Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
In today’s gospel passage from Luke, Jesus criticizes those who seek a “sign.” He suggests that they are an evil generation, like the Ninevites, whose sign from Jonah was a call to repentance, to sackcloth and ashes, to a complete change of life. Here Jesus sits – the Son of Man, the incarnate God with them and among them, and the people are unable to appreciate him for what he is. Ultimately Jesus is something much greater than Jesus because he has come to call the people not merely to repentance but to freedom.
Today's Mass Readings
In today’s gospel passage from Luke, Jesus criticizes those who seek a “sign.” He suggests that they are an evil generation, like the Ninevites, whose sign from Jonah was a call to repentance, to sackcloth and ashes, to a complete change of life. Here Jesus sits – the Son of Man, the incarnate God with them and among them, and the people are unable to appreciate him for what he is. Ultimately Jesus is something much greater than Jesus because he has come to call the people not merely to repentance but to freedom.
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
The parable of the wedding feast served as an important purpose in the early Christian community. These were very traumatic times. The early Christian community was undergoing a crisis – it’s painful separation from the Jewish Synagogue. In light of this separation, Christians interpreted the wedding feast as the Kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus. Those who refused the invitation to the wedding feast are the Jewish people. The servants sent to invite them and were killed were the prophets. The ones invited from the main roads were the gentiles. The most puzzling character, however, is the one who slipped in without the wedding garment and got booted out. (Plesae see this Sunday's homily for an explanation).
Today's Mass Readings
The parable of the wedding feast served as an important purpose in the early Christian community. These were very traumatic times. The early Christian community was undergoing a crisis – it’s painful separation from the Jewish Synagogue. In light of this separation, Christians interpreted the wedding feast as the Kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus. Those who refused the invitation to the wedding feast are the Jewish people. The servants sent to invite them and were killed were the prophets. The ones invited from the main roads were the gentiles. The most puzzling character, however, is the one who slipped in without the wedding garment and got booted out. (Plesae see this Sunday's homily for an explanation).
Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s First Reading begins with the mysterious statement that “scripture confined all things under the power of sin.” This remark, at least at first glance, implies a particularly bleak view of the world in which we live. Contextually, however, St. Paul is simply arguing that the Law of Moses is without power to save. Despite what his readers may have been led to believe, St. Paul insists that the whole narrative of salvation history that is recorded in scripture teaches that the Promise made to Abraham was not fulfilled in the Law, and so it is not the following of that Law that makes someone an heir to the Promise. According to St. Paul, the true heirs to the Promise that God made to Abraham are those “who have faith in Jesus Christ” and not those who attempt to follow the Law of Moses. (Galatians 3:22) In recognizing the inadequacy of the Law to save, St. Paul explains, sacred scripture itself acknowledges the pervasive power of sin in a world without Christ.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s First Reading begins with the mysterious statement that “scripture confined all things under the power of sin.” This remark, at least at first glance, implies a particularly bleak view of the world in which we live. Contextually, however, St. Paul is simply arguing that the Law of Moses is without power to save. Despite what his readers may have been led to believe, St. Paul insists that the whole narrative of salvation history that is recorded in scripture teaches that the Promise made to Abraham was not fulfilled in the Law, and so it is not the following of that Law that makes someone an heir to the Promise. According to St. Paul, the true heirs to the Promise that God made to Abraham are those “who have faith in Jesus Christ” and not those who attempt to follow the Law of Moses. (Galatians 3:22) In recognizing the inadequacy of the Law to save, St. Paul explains, sacred scripture itself acknowledges the pervasive power of sin in a world without Christ.
Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians is intimately connected with the antiphon from today's responsorial psalm: "The Lord will remember his covenant for ever" (Psalm 111:5).
St. Paul alludes to the final covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 22, when Abraham offered his only son Isaac to be a sacrifice to God. God stops Abraham from completing the sacrifice and therefore saves (or "restores" in early christian and Jewish interpretation) Isaac's life.
Today's Mass Readings
Today's first reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians is intimately connected with the antiphon from today's responsorial psalm: "The Lord will remember his covenant for ever" (Psalm 111:5).
St. Paul alludes to the final covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 22, when Abraham offered his only son Isaac to be a sacrifice to God. God stops Abraham from completing the sacrifice and therefore saves (or "restores" in early christian and Jewish interpretation) Isaac's life.
Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
“O Stupid Galatians!” begins our passage from Paul’s letter today. Paul’s frustration with the church of Galatia is expressed here full-force. The subject of this letter is circumcision, which Paul argues is not necessary in order to be a Christian. This is contrary to those Judaizer Christians, who argued that to become Christian one must first become Jewish. This was a way of excluding Gentiles from becoming Christian. For Paul, however, this is not just an issue of exclusivism; it is an issue of understanding the workings of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, in fact, the one who has led these people to faith in Christ. An emphasis on circumcision as a necessity seems to contradict God’s work through the Spirit, placing the focus instead on now unnecessary Jewish ceremonial practices. Paul calls the people back to the Spirit and back to faith in the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Today's Mass Readings
“O Stupid Galatians!” begins our passage from Paul’s letter today. Paul’s frustration with the church of Galatia is expressed here full-force. The subject of this letter is circumcision, which Paul argues is not necessary in order to be a Christian. This is contrary to those Judaizer Christians, who argued that to become Christian one must first become Jewish. This was a way of excluding Gentiles from becoming Christian. For Paul, however, this is not just an issue of exclusivism; it is an issue of understanding the workings of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, in fact, the one who has led these people to faith in Christ. An emphasis on circumcision as a necessity seems to contradict God’s work through the Spirit, placing the focus instead on now unnecessary Jewish ceremonial practices. Paul calls the people back to the Spirit and back to faith in the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians continues today to make the case for the Gentiles, that they need not become Jews in order to follow Jesus. Paul describes how the Gospel that he, Barnabas and Titus preach to the uncircumcised is the same Gospel that Peter preaches to the circumcised. Paul reminds the community in Galatia that they were given authority and commissioned by James, Cephas (Peter) and John while in Jerusalem. They were sent to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to be mindful of the poor.
Today's Mass Readings
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians continues today to make the case for the Gentiles, that they need not become Jews in order to follow Jesus. Paul describes how the Gospel that he, Barnabas and Titus preach to the uncircumcised is the same Gospel that Peter preaches to the circumcised. Paul reminds the community in Galatia that they were given authority and commissioned by James, Cephas (Peter) and John while in Jerusalem. They were sent to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to be mindful of the poor.
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Today's Mass Readings
The month of October is dedicated to the rosary, and today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. How appropriate that we find in today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke a passage which focuses on the contemplation of Jesus by a woman named Mary. This Mary is of course not the same Mary that is Jesus' mother, but like Jesus' mother Mary, this Mary contemplates Jesus, sitting at His feet listening to Him. This passage is not meant to demean work, but it does emphasize the importance of contemplating Jesus.
Today's Mass Readings
The month of October is dedicated to the rosary, and today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. How appropriate that we find in today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke a passage which focuses on the contemplation of Jesus by a woman named Mary. This Mary is of course not the same Mary that is Jesus' mother, but like Jesus' mother Mary, this Mary contemplates Jesus, sitting at His feet listening to Him. This passage is not meant to demean work, but it does emphasize the importance of contemplating Jesus.
Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
This week we begin hearing selections from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The basic context of this letter revolves around the question of circumcision. Circumcision, is, of course, an important requirement of the Jewish faith now as it was at the time of Paul. Galatians plays out an early Church conflict inasmuch as the members of this Church were comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. One strain of Christianity at this time, following the Jewish tradition, argued that circumcision was necessary, and hence all Gentile males who wished to become Christian must undergo circumcision. The emotions in Paul’s words are not hard to detect: such a message represents for him a false portrayal of the gospel. The good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection does not necessitate circumcision. Throughout this letter to the Galatians, Paul will outline an argument for why this is so.
Today's Mass Readings
This week we begin hearing selections from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The basic context of this letter revolves around the question of circumcision. Circumcision, is, of course, an important requirement of the Jewish faith now as it was at the time of Paul. Galatians plays out an early Church conflict inasmuch as the members of this Church were comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. One strain of Christianity at this time, following the Jewish tradition, argued that circumcision was necessary, and hence all Gentile males who wished to become Christian must undergo circumcision. The emotions in Paul’s words are not hard to detect: such a message represents for him a false portrayal of the gospel. The good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection does not necessitate circumcision. Throughout this letter to the Galatians, Paul will outline an argument for why this is so.
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Over the past two Sundays the gospel reading has talked about the vineyard. Vineyard is an analogy taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The vineyard is the people of Israel. Thus, in today’s first reading, God talks about how he made space for a vineyard, cleared the stones in it, planted the choicest vine, put a watchtower, and even put a fence around it to protect the vineyard.
Today's Mass Readings
Over the past two Sundays the gospel reading has talked about the vineyard. Vineyard is an analogy taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The vineyard is the people of Israel. Thus, in today’s first reading, God talks about how he made space for a vineyard, cleared the stones in it, planted the choicest vine, put a watchtower, and even put a fence around it to protect the vineyard.
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings weave together two themes, both of which reflect the idea of looking upon God. The first reading continues the story of Job and his sufferings, depicting his confidence in God and desire to see God. The gospel reading from Matthew, meanwhile, mentions guardian angels, the memorial that we celebrate today.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings weave together two themes, both of which reflect the idea of looking upon God. The first reading continues the story of Job and his sufferings, depicting his confidence in God and desire to see God. The gospel reading from Matthew, meanwhile, mentions guardian angels, the memorial that we celebrate today.
Feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings for the feast of St. Therese known as the “Little Flower,” remind us that like Therese we are to follow the Lord completely. The dialogue in Job goes back and forth between understanding God’s power and then asking the question is it wise to challenge God’s wisdom. This discourse is a response to Job’s friend Bildad who says that God is a God of knowledge whose justice is fair. For Job who has lost much, and yet has a clear conscience, God’s justice feels more like divine anger. Job’s suffering feels not as a “just” reward for sin, but more as a recipient of an arbitrary allocation of God’s power. Job realizes that the person (God) to whom he wishes to complain may in fact be responsible for his pain. Job’s catch 22 leaves him feeling powerless.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings for the feast of St. Therese known as the “Little Flower,” remind us that like Therese we are to follow the Lord completely. The dialogue in Job goes back and forth between understanding God’s power and then asking the question is it wise to challenge God’s wisdom. This discourse is a response to Job’s friend Bildad who says that God is a God of knowledge whose justice is fair. For Job who has lost much, and yet has a clear conscience, God’s justice feels more like divine anger. Job’s suffering feels not as a “just” reward for sin, but more as a recipient of an arbitrary allocation of God’s power. Job realizes that the person (God) to whom he wishes to complain may in fact be responsible for his pain. Job’s catch 22 leaves him feeling powerless.
Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr
Today's Mass Readings
Today we celebrate the Memorial of Pope Saint Cornelius and St. Cyprian the bishop. Both of these Christian saints were martyred for the faith, and both provide models for us today to inspire us to live our faith boldly.
It is appropriate then that the first reading is taken from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, and particularly his famous discussion concerning the Church as one body, and we are therefore members of this one Body of Christ. In the broader context of this passage, St. Paul explains that we each play different roles in the one Body of Christ. We are like different body parts.
Today's Mass Readings
Today we celebrate the Memorial of Pope Saint Cornelius and St. Cyprian the bishop. Both of these Christian saints were martyred for the faith, and both provide models for us today to inspire us to live our faith boldly.
It is appropriate then that the first reading is taken from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, and particularly his famous discussion concerning the Church as one body, and we are therefore members of this one Body of Christ. In the broader context of this passage, St. Paul explains that we each play different roles in the one Body of Christ. We are like different body parts.
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Called by God, Jeremiah preached the prophetic message with zeal and conviction. Jeremiah took it for granted that since he was doing God’s work that his life would be relatively safe. But he finds himself severely persecuted and even at risk of death. This is similar to Jesus’ prediction of his own impending suffering and death in today’s gospel reading.
Today's Mass Readings
Called by God, Jeremiah preached the prophetic message with zeal and conviction. Jeremiah took it for granted that since he was doing God’s work that his life would be relatively safe. But he finds himself severely persecuted and even at risk of death. This is similar to Jesus’ prediction of his own impending suffering and death in today’s gospel reading.
Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings reflect on the theme of God’s people – both their character and God’s expectations of them.
In today’s psalm, we hear the refrain “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own” (Ps 33: 12) We know that God chose the Jewish people to enter into a covenant with Him; he expected that they honor Him alone as God in return for His protection. Yet, how often do we reflect upon the fact that God chose them. They didn’t choose God. Indeed they are “the chosen people,” not “the people who made a choice.” Of course, the covenant required that the people uphold their end of it, that they respond to God’s choice. Their primary role was that of dedicated response, not picking God out of an array of options.
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s readings reflect on the theme of God’s people – both their character and God’s expectations of them.
In today’s psalm, we hear the refrain “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own” (Ps 33: 12) We know that God chose the Jewish people to enter into a covenant with Him; he expected that they honor Him alone as God in return for His protection. Yet, how often do we reflect upon the fact that God chose them. They didn’t choose God. Indeed they are “the chosen people,” not “the people who made a choice.” Of course, the covenant required that the people uphold their end of it, that they respond to God’s choice. Their primary role was that of dedicated response, not picking God out of an array of options.
Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist
Today's Mass Readings
Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist powerfully prepared the way of the Lord. He was an incredible witness to the kingdom of God. We have him as a model of how to follow God and proclaim His message faithfully in our own lives.
Today's Mass Readings
Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist powerfully prepared the way of the Lord. He was an incredible witness to the kingdom of God. We have him as a model of how to follow God and proclaim His message faithfully in our own lives.
Memorial of Saint Augustine
Todeay's Mass Readings
The saint whose feast we celebrate today, St. Augustine, is a doctor of the Church who is known for his profound and dramatic conversion, captured in his autobiographical Confessions. All of Western theology, it has been said, is a footnote to Augustine; his work is among the most influential in the Catholic tradition. Augustine’s conversion provides a wonderful example of the importance of others in the faith. Intellectually, Augustine was guided by St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, among others. But perhaps the most profound spiritual influence on Augustine’s life was his mother Monica, whose memorial was celebrated yesterday. Though married to a non-Christian, Monica’s faith remained steady, and her devotion to her son in the form of prayer, visits, and discussions was truly exemplary. Monica was constantly vigilant, watching out for her son. She never gave up on him, and so we have her to thank for his memorial today, as well as his many theological works.
Todeay's Mass Readings
The saint whose feast we celebrate today, St. Augustine, is a doctor of the Church who is known for his profound and dramatic conversion, captured in his autobiographical Confessions. All of Western theology, it has been said, is a footnote to Augustine; his work is among the most influential in the Catholic tradition. Augustine’s conversion provides a wonderful example of the importance of others in the faith. Intellectually, Augustine was guided by St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, among others. But perhaps the most profound spiritual influence on Augustine’s life was his mother Monica, whose memorial was celebrated yesterday. Though married to a non-Christian, Monica’s faith remained steady, and her devotion to her son in the form of prayer, visits, and discussions was truly exemplary. Monica was constantly vigilant, watching out for her son. She never gave up on him, and so we have her to thank for his memorial today, as well as his many theological works.
Wednesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
On this memorial of St. Monica, a mother who persevered many hardships in life, we are given readings that challenge us to walk the talk in the face of adversity. St. Monica patiently suffered the trials of life in order to lead her husband, mother-in-law and eventually her son, Augustine to Christianity. Monica’s main method of preaching to her family was by her steadfast example.
Today's Mass Readings
On this memorial of St. Monica, a mother who persevered many hardships in life, we are given readings that challenge us to walk the talk in the face of adversity. St. Monica patiently suffered the trials of life in order to lead her husband, mother-in-law and eventually her son, Augustine to Christianity. Monica’s main method of preaching to her family was by her steadfast example.
Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus rebukes certain religious leaders of His time for adhering to their own traditions while neglecting the more important elements of their faith, namely judgment, mercy and fidelity. Historically, Protestants have often criticized Catholics in a similar manner. They point to passages in the Gospels where Jesus rebukes the religious for following certain traditions, sometimes, although not in this instance, explicitly labelled "traditions." When we as Catholics do follow more minor traditions but neglect the most important things, love and faith, service and truth, grace and mercy, we too may be guilty of what Jesus criticized some of His contemporaries for.
Today's Mass Readings
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus rebukes certain religious leaders of His time for adhering to their own traditions while neglecting the more important elements of their faith, namely judgment, mercy and fidelity. Historically, Protestants have often criticized Catholics in a similar manner. They point to passages in the Gospels where Jesus rebukes the religious for following certain traditions, sometimes, although not in this instance, explicitly labelled "traditions." When we as Catholics do follow more minor traditions but neglect the most important things, love and faith, service and truth, grace and mercy, we too may be guilty of what Jesus criticized some of His contemporaries for.
Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Faith is not something easy to define, nor is it something that we can say we simply understand. In today’s first reading, we begin the second letter to the Thessalonians, and we hear the greeting extended to them by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. The word “faith” emerges several times in this short text. Though the writers praise the faith of the Thessalonian church, they also say that they pray that God “bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith” (2 Thes 1:11). This seems to imply that faith is not just something that someone possesses; you don’t just have faith and that’s it. Rather, God’s grace works with faith, bringing to fulfillment the efforts of faith. There is a necessary interplay here. We can’t simply do faith on our own.
Today's Mass Readings
Faith is not something easy to define, nor is it something that we can say we simply understand. In today’s first reading, we begin the second letter to the Thessalonians, and we hear the greeting extended to them by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. The word “faith” emerges several times in this short text. Though the writers praise the faith of the Thessalonian church, they also say that they pray that God “bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith” (2 Thes 1:11). This seems to imply that faith is not just something that someone possesses; you don’t just have faith and that’s it. Rather, God’s grace works with faith, bringing to fulfillment the efforts of faith. There is a necessary interplay here. We can’t simply do faith on our own.
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Jesus said to Peter, “…you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). That Jesus would entrust his church to a mere human person baffles me. That is why we believe that the church is both, human and divine, holy and sinful at the same time.
Today's Mass Readings
Jesus said to Peter, “…you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). That Jesus would entrust his church to a mere human person baffles me. That is why we believe that the church is both, human and divine, holy and sinful at the same time.