Wednesday – 34th Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Revelation 15:1-4  +  Luke 21:12-19
November 23, 2016

“‘By your perseverance you will secure your lives.’”

So many people grow fearful thinking about a cataclysmic end of the planet, even though the vast majority will never face it.  Perhaps you’ve seen one of those movies where there’s a dramatic end to life on the planet Earth as we know it.  Movies like that can draw a great deal of attention, and sell a lot of tickets.  Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter if you die from an ice age covering the whole continent, or from old age in your very own home:  what comes next is the same. Continue reading →

Saint Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr
Revelation 14:14-19  +  Luke 21:5-11
November 22, 2016

“‘Teacher, when will this happen?’”

Everything that’s built by human beings can be destroyed.  That’s why something like the Great Pyramids of Egypt are so awesome:  not simply because they are so colossal, but because they have—to an amazing extent—survived the ravages of time.  You can think of one of the large cities on the West Coast of our own country (Los Angeles, for example):  from the air, as you fly into the area, you can be filled with awe.  And yet an earthquake could destroy everything in the area in a matter of minutes. Continue reading →

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Revelation 14:1-3,4-5  +  Luke 21:1-4
November 21, 2016

“‘… but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.’”

We live in a society in which values that are contrary to the Gospel are canonized.  A person’s value is measured in economic terms.  The poor are shunned as worthless. Continue reading →

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King [C]
II Sam 5:1-3  +  Col 1:12-20  +  Lk 23:35-43
November 20, 2016

“‘Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”

Very likely, the moment of your death will have something in common with Jesus’ death on Calvary, which we hear of in today’s Gospel.  If you prayerfully consider what took place in this scene, you might gather something to help you prepare for that moment when your everlasting life will be judged by Christ the King. Continue reading →

Saturday – 33^rd Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Revelation 11:4-12  +  Luke 20:27-40
November 19, 2016 

“And they no longer dared to ask Him anything.”

In today’s Gospel passage, Our Lord tries to make clear to the Sadducees the meaning of the Resurrection.  We too, however, even if we understand and believe in both the Resurrection of Our Lord and the promise of resurrection that God offers to all who die, perhaps may need to realize what type of claim the Resurrection places upon our Christian faith. Continue reading →

Friday – 33^rd Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Revelation 10:8-11  +  Luke 19:45-48
November 18, 2016

“‘“…but you have made it a den of thieves.”’” 

Lots of people in Jesus’ day were fed up with the materialism and commercialism that had crept into the practices of the Temple in Jerusalem.  This place, the Temple, was the holiest place in the entire world for Jews.  One of the obligations of a good Jew in the time of Jesus was to go to Jerusalem at the time of Passover, and offer a sacrifice in the Temple:  those who were wealthy offered an entire ox or sheep; those with less means offered turtledoves.  And so there grew up a very large market during the time around Passover, a system within which many abuses developed.  Jesus undoubtedly had many people cheering for Him as He told off the Jewish officials and the money-makers in the Temple. Continue reading →

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Revelation 5:1-10  +  Luke 19:41-44
November 17, 2016

“‘Worthy are you to receive the scroll / and break open its seals….’” 

Today’s passage from the Book of Revelation focuses on Jesus Christ.  Not surprisingly, then, it teaches us something important about His Bride, the Church.  The entire Book of Revelation is not only profoundly Christo-centric, but also eccleiso-centric (that is, focused on the Church). Continue reading →

Wednesday – 33^rd Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Revelation 4:1-11  +  Luke 19:11-28
November 16, 2016

“After He had said this, He proceeded on His journey up to Jerusalem.”

Those who think of Jesus as a “teddy bear” are challenged by the last sentence of Jesus in today’s Gospel Passage.  These words conclude a lengthy parable, which St. Luke the Evangelist prefaces with a clear explanation of the motive for the parable:  Jesus “proceeded to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately.” Continue reading →

Tuesday – 33rd Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Revelation 3:1-6,14-22  +  Luke 19:1-10
November 15, 2016

“‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.’”

Zacchaeus is a rich collector of taxes.  Each of us, like him, is attached to worldly things.  Zacchaeus, like you, wants to see who Jesus is.  But Zacchaeus has two strikes against him. Continue reading →