Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Prophet Hosea and Yahweh had in common that they both were married to a prostitute.
Harlot Gomer (Mrs. Hosea) symbolized Israel whom God had taken as his bride, but who now spurned his love and went chasing after other gods. Israel was guilty of spiritual adultery.
Hosea & Gomer. Yahweh & Israel. You might say that they were the ultimate “odd couples.” Hosea identified intimately with the divine anguish as both were jilted by their lovers.
We may be ill at ease with such a concept. We speak freely of God’s omnipotence — the infinity of God. But as 21st century westerners, 2,750 years removed from Hosea & Gomer, our analytical minds with abstract and logical thinking are completely foreign to the ancients. The vivid, the tangible, the immediate, the gut — these alone could they grasp. And grasp they did!
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time
“The Lord speaks peace to his people” See Psalm 85:9b
The above quote is the response from today’s Responsorial Psalm. Given the wars in the Middle East, Ukraine, and other parts of the world; the destruction in the Caribbean by Hurricane Beryl; anxiety over climate change; political discord in our country; etc., it is difficult to see where there is peace. Therefore, today’s Psalm encourages us to listen to God’s message of peace. What is God telling us about peace?
Friday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, Jesus is having dinner with (gasp) sinners! My goodness…if that were a cultural expectation, he would always eat alone. Having a place to sit at a dinner table (or any meal really) and share a meal with others has been incredibly significant in my life and my faith formation. Presence around a shared table for meals was important in my childhood home. It has, likewise, taken on great importance in our current household as we raise five children. The core of our Catholic faith centers around the Eucharist. We re-enact the last supper of Christ every time we attend mass. In college, I lived in an intentional faith community house with five other guys where we deliberately ate together as often as possible and invited others over for supper regularly. It is in these moments that I have experienced profound discussions, immense joy, and forged powerful relationships.
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say ‘Rise and walk’?”
If a paralytic approached me and asked me to make it possible for them to walk, I would know I was sunk. No can do. I can help you revise your paper, maybe. But enable you to walk? That is, as they say, way above my pay grade.
But which is easier? And why is Jesus charged in our Gospel reading today as a blasphemer?
I’ll answer those questions with a story.
Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle
Today, July 3rd, we celebrate the feast day of St. Thomas, the apostle. Most of us know him as Doubting Thomas. To me this nickname has always brought with it a little bit of disdain and disgrace – he’s the one who couldn’t just take the apostles at their word and believe them. He had to see for himself. Even Jesus makes him feel a little inept, with his comment, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29). I wonder – if it weren’t for apostles like Thomas would I have the courage to believe?
Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
What sort of person is this? I start my reflection from the last line of the last reading—the familiar Gospel of Jesus calming the turmoil of the sea. The disciples who had been absolutely terrified witness Jesus’ ability to turn a situation of mortal fear to “a great calm”. Their response is amazement—and to ask one another what sort of person he is. The Amos reading is rather obscure with all its questions but is a good lead in to the Gospel—it’s God noting that the turmoil of the people of Amos’ time and place is a result of their refusal to return to being faithful to their covenant with God. But God doesn’t desire turmoil—God wants them to recognize the “Favor” God has for them.
Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Amos (8th century BCE), the first of the writing prophets, reveals YHWH as a deity consumed — consumed for justice and consumed for the chosen people. In contrast, Israel saw YHWH as a deity obsessed — obsessed with proper worship and sacrifice, not unlike the foreign gods of Israel's neighbors.
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Scripture Readings (Mass During the Day)
Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Both men contributed greatly to the proclamation of the Gospel in the Roman Empire. They influence the Church today especially in St. Paul’s letters and St. Peter as the first pope. Nevertheless, both were imperfect and seem to be unlikely candidates to be leaders in the Church.
Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr
For some reason I recently started listening again to the soundtrack from the musical Godspell. I hadn’t listened to it in years, but found it on my music app and have been moved once again by the songs. Today’s responsorial psalm (137:1-6) brings to mind one of the songs: “On the Willows,” which is based on that psalm of lament after the Babylonian exile.
Thursday of the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time
Having spent time at a beach, I know first hand what Jesus refers to when he talks about building your house (or your “castle”) on the sand. It only takes one wave to completely annihilate all the hard work and effort that had been put forth to make my magnificent creation. In today’s gospel, Jesus calls us to create lives built on His word. Not only do we need to know Jesus and His message, but we need to put his directives into action in order for us to have a solid foundation. Jesus shares some challenging ideas in this passage that make me stop to consider how am I building my house?
Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Trees are stunning examples of the grandeur of God’s creation. From the most delicate to the mighty Redwood, a healthy tree is a gorgeous sight to behold. Picture your favorite tree. Perhaps it’s a fruit tree, or maybe one bearing nuts or olives, or a flowering tree. Imagine that tree in full bloom, gloriously healthy, laden with fruit or blossoms. Now imagine that tree is you! As Christ’s disciples, we are called to bear fruit, to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26), the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, and to pattern our lives after the life of Christ. Today, let us examine our “branches.” Will we find fruit there, and if so, what kind?
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel passage from Matthew is one that rightly gives us pause. Wait a second – did Jesus just say that most people head toward destruction and that only a few find the road that leads to life? Does this mean that most of the people I know are going toward destruction? And what does it mean about me? How do I know if I’m on the right path, heading toward the narrow gate?
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
The solemnities of the nativities of Jesus & John the Baptist serve as bookends in the liturgical year. The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord is observed at the time of the winter solstice, while the birth of his forerunner is observed six months earlier at the time of the summer solstice.
Our various memorials, feasts, solemnities, and seasons are richly rooted in our natural world. The sun begins to increase at the Nativity of the Lord. The sun begins to decrease at the Nativity of the Baptist. “He must increase, while I must decrease.”- John 3:30-35
Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself,” (Matthew 6:34).
When I was younger, I used to worry a lot and was uncomfortable about uncertainty. I found that there is wisdom in today’s Gospel reading. Jesus is helping us re-focus on what life is about. In a way, worrying about what we will eat, drink, and wear takes away focus from God and what God calls us to do: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33).
Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religious
“And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” (Mt 6:23) I am struck by Jesus’ metaphors in our gospel today. I’m particularly drawn to the destruction of moths and decay. Some cultures see moths as symbols of death and believe they bring messages from the afterlife. Last week, we were visiting family in Wisconsin where my cousin recently experienced the frustration of having moths get into her pantry and closet, wreaking havoc on many of the items stored within. Today, we are encouraged to “store up treasures in heaven.” (19) How? Let the light of Christ come in.
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
When I think of Jesus’ admonition that we do not babble when we pray like the pagans, I am reminded of prayers I heard in a small Mennonite church that I attended back in the early 1990s. The church was going through a tough time. Several members, like me, were graduate students who were not able to give a lot to the church financially. The budget was always a challenge.
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
On a recent trip to Chicago with my family, we decided to visit the Museum of Science and Industry. We had parked and headed up to buy tickets when a kind woman approached us and offered us vouchers for free admission. We were so surprised and thankful for her generosity. We used the vouchers to get all five of us in for free. When my 10-year-old son figured out what had happened he shouted out to the whole museum – “God bless that woman! She was so kind!”
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
So, be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus utters a challenge that seems impossible. In our secular language perfection connotes no errors, perfect scores on tests, or a rarely attainable flawless achievement in Olympic gymnastics or figure skating. Aiming for a narrowly defined external performance can cause undue stress in athletes, students and myself alike, and take away the joy of the sport, learning and living life!
Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. Your presence, O Lord, I seek. Hide not your face from me.
Today’s responsorial psalm (27:7-9,13,14) not only speaks to me; in it I also imagine Elijah from today’s first reading (Book of Kings) praying these words as he is taking shelter in a cave, hiding from those who seek his life.
Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus was a “rabbi” par excellence. In today’s Gospel, his contemporaries say he “taught with authority, unlike the scribes.”
The scribes, scholars of Mosaic law, would cite sacred scripture or Jewish tradition, to give their teachings authority. But Jesus didn’t need to do that.