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.
Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The other day, a student asked me what Christians think about fear. Interesting question - and not one I've thought about much, on purpose, until that question. Fear is something that we try to keep at arms' length. While we tell our children not to be afraid of the dark, how often do we have meaningful conversations about the things we really fear: death, violence, losing independence, and so on?
Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
In our society today, there is a great deal of discord within our society. More emphasis is placed on the differences between one another than on the ways that we are similar and connected. St. Paul reminds us in today’s reading that we are all equals. No one is better than another, and we are all in need of God’s grace and mercy.
Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist
Today, on the Feast of St. Luke, we read in his gospel a story of Jesus appointing seventy-two disciples and sending them out in pairs to every place he intended to visit. There are two main things that stand out to me about Jesus’ very specific directions to these disciples. First, “carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals...” I was reflecting on this Gospel once as my husband and I packed for a weekend camping with our family. Preparing for two adults, multiple young children, and a dog to sleep in a tent and cook food over a fire required carrying way more items than Jesus had in mind for the disciples! But if I was going on a trip to share the Good News and spread the message that Jesus was coming, what would I want to pack? I hear Jesus’ message as a call for simplicity. Go out into the world each day with the clothes on your back, a smile on your face, open ears, and a receptive heart. As I think about evangelizing I often get caught up in the complexities. What if I don’t know all the answers or what if I can’t convince people to care? This passage reminds me that I do not need to be a scripture scholar or a theologian to evangelize. I do not even need to carry a Bible with me. I literally just need to show up and be present to people, bring Christ to the world through joy and gratitude, offering and receiving hospitality.
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
We have strong readings today! St. Paul’s letter to the Romans gives us an unsettling warning, and Jesus scorns the people who invited him over for dinner. What a dynamic God we serve; sometimes gentle, sometimes very stern.
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
All things culturally change, even the way that people greet one another. Modern slang salutations include: ‘Sup? Hah-ya-do-win? Yo! Was es goin on? Wah-sup? Whach-a-up-ta, dude? Add new gestures to the mix, such as a hand slap or elbow bump (the later a vestige of the pandemic). Some traditional rituals seem on the verge of extinction.
Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that those who hear the word of God and observe it are blessed. This is reflected in the First Reading. The prophet Joel reminds us that wherever God dwells, there are blessings. He uses rich agricultural imagery to illustrate this; “The mountains shall drip new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk; And the channels of Judah shall flow with water,” (Joel 4:18). In receiving these gifts from God, the Responsorial Psalm responds by rejoicing. We are called to remember that God dwells within us. Therefore, we are to rejoice, be glad with God, and live a life of gratitude in which we see God’s goodness everywhere.
Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
I loved athletics as a kid as did my family. As one of six children, I spent a good portion of my childhood at sporting events, whether they were my own or my siblings’. I learned a lot about competition, sportsmanship, winning, losing, and teamwork. My favorite memories are from playing high school football. There is a phrase from today’s gospel that led me to reflect on the contrast between the team my freshman year and the team my senior year: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house” (Mt 12:25).
Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The prophet Malachi could be speaking to our community today. So many of us have wondered, ‘why am I working so hard at being a good person, when it doesn’t seem to be paying off?’ We feel like we’ve been working without pay. We don’t want to hear, ‘the reward in Heaven will be great.’ What about a reward right now? Malachi shows us what to do when we’re feeling this way. We need to meet with our fellow Christians and strengthen each others’ faith: “Then they who were in awe of the Lord spoke with one another, and the Lord listened attentively…Then you will see the distinction between the just and the wicked…” It’s easy to get tired of hoping on the Lord.
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, we receive St Luke’s version of the “Our Father,” the “Lord’s Prayer.” You can find St Matthew’s version in chapter six of his Gospel. I was about halfway through writing a reflection on our passage from Luke, and I just erased it all. Instead, I invite you to take some time today (and/or in the coming days) and read Section Two of Part Four of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Church devotes a significant section of her teaching on prayer to the Lord’s Prayer. As I consulted it, I said to myself, what could I possibly say about this magnificent prayer, the quintessential prayer of the Church, in light of what the Church teaches? My sisters and brothers, these sections of the Catechism (2759 – 2865) are glorious! Allow the Church to enlighten you on the richness of the meaning of the prayer Jesus taught us to pray. I’m confident it will transform not only your understanding of this prayer, but it will transform your prayer. Today, I pray God’s Kingdom come and God’s will be done in your heart, mind, and life as it is in heaven. Come, Lord Jesus!
-Elizabeth Wells
Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
According to the late Fr. Joe Tedesco, we can lose a lot depending on our translation of today’s Gospel. It helps to imagine the scene. A quiet village is Jesus’s next destination. People who live in small villages are known for their great hospitality, but Jesus is another type of guest; it’s not just him, but a bunch of disciples and every sick or curious person in town. So, when we read that Martha was “burdened with much serving,” we’re talking about a lot of food prep. She’s making several different dishes in a meal to appear to the tastes of a number of people who aren’t local, and therefore could expect something different than the usual food served in this little town. If they have bit of a menu to choose from, they’re at least be something that each person can happily eat.
Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In distress I cried out to the Lord.
From the midst of the netherworld I begged. For you hurled me into the deep,
I was submerged.
The waters swirled around me, endangering me. I was enveloped by the abyss.
Down I descended, the gates of the netherworld closing behind me forever.
You rescued my life from the pit, O my God.
~ Jonah 2:3-10
“Life’s the pits!” This slang expression originated on the college scene in the 1950s and really took off when it was commonly expressed by TVs “Rhoda” in the 1970s.
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Today’s readings have the common theme of joy. In the first reading, Baruch consoled the exiled Israelites that even in their time of sorrow, God will bring back their joy. He reminds us that joy can exist even in the most challenging times of life. The psalm reminds us that to seek God causes joy. There is joy in God listening to the lowly, the poor, and the imprisoned. In Luke, the seventy-two disciples were rejoicing at what happened when they traveled, proclaimed the Gospel to others, and cast out demons. Jesus told them that they should rejoice because of God’s work through them and not because they have power over demons.
Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
How long, O Lord? I’ve prayed this brief, pleading prayer before. Maybe it’s one you’ve uttered, or even cried out, too. If so, you and I are not alone. Today’s psalm of lament includes this questioning prayer and more: “O Lord, how long? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?” (79:5)
Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Our Church is currently in the middle of the “Synod on Synodality.” We are being called to “discern how the Spirit is moving through and within the Body of Christ-inside and outside of the church- so that we may continue to fulfill our mission to evangelize the world.” (Catholics Mobilizing Network) The three main themes of the synod are communion, participation, and mission. Today’s readings reflect elements of these themes, and this reminds me that God continues to call people to unity and love through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi
Today is the Memorial of St Francis of Assisi. When people think of St Francis, the first thought is often of birds and animals and care for the Creation. That is part of his legacy. For the most part, however, St Francis was radically sold out to Christ and lived his life in fervent service to the poor, evangelization, and preaching. His life exemplifies what it means to lay down one’s life and follow hard after the footsteps of Christ in radical obedience. Today, I’d like to reflect on our Gospel by offering some excerpts from a letter St Francis wrote.
Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
In the text before us today from Luke, we hear two powerful words. One painful. One merciful.
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
“They will be my people and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice” (Zechariah 8:8).
Our 1st readings this week come from prophets and priests of Judah’s exile in Babylon (Zechariah, Nehemiah, Ezra & Baruch) and their return to Jerusalem 50 years later.
Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you,” (Luke 9:44). So what is Jesus telling us? In this short excerpt, Jesus predicted that he will be handed over which will eventually lead to his death. I don’t know about you, but I needed some context. Before this passage, Jesus healed a boy with a demon, and just before that, he said about his disciples who failed to heal the boy, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you?” Then, after this Gospel passage, Jesus tells his disciples that whoever receives a child, who at the time held one of the lowest places in society, and whoever is the least will be the greatest.
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
My parish priest growing up had a deep devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. I learned most Catholic prayers from my family and through religious education class but I attribute the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel to Fr. Martin. Fr. Martin believed deeply in St. Michael as a powerful intercessor in the spiritual battles that we face daily. Today we honor not only Michael, but Gabriel and Raphael as well.