The 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Wis 11:22—12:2  +  2 Thes 1:11—2:2  +  Lk 19:1-10
October 30, 2016

“…but he could not see Him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.” 

Out of the 52 Sundays of the year, thirty-plus are Sundays in Ordinary Time.  When we reach these “Thirty-something” weeks, we know that the Church’s year is drawing to a close.  During these final weeks, the Church focuses on what are called “the Last Things”:  that is, those realities that we associate with the end of the world.  Of course, there’s never a shortage of prophets predicting that the end of the world is near. Continue reading →

Saturday – 30th Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Philippians 1:18-26  +  Luke 14:1,7-11
October 29, 2016

“‘…do not recline at table in the place of honor.’” 

The virtue of humility is a thread that runs through today’s Scriptures.  Jesus weaves this thread through the parable that He tells after noticing that His fellow dinner guests were choosing the places of honor at the table (Luke 14:7).  They were not content to receive a sumptuous meal.  They wanted also to receive honor. Continue reading →

The Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Ephesians 2:19-22  +  Luke 6:12-16
October 28, 2016

“…with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone.”

Those who receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders strengthen the communion of the Church by living as an image of Christ, who gave his life for the Church.  The life of the ordained minister, like that of the married person, is, first and foremost, relational.  Through this relationship between himself and Christ’s spouse, the Church, the one who is ordained administers the sacraments of the Church. Continue reading →

Thursday – 30th Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Ephesians 6:10-20  +  Luke 13:31-35
October 27, 2016

“Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the Devil.”

Today is the last day on which we hear at weekday Mass from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.  Today’s passage comes from the last chapter of Ephesians.  It’s a fitting passage to hear within this 30th week in Ordinary Time. Continue reading →

Wednesday – 30^th Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Ephesians 6:1-9  +  Luke 13:22-30
October 26, 2016

“‘Depart from me, all you evildoers!’”

Christ in today’s Gospel touches upon one of the great temptations faced by those who serve Him.  Repeatedly He tells us that our motivations are as important as our words and actions.  Indeed, bad motives can cancel the “good” we think do and say. Continue reading →

Tuesday – 30^th Week – Ordinary Time [II]
Ephesians 5:21-33  +  Luke 13:18-21
October 25, 2016

“ ‘To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?’ ”

Today’s Gospel passage presents two brief parables in which Jesus specifically focuses our attention on “the Kingdom of God”.  It might seem a simple question, but what exactly is this Kingdom? Continue reading →

The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Sir 35:12-14,16-18  +  2 Tim 4:6-8,16-18  + Lk 18:9-14
October 23, 2016

“…the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

You might have read that the Pope recently named seventeen new cardinals, including three Americans.  These new cardinals have a big task ahead of them, not only in advising the Pope, but also as they follow in the footsteps of men who have recently served as cardinals.  Men like Raymond Cardinal Burke, Robert Cardinal Sarah, and in decades past Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger have put the Catholic faithful in their debt by serving the Church with great fortitude, wisdom, and zeal.

This past week as I attended our diocese’s annual priest conference, I found myself reflecting on one of these cardinals who is so faithful to Holy Mother Church.  Earlier this month Cardinal Sarah gave an interview about his newly published book, titled The Strength of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise.  Unfortunately, the book itself has not been translated into English, but the interview has. Continue reading →

Mon. – 30th Week – Ord. Time [II]
Ephesians 4:32—5:8  +  Luke 13:10-17
October 24, 2016 

“Blessed the man who… meditates on His law day and night.”

In today’s Responsorial Psalm, we hear the first psalm of the Psalter proclaimed at Holy Mass, and it helps bring focus to our spiritual life.  If you were to ask one hundred Christians whether they knew any of the psalms by heart, you’d probably not garner many “Yes”es.  Among those “Yes”es, most probably have memorized Psalm 23.  But those looking for one of the psalms to memorize ought to consider Psalm 1. Continue reading →

The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Sir 35:12-14,16-18  +  2 Tim 4:6-8,16-18  +  Lk 18:9-14
October 23, 2016

“‘…the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

Last Sunday Jesus spoke about the need to persevere in prayer.  This week, however, he shows us that perseverance will do no good if we’re not praying with spiritual humility.

Humility is the foundation upon which we pray in four ways.  Each of these four expresses the covenant—or PACT—with Him that we entered through Baptism.  It is easy to remember these forms of prayer if we remember the letters P-A-C-T.  The example of a child before his parent is a good image through which to reflect on these four, although here in a different order. Continue reading →