Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Exodus 33:7-11;34:5-9,28  +  Matthew 13:36-43
July 30, 2019

   “Whoever has ears ought to hear.”   

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus offers a point-by-point explanation of the parable that He preached in the passage proclaimed a few days earlier in the cycle of Ordinary Time weekdays.  The evangelists rarely offer us examples of Jesus explaining a parable, so today’s passage is insightful not only in terms of the parable’s content, but also in terms of Jesus’ method of using parables. Continue reading →

St. Martha
Exodus 32:15-24,30-34  +  John 11:19-27 [or Luke 10:38-42]
July 29, 2019

   “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.”   

On this feast of Saint Martha, the Gospel Reading must come from the feast day.  The other readings may come from the day in Ordinary Time, which the feast supersedes.  However, there are two options for the Gospel Reading on this feast.  Both, of course, feature Martha. Continue reading →

The 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Gen 18:20-32  +  Col 2:12-14  +  Lk 11:1-13
July 28, 2019

   “…how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”.   

Four Sundays ago we heard Jesus begin his long journey to Jerusalem.  He was “resolutely determined” to journey there, even though He knew full well what He would find at the end of the road.  During these Sundays in Ordinary Time, we are listening to Jesus so that we might follow Him no matter where He leads.

Any guide worth his salt covers the basics at the start of a journey.  Jesus is the best of guides.  He prepares us for the journey to Heaven by way of the Cross.  Today in the Gospel Reading, He’s covering some basic skills regarding prayer that we need for our journey. Continue reading →

Saturday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Exodus 24:3-8  +  Matthew 13:24-30
July 27, 2019

   “Where have the weeds come from?”   

“Let them grow together until harvest,” the sower in Jesus’ parable says, referring to the weeds and the wheat.  Modern farmers may not follow the sower’s advice, but the parable is clearly meant to teach a lesson in spirituality, not agriculture. Continue reading →

Sts. Joachim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Exodus 20:1-17  +  Matthew 13:18-23
July 26, 2019

   “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it….”   

If you work on a computer you know that how many things one can do with them.  They can help us with our homework, with our finances, with preparing a talk, with sending messages and pictures to our loved ones by email.  The list seems endless. Continue reading →

St. James the Greater, Apostle
2 Corinthians 4:7-15  +  Matthew 20:20-28
July 25, 2019

   …so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.   

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the apostle James.  But two of the apostles were named James.  The apostle whose feast we celebrate today is usually called “James the Greater”.  This James was the brother of St. John the Apostle. Continue reading →

Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Exodus 16:1-5,9-15  +  Matthew 13:1-9
July 24, 2019

   And He spoke to them at length in parables….   

Jesus paints four illustrations in today’s parable.  The first three are pictures of the sower laboring in vain because of “the path, rocky ground”, and “thorns”.  Only the fourth illustration describes seed falling “on rich soil”, producing “fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Continue reading →

Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
Exodus 14:21—15:1  +  Matthew 12:46-50
July 23, 2019

   “Here are my mother and my brothers.”   

For at least two reasons, today’s Gospel Reading may be used (erroneously) to criticize Catholic beliefs.  The first is that Jesus seems to downplay the significance of His birth mother, Mary.  The second is that Jesus refers to His “brothers”, which seems to contradict the Church’s teaching about Mary’s perpetual virginity.  In replying to both concerns, we can not only help those with misunderstandings, but we can ourselves move closer to the heart of Jesus’ words. Continue reading →

The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Gen 18:1-10  +  Col 1:24-28  +  Lk 10:38-42
July 21, 2019

“There is need of only one thing.”

Maybe you’ve been out to eat, and as you’re sitting there in the restaurant, you notice a young couple sitting in a booth, across from each other.  But they’re not saying a word to each other, and they’re not even looking at each other.  Maybe it’s a blind date gone wrong, or maybe they’ve been dating for some time and recently had an argument.  Regardless, even though they’re sitting just a few feet from each other, these two persons are in each other’s presence only in terms of physical distance.  In terms of understanding each other, they’re miles apart.

On the other hand, maybe you’ve seen an elderly couple eating together.  They don’t speak to each other—not because they don’t want to—but because they don’t need to.  They understand each other so well, that they can see and hear things about each other without the need for words.  They can comfort, console, and encourage each other simply by being in the other person’s presence. Continue reading →