Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today God commands Jeremiah to obtain a brand-new linen loincloth to wear. Now, this is odd enough. The “bottom-line” (no pun intended) it was an intimate undergarment, worn close to the skin and out of view — as personal a piece of clothing one could own. Then, Jeremiah was instructed to “go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a cleft of the rock” (Jeremiah 13:4).
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I’ve been doing a lot of serious weeding this summer. I don’t mean just pulling up dandelions and other little plants, I’m talking about uprooting heavy-duty invasive ground-covering plants, vines, and ivy that have practically taken over our backyard. Yes, we’ve neglected it for too long as life has taken us this way and that over the past several years. And now I’m seeing how little-by-little these weeds have “choked out” the other plants. Just like the “worldly anxiety” and “lure of riches” choke out “the word of the Kingdom” in today’s gospel passage from Matthew (13:18-23).
Thursday in the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
If you are around a 3 year old child, you will hear this question asked frequently- “Why?” These toddlers are in good company, since the disciples in today’s gospel reading ask Jesus “Why?” He speaks in parables. Asking God (Jesus) questions may not produce all of the answers, but seeking the truth may provide opportunities to learn how to better see and hear what God is sharing with us in our daily lives.
Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
The name her parents gave her, Mary, was chosen carefully. It connected her to her community, to generations of faithful women, including Miriam in Exodus, who played a central role in salvation history. Her name means “wished-for-child,” “belovedness,” and also “bitterness.” I imagine her parents chose her name not for the last meaning in this list, but because she was wished for and beloved from the moment her mom knew she was pregnant. As she grew and encountered Jesus, she became one of His faithful followers. She and other women were among the early disciples, learning from him, witnessing miracles, and being sent to tell good news. She is among the beloved of Christ, as are we.
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The experience of feeling guilty for having made a mistake or hurt someone is difficult to bear. Sometimes my own weaknesses or frustrations can get in the way of conveying a peacefulness or care for others that I would normally convey when ‘at my best’. Sometimes when I am challenged on my imperfections or failures at loving, I get defensive and am tempted to argue back. I can miss the opportunity to say I am sorry and to deepen my trust in God and relationship with the person I’ve hurt. I forget that through honest prayer, God’s love, acceptance and mercy are ever available.
Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“What does YHWH require of you? Only this: To do justice, love tenderness, and walk humbly with your God” (NJB). These words from the prophet Micah (6:8) are among the most beautiful and efficacious in the whole of the Bible.
Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
As we approach today’s Gospel, it’s important to do so with yesterday’s text in mind, as well as the intervening verses, Matthew 12:9-13. I see the extravagant mercy of God underscored in this overall passage. Today, let us ask God for the grace to become more merciful, especially when we recognize a spirit of judgment within ourselves. Rather than being quick to judge, may we each become quicker to be merciful.
Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I have been formed in faith, raised in a family, taught by, and work among, educators that hold high the values of love, compassion, respect, integrity, and community (along with many other things). One of the greatest developments of my faith has been the recognition of the centralizing and centering power of Jesus--in name, in word, in sacrament. We hear in today’s Gospel, “for the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” The Pharisees are following Jesus and his disciples around, finding yet another technicality to complain about. The disciples are picking the heads of grain to eat...on the Sabbath! Shame on them! That is against the law!
Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“I am meek and humble of heart.” —Matthew 11:29
“Humility is the foundation of all virtues” —Saint Augustine.
“The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.” —Saint Vincent de Paul
Despite having the same Latin root of humilis, which means “lowly,” people often associate humility with a loss of dignity. They shame themselves into thinking that they are unworthy and even worthless. That’s not the true meaning of the word.
Memorial of St. Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
“I’m hiding, I’m hiding,
and no one knows where,
for all they can see are my toes and my hair,
And I just heard my father
Say to my mother —
“But, darling, he must be
Somewhere or other;
“Have you looked in the ink well?”
And Mother said, “Where?”
“In the INK WELL,” said Father. But
I was not there.…”
This poem, “Hiding,” by Dorothy Aldis is a beloved family favorite. It portrays a child hiding, holding in laughter as parents look in all the wrong places, and then finally erupting in giggles. The parents, of course, know where the child is all along. They find the child, and all three delight in the finding.
Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
When I read the news, it seems there is always something about war. Indeed, at this moment, multiple wars are taking place around the world. I suppose it was not much different in ancient times. Today’s first reading describes the threat of war that the Kingdom of Judah faced from its neighbors. What can we learn from this passage in the Book of Isaiah?
Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“I have not come to bring peace, but the sword.” - Matthew 10:34 Today we hear another one of those “difficult sayings” of Jesus. Jesus, rebuker of Peter for drawing his sword. Jesus, admonisher of those who live by the sword. Jesus, whose nativity inspired heavenly hosts over Bethlehem to sing of “peace on earth.”
So what’s up with that?
Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot
One of the recurring laments in higher education is that the job market is terrible, and that getting a teaching position at a university is nearly impossible. That is certainly a huge fear among graduate students today, and for good reason. It was also the fear in the mid-1990s when I was in graduate school.
Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.” (Psalm 51:17)
This last verse of today’s responsorial psalm (from which the refrain comes) is one that is prayed at the start of morning prayer throughout the world. I started praying morning prayer more regularly since first subscribing to the Benedictine liturgical publication “Give Us This Day” a few years ago.
Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Hosea tells a story about God’s love. God cherishes all people despite the tendency for us to turn away or ignore God’s nurturing attention. Since we are made in God’s image, God is able to see our goodness. It is this loving God that draws us close, surrounds us with tenderness, and looks beyond our brokenness. God then invites us to do the same, as we are all called to cherish one another.
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Whether it is in others or in ourselves, it is not uncommon for us to notice certain discrepancies. As parents we might notice that children don’t always live up to the expectations we have of them. Our superiors and coworkers may not live up to the expectations we have of them. Even our religious leaders might fall short. For that matter, we might disappoint ourselves with the discrepancies we see in our own attitudes and conduct. There is always the ideal, and then there is the reality.
Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
While little is known about Hosea, a good deal is known about Israel during the time in which he prophesied. It was a time that followed peaceful rule and preceded the fall of Israel to the Assyrians. It was a time in which kings were assassinated, corruption was rampant, economic disparities were great, the rich increased their abuses of the poor, and Israel’s relationships even with its allies were rocky. To make matters even worse, as the prophet tells us, the people of Israel had taken to creating and worshipping false gods. In all of this, the people of God are about as divided from God as they can be. Naming this, Hosea promises that God will remember their sins and will punish them.
Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Every day this week we will be hearing from the Book of the Prophet Hosea. Hosea is unique (along with Jeremiah) for acting out his prophetic message. Hosea dramatically married prostitute Gomer and did it ever get the attention of the people of Israel! Eventually they understood that Hosea was Yahweh and Gomer was Israel in the drama.
What follows is from Frederick Buechner, a popular, humorous, and creative writer and pastor.
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Among the people of Jesus’ day who puzzled over him and at times questioned his motives, were the disciples of John the Baptist. John’s disciples followed his ascetic lifestyle, which included fasting and other strict disciplines. Jesus answers their query by offering the image of a wedding feast. Today let us consider the hallmarks of a vibrant relationship with Jesus our Bridegroom. Our psalm gives us some clues to that life of love and devotion, as well.
Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle
It’s the Feast of St. Thomas, “Doubting Thomas,” Apostle of Jesus Christ. I wonder how Thomas feels about that nickname. But it fits him well. He did doubt, at least according to the Gospel of John that we read today: “Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (20:25b) Maybe, like me, you’ve been known to say at least once or twice in your lifetime, “I’ll believe it when I see it!” But Thomas didn’t just want to see Jesus, he wanted to touch him, to place his finger and hand in his wounds, to feel and know that this truly was the same person he had walked with, eaten with, laughed, prayed, and probably cried with; that this was the same man in whom he had placed all of his hopes and dreams, only to be shockingly crucified between two criminals. How else could he believe what the others had seen and claimed to be true?