The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time [A]
Zech 9:9-10  +  Rom 8:9,11-13  +  Mt 11:25-30
July 9, 2017

“… we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”

In last Sunday’s Second Reading, St. Paul preached to the Romans about the contrast between life and death.  He explained that Christian life is found within the experience of death:  not just the death that occurs at the end of our earthly days, but daily death.  In today’s Second Reading, St. Paul explores a related contrast:  between the flesh and the spirit.

What does St. Paul mean when he states to the Romans:  “You are not in the flesh”?  Of course, no one would deny that Christians, as they make pilgrimage through life on this earth, journey within a human body.  We all live with flesh and blood.  The human body is an essential part of being human.

But when St. Paul insists that “You are not in the flesh”, he’s referring to the principle by which the pilgrim focuses his life.  That is to ask, is gratification of the flesh’s five senses the motivating principle for the pilgrim’s choices?  Or does that pilgrim live “in the spirit”, meaning that his choices seek to allow the Holy Spirit to rule—to give order and aim—to the pilgrim’s journey? Continue reading →

Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Genesis 27:1-5,15-29  +  Matthew 9:14-17
July 8, 2017

“‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?’”

It’s the disciples of St. John the Baptist—and not the saint himself—who appear and speak in today’s Gospel passage.  Nonetheless, today’s passage offers us similarities and contrasts between John and Jesus:  one of them the voice of the Word, and the other the Word made Flesh. Continue reading →

Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Genesis 23:1-4,19; 24:1-8,62-67  +  Matthew 9:9-13
July 7, 2017

“‘I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.’”

Today’s Gospel passage presents to us the vocation of Saint Matthew.  The word “vocation” literally means a “calling”.  A vocation is something “vocal”, which comes from the Voice of God (or perhaps better, the Word of God).  That might not seem earth-shattering news.  But what we sometimes forget is that a Christian vocation is not announced by Christ to a Christian at a single initial moment. Continue reading →

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Genesis 22:1-19  +  Matthew 9:1-8
July 6, 2017

“‘…but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’”

Today’s First Reading is one of the more famous and more moving passages of the Old Testament.  The Church Fathers comment upon this passage at length and to great depth.  But consider just one idea from among the many that this passage holds.  Reflect on the notion of liberty. Continue reading →

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Genesis 21:5,8-20  +  Matthew 8:28-34
July 5, 2017

“…when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.”

Demonic possession is an extremely serious matter.  While some in our day dismiss it, suggesting that reported cases of possession are in fact only psychological disorders, the Church takes today’s Gospel passage at its word. Continue reading →

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Genesis 19:15-29  +  Matthew 8:23-27
July 4, 2017

Nota bene:  in the United States, a Votive Mass may be offered today in honor of Independence Day.  In that case, the Scriptures for Holy Mass may differ.

“‘What sort of man is this…?’”

Today’s Gospel passage offers another example of the disciples not seeing the forest for the trees.  Their question at the end of the passage is sincere and understandable, not rhetorical:  “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”  They admit their ignorance of the deeper identity of Jesus.  They do know that he is more than just a fisherman or carpenter.  They do know that he has miraculous powers.  But what exactly do His powers tell us about who he is? Continue reading →

St. Thomas, Apostle
Ephesians 2:19-22  +  John 20:24-29
July 3, 2017

“‘…bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’”

The Scriptures for the Mass of St. Thomas’ feast actually focus on him very little.  It’s not uncommon for the First Reading on the feast of an apostle to be either written by him or at least refer to him in passing.  However, today’s First Reading from St. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians does not mention Thomas.  Its focus is the Church. Continue reading →