with the Lord? I guess there are questions behind these questions. Will be one of those who are rejected? What can we do to ensure that we will be in communion with God for eternity?
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Luke is difficult to understand and perhaps even more difficult to accept. For example, why would the Lord say to anybody, “I do not know where you are from.Depart from me, all you evildoers!” (Lk 13:27). And again, why the rejection when the people claim that they ate and drank with the Lord? I guess there are questions behind these questions. Will be one of those who are rejected? What can we do to ensure that we will be in communion with God for eternity?
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Today's Mass Readings
Today we celebrate the feast of two apostles, Saints Simon and Jude. Two Simons are named in today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of St. Luke, but the first one named is Peter. Today's feast honors the second Simon who is known as a Zealot. Likewise there are two Judes, or Judases, named in this reading. Today's feast honors the first Jude, the son of James.
Today's Mass Readings
Today we celebrate the feast of two apostles, Saints Simon and Jude. Two Simons are named in today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of St. Luke, but the first one named is Peter. Today's feast honors the second Simon who is known as a Zealot. Likewise there are two Judes, or Judases, named in this reading. Today's feast honors the first Jude, the son of James.
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s responsorial psalm describes those who delight in the law of the Lord as thus: “They are like trees planted near running water that yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves never fade. Whatever they do, prospers” (Ps. 1:3). At first this seems an odd companion for the gospel reading, wherein Jesus cures a woman in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The leader of the synagogue is obviously committed to the precept of not doing work on the Sabbath; he appears convinced of this law of the Lord. But does he “delight” in the law of the Lord?
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s responsorial psalm describes those who delight in the law of the Lord as thus: “They are like trees planted near running water that yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves never fade. Whatever they do, prospers” (Ps. 1:3). At first this seems an odd companion for the gospel reading, wherein Jesus cures a woman in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The leader of the synagogue is obviously committed to the precept of not doing work on the Sabbath; he appears convinced of this law of the Lord. But does he “delight” in the law of the Lord?
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading taken from the book of Exodus is an instruction on the kind of society that God would want the Israelites to build. First of all, God reminds the Israelites of their own slavery in Egypt. Because they know what it means to be poor, weak, powerless and oppressed, they are now asked to conduct themselves with compassion. Just as God had compassion on them when they were weak so must they have compassion on those who are weak among them.
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading taken from the book of Exodus is an instruction on the kind of society that God would want the Israelites to build. First of all, God reminds the Israelites of their own slavery in Egypt. Because they know what it means to be poor, weak, powerless and oppressed, they are now asked to conduct themselves with compassion. Just as God had compassion on them when they were weak so must they have compassion on those who are weak among them.
Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
We learn from the parable in Luke’s gospel that we have been given new life by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection; he has made it possible for us to bear fruit by “cultivating the ground” and “fertilizing” (Lk 13:8). Yet, we must respond, as Paul exhorts the Ephesians, by living according to the gift that Christ has given us (Eph 4:8).
Today's Mass Readings
We learn from the parable in Luke’s gospel that we have been given new life by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection; he has made it possible for us to bear fruit by “cultivating the ground” and “fertilizing” (Lk 13:8). Yet, we must respond, as Paul exhorts the Ephesians, by living according to the gift that Christ has given us (Eph 4:8).
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter is to the Ephesians is simple, yet has much has much to commend to us. Most especially, St. Paul urges us, because of our unity through baptism into Jesus, to "live in a manner worthy of the great calling we have received."
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter is to the Ephesians is simple, yet has much has much to commend to us. Most especially, St. Paul urges us, because of our unity through baptism into Jesus, to "live in a manner worthy of the great calling we have received."
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings make an interesting pair. Whereas the passage from Ephesians seems uplifting, the gospel reading from Luke might be one we’d rather forget. And yet both of these texts are a part of our tradition, and they are not contradictory but rather complementary.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings make an interesting pair. Whereas the passage from Ephesians seems uplifting, the gospel reading from Luke might be one we’d rather forget. And yet both of these texts are a part of our tradition, and they are not contradictory but rather complementary.
Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The title for today’s reflection comes from a Spiderman movie. In the movie, Peter Parker is contemplating the variety of gifts he was given and how he is being called to use them. As Christians, we are called to a similar inventory of our time, talents, and treasure in order to see how we are being called to use them for building the Kingdom of Heaven.
Today's Mass Readings
The title for today’s reflection comes from a Spiderman movie. In the movie, Peter Parker is contemplating the variety of gifts he was given and how he is being called to use them. As Christians, we are called to a similar inventory of our time, talents, and treasure in order to see how we are being called to use them for building the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, continues St. Paul's mystagogical catechesis focusing on how we are united in peace to God in God's household through Christ. The Letter to the Ephesians can be seen as a mystagogical catechesis, because it talks about the mysteries. In many ways, at least some of the sacraments are discussed throughout the text, like baptism, marriage, etc.
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, continues St. Paul's mystagogical catechesis focusing on how we are united in peace to God in God's household through Christ. The Letter to the Ephesians can be seen as a mystagogical catechesis, because it talks about the mysteries. In many ways, at least some of the sacraments are discussed throughout the text, like baptism, marriage, etc.
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Luke is one that ought to be familiar to us. The rich man Jesus describes in his parable describes a very human tendency. When we have an abundance of wealth, we feel we can relax and not worry, just “rest, eat, drink, and be merry!” (Lk 12:19). Indeed, part of the human condition is to worry about what lies ahead, and we feel comfort when we think we are secure, with all of our needs and desires met. But what Jesus points out is that this is an ephemeral wealth. A storehouse of grain is great when one is still walking the earth. But, like money, you can’t take it with you when you die. Hence Jesus suggests that his listeners would be better to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. This treasure in heaven is what matters to God, and, so also, to us.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s gospel reading from Luke is one that ought to be familiar to us. The rich man Jesus describes in his parable describes a very human tendency. When we have an abundance of wealth, we feel we can relax and not worry, just “rest, eat, drink, and be merry!” (Lk 12:19). Indeed, part of the human condition is to worry about what lies ahead, and we feel comfort when we think we are secure, with all of our needs and desires met. But what Jesus points out is that this is an ephemeral wealth. A storehouse of grain is great when one is still walking the earth. But, like money, you can’t take it with you when you die. Hence Jesus suggests that his listeners would be better to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. This treasure in heaven is what matters to God, and, so also, to us.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading today from the book of Isaiah deals with a very important event in Israelite history. The people of Israel were taken as exiles to Babylon in 587 BC. For fifty year they lived in a foreign land with no temple to worship, no land to own, and no future to look forward to. This was the single most devastating tragedy to befall the people. The important things is that no one questioned God because of the tragedy that befell them. In 537 BC, the Persian king Cyrus set these people free to go back to their own country.
Today's Mass Readings
The first reading today from the book of Isaiah deals with a very important event in Israelite history. The people of Israel were taken as exiles to Babylon in 587 BC. For fifty year they lived in a foreign land with no temple to worship, no land to own, and no future to look forward to. This was the single most devastating tragedy to befall the people. The important things is that no one questioned God because of the tragedy that befell them. In 537 BC, the Persian king Cyrus set these people free to go back to their own country.
Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist
Today's Mass readings
We learn in today’s first reading that St. Paul had one companion on the trip that would end his earthly life – Luke (2 Tm 4:11). Others have deserted him on his way to Rome because they are “enamored of the present world.” Yet, Luke accompanies him.
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, companion of Paul, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Luke was a Gentile, a non-Jew, and is thought to have been born in Antioch, outside of Jerusalem. Appropriately, his gospel emphasizes the relevance and, indeed the necessity, of the Good News to the whole world. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ ministry to the outcasts – the poor, sinners of all varieties, and women and he displays how tough Jesus was on the proud and self-righteous.
Today's Mass readings
We learn in today’s first reading that St. Paul had one companion on the trip that would end his earthly life – Luke (2 Tm 4:11). Others have deserted him on his way to Rome because they are “enamored of the present world.” Yet, Luke accompanies him.
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, companion of Paul, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Luke was a Gentile, a non-Jew, and is thought to have been born in Antioch, outside of Jerusalem. Appropriately, his gospel emphasizes the relevance and, indeed the necessity, of the Good News to the whole world. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ ministry to the outcasts – the poor, sinners of all varieties, and women and he displays how tough Jesus was on the proud and self-righteous.
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Today's Mass Readings
Today is the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch who was martyred by the Romans in the early part of the second century. The tradition concerning St. Ignatius is that he was a disciple of the Apostle St. John the Evangelist. St. Ignatius wrote seven letters that have survived, and in them he focuses on a number of important theological themes, including the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of Christians, the role of Christian bishops, and the importance of baptism.
Today's Mass Readings
Today is the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch who was martyred by the Romans in the early part of the second century. The tradition concerning St. Ignatius is that he was a disciple of the Apostle St. John the Evangelist. St. Ignatius wrote seven letters that have survived, and in them he focuses on a number of important theological themes, including the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of Christians, the role of Christian bishops, and the importance of baptism.
Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The selections for today’s readings make an interesting pair. In the gospel passage from Luke, Jesus continues along a strand of “woe to you” statements. Undoubtedly, it was not a pleasant message to hear. The people listening were meant to feel convicted for their participation in the past persecution of God’s prophets; Jesus intended to affront them with accusations regarding their behavior. In fact, the least surprising part of this passage is the last two verses: “When Jesus left, the scribes and the Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him in something he might say” (Lk. 11:53-54). It’s no surprise that the people would be upset by Jesus’ words. And yet it is perhaps a bit surprising that they felt they needed to interrogate him further. This indicates that his accusations were not unfounded; Jesus’ statements in today’s passage were not cause for Jesus’ own conviction.
Today's Mass Readings
The selections for today’s readings make an interesting pair. In the gospel passage from Luke, Jesus continues along a strand of “woe to you” statements. Undoubtedly, it was not a pleasant message to hear. The people listening were meant to feel convicted for their participation in the past persecution of God’s prophets; Jesus intended to affront them with accusations regarding their behavior. In fact, the least surprising part of this passage is the last two verses: “When Jesus left, the scribes and the Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him in something he might say” (Lk. 11:53-54). It’s no surprise that the people would be upset by Jesus’ words. And yet it is perhaps a bit surprising that they felt they needed to interrogate him further. This indicates that his accusations were not unfounded; Jesus’ statements in today’s passage were not cause for Jesus’ own conviction.
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus
Today's Mass Readings
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. As we face maybe the worst economic crisis in a generation, along rapid technological and cultural change, Christianity is under more pressure than ever to be relevant. Let us reflect on today’s readings and try to be like St. Teresa, a person who gave her whole life for God. 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.
Today's Mass Readings
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. As we face maybe the worst economic crisis in a generation, along rapid technological and cultural change, Christianity is under more pressure than ever to be relevant. Let us reflect on today’s readings and try to be like St. Teresa, a person who gave her whole life for God. 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
Today's Mass Readings
Both today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians and today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke deal with the same issue, freedom from the Mosaic ceremonial law. In the case of the Letter to the Galatians, the issue is circumcision, must a male Christian be circumcized in order to be saved and enter heaven? In the context of today's Gospel reading we might ask the question of whether or not Jesus has committed a sin by not performing the ritual washing before eating?
Today's Mass Readings
Both today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians and today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke deal with the same issue, freedom from the Mosaic ceremonial law. In the case of the Letter to the Galatians, the issue is circumcision, must a male Christian be circumcized in order to be saved and enter heaven? In the context of today's Gospel reading we might ask the question of whether or not Jesus has committed a sin by not performing the ritual washing before eating?