Saturday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
2 Corinthians 12:1-10  +  Matthew 6:24-34
June 22, 2019

   “You cannot serve God and mammon.”   

These famous words from Jesus mark a clear divide between Heaven and earth, and between the spiritual and the material.  But to consider these words of Jesus seriously, we need first to address an underlying assumption. Continue reading →

St. Aloysius Gonzaga
2 Corinthians 11:18,21-30  +  Matthew 6:19-23
June 21, 2019

   “…where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”   

Today’s Gospel passage from the Sermon on the Mount seems to have two distinct sections.  Nevertheless, a connection suggests itself.  The first section concerns wealth of different types.  The second concerns the human eye and light.  So what does human vision have to do with human wealth? Continue reading →

Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
2 Corinthians 11:1-11  +  Matthew 6:7-15
June 20, 2019

   “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name.”   

Putting the Gospel passages from recent weekday Masses in context, we see the theme of God the Father emerge.  These passages come from the Sermon on the Mount.  Two days ago the Church proclaimed the last section of Matthew 5, the last phrase of which is Jesus’ command to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Yesterday’s Gospel passage concerned the performance of “righteous deeds”, for which God the “Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Continue reading →

Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
2 Corinthians 9:6-11  +  Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 
June 19, 2019

   “And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”   

Today’s Gospel passage is—to the verse—the same passage that we hear every year on Ash Wednesday.  The Church proclaims it today, in the middle of a week in Ordinary Time, because the cycle of Gospel passages for weekday Mass tends to go sequentially through a Gospel account.  This is different than the cycle for Sunday Mass, in which the Gospel passage more often jumps throughout the course of the Gospel account. Continue reading →

Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
2 Corinthians 8:1-9  +  Matthew 5:43-48 
June 18, 2019

   “…pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father….”   

Today’s Gospel passage is from the first third of the “Sermon on the Mount”.  This “inaugural address” is recorded in full only in Matthew, in Chapters 5-7.  Today’s Gospel passage forms part of a series in Chapter 5 of five contrasts between the commands of the Law and Jesus’ commands to love.  Each contrast uses a variation of the form, “You have heard it said… but I say to you.” Continue reading →

Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
2 Corinthians 6:1-10  +  Matthew 5:38-42
June 17, 2019

   “Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back….”   

As we continue to hear Our Lord preach the Sermon on the Mount, it is striking how down to earth His words are.  He does not speak fluff:  the sort of words that we hear from so many spiritual gurus.  He gives very practical advice about how to treat others.  In doing so, Our Lord is drawing us into a deeper relationship with the Father. Continue reading →

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity [C]
Prv 8:22-31  +  Rom 5:1-5  +  Jn 16:12-15
June 16, 2019

   “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”   

The Church celebrates today the central mystery of our Christian Faith.  The life of the Most Holy Trinity is the mystery from which all other mysteries of our Catholic Faith flow.  Yet the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is difficult to wrap our heads around. Continue reading →

Saturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
2 Corinthians 5:14-21  +  Matthew 5:33-37
June 15, 2019

   “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’”   

Saturday is the day of the week dedicated to Our Blessed Mother Mary.  We ought, each Saturday morning and/or afternoon, spend time in devotion to her.  One way to foster such devotion is to reflect on the Scriptures from that morning’s Mass in light of Mary’s life and vocation. Continue reading →

Friday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time [I]
2 Corinthians 4:7-15  +  Matthew 5:27-32 
June 14, 2019

   “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.’”   

Jesus continues in today’s Gospel passage to give examples of the Law being fulfilled.  These two examples are about adultery and divorce.  While both examples concern human sexuality, Jesus’ teachings about these two grave sins take different approaches. Continue reading →