Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Our responsorial today, taken from Psalm 139, ought to be familiar. It is the basis of a hymn by the Saint Louis Jesuits, “Yahweh, I know you are Near.”
Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Today’s readings point out two key elements of being a disciple of Christ: dependence on God and community.
Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Today is the feast of St. Leo the Great. I’ve been blessed to know a number of Leo’s in my lifetime and they are all pretty great. Pope Leo I led the Catholic church back in the 5th century. What made him so great? There are likely a number of reasons for this title but my favorite story is the famous story of how he persuaded Atilla the Hun not to invade Rome, saving the people of the city who had sought refuge in the churches there.
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Water is an amazing part of creation- a substance which we cannot live without, although we often take water for granted. Today’s readings describe water as it flows and gives life to all things. Just like water, God’s Spirit flows out and gives life, allowing God to have a dwelling place within all of creation. Just as we need water to survive physically, the Spirit provides the life that we require to be disciples of Christ. It is through the presence of the Spirit within us that we become temples of God-His holy dwelling. We are called to be like water- flowing out into the world to bring new life and abundant blessings through the work of the Spirit within us.
Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
After mass one day a parishioner asked me what would they need to do in order to be holy. Having just heard the reading of the greatest commandment, I reminded them to love God with their whole heart, mind, and soul, and to love their neighbor. This seemed to be answer to the question of that moment, but I could tell the person was looking for more. It could be the person was hoping for a deeper understanding of what it means to love.
Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading comes from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and it pertains to every parish community. In the passage, Paul reminds the Romans that we all have “gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.” This means that we should expect God’s grace to be manifest in various ways. Any community that imagines that grace looks the same for every person seems to be gravely mistaken, according to Paul. This is at once freeing and challenging. It is freeing because it allows each of us to discern God’s work in us in light of our individual gifts, talents and desires. It is challenging because it implies that the Church thrives when people are engaged in such discernment and self-giving.
Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Yesterday daylight savings time came to a close. The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer. The days are getting cooler and the nights are even colder. Glorious hued foliage, dancing in the crisp autumn air, are soon but memories. The world “falls” into slumber, awaiting spring.
Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
How embarrassing for that person who was asked to move to a lower place in Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel. The society that Jesus lived in was hierarchical with some social classes higher than others. This social hierarchy was even reflected in celebrations where people of higher social standing sat in certain spots or “places of honor” while others of lower status were not able to be in those seats. St. Paul addressed this issue with the early Christian community, Luke’s intended audience, in which during the Sunday communal meals in private homes, the rich ate sumptuously in the dining room while the poor ate in the atrium with less food or none at all (1 Corinthians 11: 20-22, 33-34).
Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Have no anxiety at all?? Surely, Paul’s letter to the Phillipians (4:4-9) does not apply to us today, right? With all that is happening in our world, it’s hard to imagine having “no anxiety at all.” If Paul were writing to us in this day and age with multiple wars, significant political divisions, mass shootings, global climate change and increasingly severe natural disasters, disease and pandemics, surely he wouldn’t exhort us to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” Or would he?
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
(All Souls)
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls. We remember those faithful departed who have left this world. Today’s readings remind us that we should not focus on death, but rejoice in the “hope of immortality” that God promises to those who believe.
Solemnity of All Saints
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints Day. This Solemnity celebrates all of the Church’s Saints, both those we know about who have been formally canonized by the Church, and those we do not yet know about. The first reading for today from the Book of Revelation provides us with a magnificent glimpse into the heavenly life of the glorified Saints. This vision gives us hope of joining their numbers upon our own death and entrance into glory. An important part of this vision is found in 7:9 where we see the unity of God’s people, called from “every nation, race, people, and tongue.”
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus uses two powerful images to help teach us what the Kingdom of God is. In the first image, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. From a tiny seed, a great tree grows. Jesus ends the description of the tree by stating that “the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches” (v. 19). The quoted phrase here is a reference to Ezekiel chapter 17, where Ezekiel also uses the image of a tree—in this case a cedar tree—to talk about how God will demonstrate his power. The cedar tree planted on a hill that Ezekiel mentions is intended to represent God’s promise to restore David’s line after the Babylonian exile of Judah is over. Those who heard Ezekiel’s prophecy would have found renewed strength in the prophecy that God would renew his promise to Israel. In a similar way, the image that Jesus paints of the mustard tree gives us hope that God is present with us and that God is in the process of restoring our broken world through Jesus Christ. It also conveys the thought that a small change can have a significant effect not only in our lives but also in the lives of other people.
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burdens. Psalm 68: 20
Today the psalmist praises our God “who daily carries our burdens,” all that weigh us down. Perhaps the heaviest burdens are the unexpected ones, especially those knockout punches that bring us to our knees.
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
It seems to me that in today’s world, many people are searching for meaning in their lives. In this search, some try to root themselves in material possessions or in themselves as individuals. Others explore a variety of spiritualities and religions, hoping to find some sort of spiritual rootedness. Often these explorations focus on where and to whom we belong. Today’s first reading helps us recall that we belong to God. We have a home in God that is built upon the foundations of Christ and what the Apostles taught us about Him. The first reading challenges us to reflect on where and what we base our lives on. Is it on God or something else?
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Why do people like to talk about the weather? It’s a safe conversation–everyone can observe it; we are all impacted by it; it’s a pretty neutral and objective topic; and it fills time and space. It’s almost always easier and safer to talk about the weather than politics or religion. The weather is not political; it’s comfortable to discuss. It is mostly fact; can’t really argue about whether (pun intended) or not that wet stuff outside is rain. It doesn’t take a special degree or certification to prepare to talk about it. So, I find it amusing today in the gospel that Jesus uses weather to make his point to the crowds. “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Lk 12:56)
Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12: 49) Perhaps some of Jesus’ disciples (both then and now) wish this gospel verse were a literal statement, looking for a warrior savior who would “take the world by fire!” It would certainly make for a popular movie or computer game. But seriously, it’s somewhat jolting at first read as Luke in today’s gospel reading (Luke 12: 49-53) continues with Jesus preaching to his disciples, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Really?
Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Recently, I was struggling to get everything done at work. While my workload kept growing, my ability to juggle the amount of tasks was diminished because I was overwhelmed. Ministry is often an unpredictable vocation. The message that kept coming to me in prayer was be prepared. As an Eagle Scout I understand that motto well, yet my ability to handle unexpected realities suggested otherwise.
Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans. In this passage, Paul is explaining the good news of salvation in Christ by reminding his readers and listeners about the stories in Genesis. In Genesis 2 and 3, God creates Adam and Eve, who then disobey God’s one rule: do not eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. At first, God can seem a little capricious here: anyone who has children knows that specifically telling a child not to do something means that the temptation to do that very thing is inevitable.
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to his people to set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. Luke 2:29-33
As an inheritance from the synagogue services of, in the words of John Paul II, “our Jewish elders,” we respond to scripture with scripture in our liturgies, usually with a psalm. However today our response to the 1st reading is not a psalm but the Nunc dimittis canticle from Luke. Simeon sings this at the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple.
The theme of today’s readings is faith. The first reading is about Abraham’s faith and how he and his descendants “would inherit the world” (Romans 4:13) because of his faith. If we look at Abraham though, we might doubt that. For instance, he lied about his wife being his sister, left Hagar and Ismael in the desert, and almost killed his son Isaac. Not exactly an exemplar of virtue. However, it is because of his faith that God has a covenant with him and his descendants. What does that mean for us today? Abraham didn’t earn a covenant with God. Likewise, we don’t earn God’s grace and love. Still, we act as if what we do can give us brownie points with God or rather that God’s love can be taken away if we don’t do certain things. Over the years, I’ve heard people treat Reconciliation, spiritual direction, Adoration with Eucharistic Exposition, acts of service and volunteering, and other prayers and rituals as ways to gain God’s favor to get into heaven. They had a focus on doing the right thing rather than simply loving God and our neighbors. This reading reminds us that God freely gives grace and love to us regardless of what we do. We receive God’s grace and love through our faith.