Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle
Today’s liturgy celebrates the conversion of St. Paul. The definition of conversion indicates a “change” or a turning away from certain ways to new beliefs. St. Paul’s experience of conversion was remarkable and resulted in a man who was on fire with sharing Jesus with the world. Every day we are given opportunities to bring about conversion in our lives. Like St. Paul, we are then called to share this new “way” with those around us.
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
This week I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about what the Church teaches about the human conscience. Until now, I had always thought of the conscience as my moral compass – the “meter” somewhere within me that alerts me to right and wrong. Picture a simple meter with a needle that alternates between “right/good” on one side and “wrong/sin” on the other. The Catholic Church does indeed define the moral conscience as the locus within which leads a person to do good and to avoid evil. My revelation this week, however, is that the conscience is so much more! It is, in fact, the “aboriginal Vicar of Christ” within us. It is through the conscience that one hears and responds to the voice of God. As we consider the readings today, let us invite God to form our conscience so that we can better know and do his will.
Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
There are moments in the Gospels when Jesus says things that are quite confusing. Sometimes, the words he says are even a bit off-putting. One that comes to my mind often is Jesus’ response to his mother at the wedding at Cana. He says, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” I always bristle when Jesus sounds like this. After several semesters of trying to find the right word to describe these moments, one of my students offered an option: “Jesus is being sassy!” she said. I’ve since come to think of these as Jesus’ “sassy” moments. We are faced with one of those moments in today’s Gospel. Like Cana, the story includes Mary. She and Jesus’ “brothers and sisters” (some scholars think this means relatives like cousins) are waiting for him outside while he in ministering in someone’s house. In response to the message that they’re waiting for him, Jesus replies, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
This week is filled with feasts and memorials of a wide swatch of saints. How rich is our tradition! Today we commemorate Vincent, a third century martyr. Wednesday features the patron saint of our archdiocese, Francis de Sales. The Pauline church is commemorated with the Conversion of Paul on Thursday and Sts. Timothy and Titus on Friday. As a product of twelve years of Ursuline education in Youngstown (plus the fact that Mary had two aunts who were Ursulines), I always look forward to the feast of founder Saint Angela Merici, which concludes our week.
Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
As I read today’s Gospel, I can imagine this scene. Not only did his family think that Jesus was out of his mind, they might have called out to him asking “What are you doing?”
Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Next week, the International Peace Museum in Dayton will launch an initiative to celebrate A Season for Nonviolence, “a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign…to promote and spread the principles of nonviolence as a way to create a more inclusive, understanding, and compassionate society.” The 64 days begins on Jan. 26 (the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi) and concludes on April 4th (the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.). At CJ, we are blessed to welcome a special guest, Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi for a visit and school assembly. As part of our mission to commit to faith and justice, many of our student leadership groups have been planning ways to actively collaborate with the Peace Museum and help our student body participate in the campaign for Peace.
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
I grew up “unchurched.” Although I was baptized in the Catholic Church (at Incarnation in Centerville) my parents didn’t take me to church. My father had no interest in church. My mother was raised Catholic in Harvey, IL (just south of Chicago) and for reasons I never understood (I wish I had asked her about that) seemed mad at the Catholic Church. Nonetheless, I liked reading the Bible. My grandmother, who was Methodist, bought me a redletter Bible. I don’t remember what translation it was (I probably never even took notice of the translation) but I remember that it had a green padded cover.
Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot
The aspect of today’s Gospel that struck me immediately is that Jesus’ earthly ministry had barely begun before the Pharisees and others were plotting his death. Today’s account of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand, on the Sabbath, in the synagogue, comes in Mark chapter 3, even before Christ had appointed all twelve Apostles. In the first two chapters of Mark, we find Jesus’ baptism and his 40 days temptation by satan in the desert, followed by many healing miracles in rapid succession. Immediately, the religious leaders begin questioning Jesus about his behavior – already they’ve accused him of blasphemy, questioned why he eats with “sinners” and why his disciples don’t fast; accused him of violating sabbath laws prohibiting work, and now in today’s account we find them waiting for him in the synagogue, hoping to “catch him in the act” of violating another legal requirement. Sure enough, Jesus heals a man on the sabbath and so they begin to plot to take his life.
Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
In our first reading, Samuel has called the whole town of Bethlehem together for a banquet. Everyone is supposedly there, including Jesse and his sons, one of whom will be the next king. The sons are dressed up and looking their best. But the Lord reminds Samuel, and us, that the outward appearance is not an accurate way to judge.
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
“Come, let us kill the dreamer and see what becomes of his dreams” (Genesis 37:20). These words, spoken by the sons of Jacob against their brother Joseph, have great importance for America 2024.
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners,” (Mark 2:17)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus compared himself to a physician who heals the sick. Those who go to him are in need of healing. Where do you need healing in your life?
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
As a parent and former child myself, I recall both speaking and hearing something like, “Well, don’t complain (or come crying!) to me when…” as stubborn persistence won out and warnings fell on closed ears. (You can probably fill in the blank above from your own experience.) Today’s Old Testament reading from the First Book of Samuel (8:4-7, 10-22a) for me has a similar feel.
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
As the New Year begins, there are few things that are certain, except for the notion that the future will bring about change. Change is often frightening and at times overwhelming, but if we place our trust in God, change can become an opportunity for new beginnings and transformation. The leper in today’s gospel story reminds us that when we encounter Jesus, our life will be changed. The question for us is if we will let go, so God can touch us. And once we surrender to God’s grace, how can we go forth sharing God’s goodness with the world?
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
In our readings today, I notice three elements of our Christian life, three necessary ingredients to following Christ – seeking the Lord’s presence, listening to God’s voice, and giving God a ready and willing heart, offering Him a “generous Yes” in readiness to do His will. Let us approach God’s Word today with sincere hearts and a humble desire to make these holy postures our own.
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is from the Letter to the Hebrews. Scholars debate over whether or not this letter was actually written by Paul or by someone else, mainly because it seems so different from the other letters we are used to reading and hearing. Today’s excerpt is a bit complicated but it is rich and actually quite beautiful in its message. It asks the question about the difference between humans and angels, saying that it was humans to whom God “crowned with glory and honor.” The is an old Jewish story that when God made Adam, he presented his creation to the angels, telling them to bow down in worship of the image of God Adam bore. This letter evokes the same feeling of the absolute dignity and worth of the human being.
The Baptism of the Lord
The event at the Jordan is recorded in all four Gospels. To reach the place where John was baptizing, Jesus traveled 90 miles on foot from the Galilee. As the drama places the Baptist in a mentoring relationship to him, the evangelists wouldn’t have included the baptism of Jesus if it wasn’t historical.
Christmas Weekday
In a sense, today’s readings are about faith. The first reading is about having faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Then, the Gospel is about Jesus’ baptism and brings us to the moment in which we learn that Jesus is the Son of God, “‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” (Mark 1:11). Through faith, we become daughters and sons of God. When reading this Gospel passage, have you ever imagined that God is telling you that you are God’s beloved child? Perhaps, as you begin to reflect on today’s readings, you can put yourself in the story and imagine God saying to you: “[Your name,] you are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased.” How does that make you feel? For me, I am taken aback especially at the well pleased part. To me, it seems that there’s more to ding me on than to be pleased about. However, I am comforted by the love God has for me and how God is always ready to embrace me and us and take us back when we return to God like in the parable of the prodigal son. What does being a child of God mean to you?
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Merry Christmas! ? On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Twelve drummers drumming! ? Most of our stores and some of our neighbors began their Christmas season back in October, wrapping it up as soon as possible at the arrival of December 26th. However, we Catholics were just really getting started at that point and have the blessing of celebrating for 12 days leading us to the feast of the Epiphany this weekend. So if your Christmas decorations are still shining brightly around your home like ours, enjoy!
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
Protestant fundamentalism, which has found its way into the Catholic Church, arose amidst the perceived threat of historical criticism and evolution. Historical criticism, a method of reading the Bible that attends carefully to the historical context of each book of the Bible and how that context shaped the text, seemed to undermine the supernatural origins of the Bible. Evolution, of course, challenged the divine creation process described in Genesis. These new ways of thinking about the Bible made a lot of people nervous. Where would all this lead? Would people stop thinking that the Bible is true?
Christmas Weekday
Our Gospel today begins, “John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’” The One whom John identified becomes real to us in every Mass. God calls us, invites us, to behold the Son, and not only to take him in visually, but to take him in literally as we consume the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord in the Eucharist. As we begin this new year, let us examine our approach to the Eucharist. It’s my prayer that we would all be inspired to more frequent reception of the Eucharist and to deepen our hunger and thirst for it.