Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time [II]
Ephesians 2:1-10  +  Luke 12:13-21
October 22, 2018

“‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you….’”

Regarding today’s Gospel passage, we need to reflect both upon Jesus’ interaction with the jealous brother, and His parable to the crowd.  Here, consider the latter. Continue reading →

The Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
Isa 53:10-11  +  Heb 4:14-16  +  Mk 10:35-45
October 21, 2018

So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

The New Testament Letter to the Hebrews, from which Sunday’s Second Reading is taken, offers a profound meditation on the meaning that suffering gains through Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross.  Here one of the best-known definitions of “courage” is illustrated:  “not the absence of fear, but fear that has been prayed over.” Continue reading →

St. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Galatians 4:22-24,26-27,31—5:1  +  Luke 11:29-32
October 15, 2018

These women represent two covenants.

In today’s First Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the Apostle to the Gentiles uses a very direct allegory.  Abraham begat one son by a free woman, and another son by a slave woman.  St. Paul sees the slave son as an allegory for those held bound by the Law, while the free son is an allegory for those who share in the freedom of Christ. Continue reading →

The Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
Wis 7:7-11  +  Heb 4:12-13  +  Mk 10:17-30
October 14, 2018

Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands.

At the beginning of Sunday’s First Reading, the virtue of prudence is invoked.  The Old Testament scribe proclaims:  “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.”  Now honestly, to many persons, prudence does not seem the most interesting of the Christian virtues.  After all, it’s not as simple as the virtue of humility, or as bold as the virtue of courage, or as sublime as the virtue of charity.  To be honest, as virtues go, prudence seems sort of like oatmeal. Continue reading →

Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time [II]
Galatians 1:6-12  +  Luke 10:25-37
October 8, 2018

“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Today we hear one of the more famous parables of Jesus.  The Parable of the Good Samaritan ought profoundly to shape our spiritual and moral lives.  That order of things is important, however:  spiritual and then moral. Continue reading →

The Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
Genesis 2:18-24  +  Hebrews 2:9-11  +  Mark 10:2-16
October 7, 2018

The Lord God said:  “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

The foundation of marriage is Christ’s love:  that is, the love of His Sacred Heart, which is the love that seals the spouses’ lives together.  This is the only thing strong enough to save marriage.  This is true not only of marriage in general.  It’s also true of each particular marriage:  when it’s at its worst, each marriage can only be saved by Christ’s love. Continue reading →

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin & Doctor of the Church
Job 1:6-22  + Luke 9:46-50
October 1, 2018

“Whoever receives this child in My Name receives Me….”

During Christmastide we are used to thinking of Jesus—the divine Word made Flesh—dwelling among us as an infant.  But today, near the start of Autumn, Jesus counsels us to receive Him as a child.  Clearly, then, spiritual childhood isn’t just for Christmas! Continue reading →

The Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
Num 11:25-29  +  Jas 5:1-6  +  Mk 9:38-43,45,47-48
September 30, 2018

“It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.”

Jesus wants us to wake up when He boldly explains that “It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.” Continue reading →

Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time [II]
Proverbs 3:27-34   +   Luke 8:16-18
September 24, 2018

“Take care, then, how you hear.”

Today the First Reading at weekday Mass begins to come from the Book of Proverbs.  As proverbs tend to be pithy, their nature resembles that of Jesus’ parables.  Hearing the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel passage, we can imagine that He is speaking to us when He says:  “Take care, then, how you hear.  To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” Continue reading →