Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs
Today’s Psalmist describes how great it is to spend time in the Temple, praising and singing to God. Almost a thousand years later in today’s gospel reading, Jesus criticizes what the practice of faith has become for many: a set of actions without meaning. We in the Church are also at risk for the same sin. We have a rich tradition with some required practices and many available devotionals, prayers, and blessings of all kinds. They were designed by the Holy Spirit, Saints, and our spiritual leaders to incarnate what we believe: God is loving, just, and merciful. Jesus wants us to be transformed by the Paschal Mystery, to be dead to sin and alive in the good works of Christ. Unfortunately, it’s easy to practice without true focus on a holy life. We can come to Mass every week and miss the grace the Spirit offers through that Holy Sacrifice. We can write a small check to a charity while spending thousands on luxuries for ourselves. We can pray a rote thanksgiving prayer at mealtime and forget that we receive all good things not through our strength, but through God’s generosity.
Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr
Today we give thanks for Agatha, a 3rd century Sicilian martyr. Because of her great courage, the Church included her in the first Roman Canon along with fellow virgin martyrs Anastasia, Agnes, Cecilia, & Lucy. Today we call it Eucharistic Prayer I.
Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever asked God for anything? Sometimes God doesn’t grant what we ask for or at least in the way we expect. Today’s first reading shows us an example of petitionary prayer. God asked Solomon what he wanted. Then, Solomon asked for wisdom so that he may be able to serve his people well. It was a selfless request, a gift that helps others rather than himself. In our own prayer, God too asks us what we want. This might seem strange especially if you are used to thinking of a relationship with God in which you are the one giving to God rather than the other way around. On the other hand, this might not seem strange to you. Sometimes I think we ask God for things before God asks us what we want. However, when confronted with that question, we are asked to discern our answer. When God asks you what you want, what will your answer be?
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The weather patterns recently in southwest Ohio have been particularly gloomy. A barrage of cold, rain, and clouds, the shroud of darkness can easily drive us to despair. We long for the light, some sunshine, rays of hope and joy. Today, we celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The beautiful tradition is honored by Mary and Joseph and fulfills both the Jewish law and the great prophecy in the first reading from Malachi. This truly is a cause for great rejoicing and that is exactly what Simeon and Anna do when they meet the child Jesus on this day.
Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
“Leave there and shake the dust off your feet.”
These sound like mentoring words. Even therapy words.
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
As we’ve begun making our way through the Gospel of Mark this liturgical year, I’ve noticed how often the word “astonished” or “amazed” occurs. In fact, Mark uses these terms fourteen times to describe people’s reaction to Jesus – to his words, his teaching, his innate authority, and his actions. Even Pontius Pilate is amazed by Jesus. Jesus himself is amazed at the people’s lack of faith. In today’s passage, the people are astonished/amazed at Jesus, but they also take offense at him. Today, let us consider our own reactions and responses to Christ and the Gospel. Are we amazed or offended?
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Our approach in life varies depending of course on the situations in which we find ourselves. Most people are who they are until a crisis seems to change the rules. When we look inward and truly reflect on our reality, we begin to understand we need an approach connected to something bigger than ourselves.
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
“I am Legion for we are many.” (Mark 5:9)
Since the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis has been warning that following Jesus meant confronting the Devil. The life of every Christian is a battle against evil, just as Jesus had to struggle against the Prince of Darkness and his temptations. And what the Devil desires, above all else, is that we don’t believe in his existence.
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
As I was reading today’s Gospel, I imagined its scene: the big storm, the boat being tossed about and filling up with water, Jesus sleeping, the disciples rushing to Jesus and waking him up, and then Jesus calming down the storm. The evangelist Mark wasted no time in telling us the good news that the kingdom of God is bursting into human life by showing us Jesus’ power over nature.
Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops
“...I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.” I love this phrase from Paul’s second letter to Timothy that we are given in today’s First Reading (1:1-8). What do I love about it? I love that it’s very personal – it seems Paul knows Timothy well enough that he knows his mother’s and grandmother’s faith. I also love that he mentions them by name – Lois and Eunice – maybe he even knew them personally. The names of women appear much less frequently overall in the bible, so it seems extra special to me and, again, very personal. I also love how it is implied that their faith was passed on, “your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother…and in your mother…and that I am confident lives also in you.”
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.