2) Matthew 8:28-34 (Opt. Mem. Blessed Junípero
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Wednesday, July 1, 2015 WEDNESDAY OF (Lec. 379) 13TH WEEK 1) Genesis 21:5, 8-20a IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 8:28-34 (Opt. Mem. Blessed Junípero Serra, Priest)
FOCUS: Our Father knows our fears and anxieties and gives us the guidance, strength and grace to overcome them.
Fear is a strong emotion that can drive human beings to behave in ways that are unfair and unreasonable. In today’s reading from Genesis, Sarah rejects Ishmael, whom Abraham had with the slave woman, because she had finally given birth to her own child, Isaac. She wants nothing to do with Ishmael; she will not even allow him to play with her son. She seems to fear that this child might share in what was now Isaac’s inheritance, so she orders the “substitute” son to leave with his mother. As unfair as it seems, God guides Abraham to do what Sarah requests, counseling him to have faith and hope that the future will turn out better for Haggar and Ishmael than their present situation. Abraham knew how unfair Sarah was being. God knew how unfair she was being as well, but he brought good out of this situation. Both young sons of Abraham would become the leaders of nations and people.
Fear appears to be a central element in the Gospel story, as well. Although Jesus helped the townspeople by making one of their roads safe for travel, the power he displayed by healing the demoniacs made the people fearful and they wanted him gone from them. In allowing their fear to dictate their actions, they told Jesus to leave their town. In essence, they denied themselves the saving presence of God in their midst and thereby closed themselves off to the good that could come of it. They lacked faith and hastily reacted in fear.
But since God knows human nature, he sends us the Holy Spirit to help guide our hearts to better decision-making and, therefore, better outcomes for ourselves and those around us. Throughout the Bible, we are told time and again not to be anxious and fearful because God is in charge, but we fail continually to heed this message. These stories are just two examples among many.
With human nature being as it is, fear will always be an emotion with which we struggle. However, by placing our faith in God, and opening our hearts to his grace, we will receive the guidance and strength we need to cope with our fears and anxieties so that we may remain steadfast in faith.
Although it may seem difficult to maintain our faith at times, we must persevere through prayer and worship as children of God, knowing he loves and cares for us completely. Thursday, July 2, 2015 THURSDAY OF (Lec. 380) 13TH WEEK 1) Genesis 22:1b-19 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 9:1-8
FOCUS: In faith, we come together to ask God’s forgiveness and help in curing our ills.
How many times has someone asked you to pray for a loved one? Pray for my mom, she is sick, or please say a prayer for my son, who is looking for a job. The times are probably too numerous to count. And what exactly can we do by praying for these people whom we may not even know? We are interceding, or praying to God on their behalf, but what is intercessory prayer?
Both of the biblical stories we heard today are filled with intercessory prayer. Any parent who has ever been in a difficult situation with a child would agree that Abraham had to be praying as he headed up the mountain with Isaac. Isaac, too, was old enough to realize that something was wrong, and he asked his father about it. Abraham had taught the boy about God and God’s faithfulness. He had taught his son to pray as well. It would be hard to believe, as these two walked to the place of sacrifice, that they weren’t deep in prayer, one for the other: Isaac asking God to help his father, Abraham, find an unblemished lamb worthy to sacrifice, and Abraham asking, perhaps as Jesus asked in the Garden of Gethsemane, to “take this cup from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
We also see intercessory prayer at work in the Gospel reading from Saint Matthew, in the people who directly intercede on the paralytic’s behalf by carrying him on a stretcher and bringing him to Jesus.
In the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Mark, the story is even more dramatic because people literally have to climb onto the roof of the place where Jesus was, and lower the paralytic down to Jesus. Think of the times when someone has asked you to pray for the healing of another. Perhaps we elicit the help of a certain saint, such as Saint Peregrine, who is invoked in prayer to aid those with cancer. Or perhaps we ask for the intercession of a holy man or woman who is a candidate for beatification. We tell our friends to ask for their intercession as we join our prayers to theirs.
What is it that we are doing? We are joining together in faith. Many times we have in mind the outcome that we would like to see – in the case of cancer, a full cure of course – but intercessory prayer seeks God’s will for our lives. When we offer intercessory prayer we must trust that God knows what it is that we need and will grant our prayers accordingly.
* * * * * Friday, July 3, 2015 SAINT THOMAS, (Lec. 593) APOSTLE 1) Ephesians 2:19-22 - FEAST 2) John 20:24-29 Gospel related: CCC 448, 644, 645, 659
FOCUS: We eat and drink the body and blood of the risen Lord, and profess with our “Amen” that we believe in him.
We all know how important it is to us when a family member or friend believes what we tell them. This type of affirmation occurs when a child tells an adult the truth about a fight on the playground, and the child is believed; or when spouses express love to their partner and they are believed. Belief is essential to a relationship, and relationships are essential for living a life in Christ – for being a Christian.
Belief can be viewed as the twin sister of trust. Trust and belief operate hand-in-hand. As we grow to trust someone, we are more likely to believe that person is telling the truth. On the other hand, if deception occurs in a relationship, it breaks the bond of trust. We need to nurture trust in order to be able to build healthy relationships. Relationships, belief and trust – how do these concepts fit with today’s Scripture readings?
In our first reading, Saint Paul describes a relational church to the Christians at Ephesus. He wants them to understand that the Christian Church is united in Christ. Paul clearly describes the Church as members of God’s household. In using the analogy of a building, Paul points out that the Apostles are the foundation, and Christ Jesus is the capstone that holds it all together. All of them, Jews and Gentiles, are being built together by Jesus into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Enter belief. Did the early Christian Church buy into this idea of a Church made up of different people united in Christ? Knowing human nature, we can assume that Paul was addressing a real issue – the divisions that exist between groups of people. Paul’s teaching also applies to us. Today we still struggle with divisiveness within the Catholic Church. Do we trust what Paul is saying and are we able to believe and act on what he is telling us?
At times, ignorance or lack of understanding can get in the way of good intentions. This seems to be the case with the Apostle Thomas in today’s Gospel. The other disciples didn’t believe Jesus had risen until the risen Lord Jesus appeared to them and talked with them. So, it is understandable that Thomas, who was not present when Jesus appeared, would also have his doubts until he, like the others, was able to personally witness the risen Christ.
Although we do not know for certain why Thomas expressed his lack of belief, what we do know is that in the presence of the risen Lord, he came to believe when he said, My Lord and my God. There is only one risen Lord, and as he appeared to Thomas and the disciples, he also is present to us. Think of it. There is only one risen Lord and he says to us, Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. Very simply, then, Jesus invites us to trust in him, to believe in him. Saturday, July 4, 2015 SATURDAY OF (Lec. 382) 13TH WEEK 1) Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 9:14-17 (Opt. Mem. Independence Day In United States of America; Saturday in honor of BVM)
NOTE: For Independence Day, any readings from the Lectionary for Ritual Masses (vol. IV), the Mass "For the Country or a City," nos. 882-886, or "For Peace and Justice," nos 887-891.
FOCUS: Jesus brought the new wine of the kingdom of God to the world.
As each generation comes along, there seems to be new advice offered in books, on television, and the Internet as to how one should “parent” his or her child. “We used to do it this way and it worked,” is heard from the past generation. “It is psychologically better for a child to do it this way?” the new generation retorts, and the age-old debate goes on. Do the ways of the past work better than the ways of the present? Although new understandings and practices will come and go, one thing is certain – it takes an open mind and willingness to listen to raise healthy children these days.
Our faith journey needs that same open mind and willingness to listen. It is not so much that we need to do things differently; it is more that we have to be open to the Holy Spirit and what the Spirit is trying to tell us. Jesus came at a time when complacency in the practice of religion was high. There were those who were comfortable with their way and they were concerned when others did not comply. Jesus made it clear that the ways of the past were not to be discarded, but now a new Gospel would enliven their hearts and minds. They had only to open themselves up to the richness of the kingdom of God that Jesus was proclaiming. He challenged his followers to embrace this new life while preserving the past, because putting new wine into old wineskins would cause them to burst and both would be lost.
So it is with our faith and the ways we practice our faith. The old ways may indeed be very good, but when we open ourselves to new forms of prayer and devotion, our faith can grow in new ways. Is that not what we want? For our faith and our relationship with God to grow stronger? If you are feeling somewhat complacent or less attentive in how you practice your faith, new practices may help you to reach a new understanding. An open mind and a willingness to listen is like new wineskins ready to receive the new wine – new insights into God’s love for you. Welcome this newness, it is a good thing.
* * * * * SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015 FOURTEENTH (Lec. 101) SUNDAY 1) Ezekiel 2:2-5 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 3) Mark 6:1-6a Gospel related: CCC 500, 699, 2610; CSDC 259
FOCUS: Prepare your hearts and minds for Jesus.
The sixth chapter of the Gospel of Mark begins with a series of questions. The people gathered in the synagogue, who had been listening to Jesus as he taught, were astonished at his wisdom. Because of this, they started asking questions about him. While we do not know what he was preaching to them, it must have been quite profound, because they were astonished that the words came from the carpenter, the son of Mary. Scripture tells us that his listeners recognized that the wisdom of Jesus was a gift, and they acknowledged that he had performed mighty deeds, but who was he? They wanted to know.
This passage from the Gospel of Mark is quite revealing. Those gathered in the synagogue must have been familiar with Jesus because they began to name his family – Mary his mother, his brothers, James and Joses, Judas and Simon. They even mention his sisters. It is important to note that this identification as brothers and sisters must be taken within the context of the time and language in which Jesus was living. These “brothers and sisters” would be more like extended family, perhaps cousins. This passage in no way contradicts the truth that Mary conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit and that she had no additional children.
The crowd, initially, was very taken with the authority in which Jesus proclaimed the Scripture. It was when they tried to reconcile how he could do so as a carpenter’s son that their admiration turned to animosity. They took offense at Jesus. It is not unreasonable to assume that he had worshiped with them, and now he was clearly being set apart as a prophet. Their questions indicate a lack of faith, because they, no doubt, had been witnesses to his earlier words and deeds. In spite of this, they had trouble accepting that the carpenter could be the Chosen One. Some who knew Jesus and lived in his community doubted who he was. The Incarnation continues to be a challenge for many even today, more than 2,000 years later.
For those of us who “walk by faith, not by sight,” there is a recognition that the Incarnation was a beautiful event, a real moment in time. We are here today because we believe in Jesus, even though we never shook his hand or heard his human voice. We are here because we believe in God’s Word, the Tradition of the Church, and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. We believe in the personal encounter we have with Jesus in every sacrament. Our faith is strong, and it carries us through all of our trials in life. But in the life of every Christian, we are, at times, like the people in the synagogue. We ask questions about Jesus. If you are among those who have stood at the foot of the cross and pondered his death, that does not mean you lack faith. But it is important to remain faithful on our journey of seeking greater awareness of Christ. We, too, may at times be puzzled by the carpenter, Mary’s son, but we are blessed in our knowledge of the Resurrection. This is something the synagogue audience could not have known.
Due to the lack of faith Jesus encountered on that day, Scripture tells us that he was unable to do all he could have. He cured a few sick people when he put his hands on them, but it is apparent that their lack of faith was an obstacle to their receiving the fullness of his words and deeds. Jesus himself acknowledged this when he told the people that A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house. As we prepare to receive Jesus in our hearts and in our homes, let us recall these words and welcome him in great faith.
* * * * * Monday, July 6, 2015 MONDAY OF (Lec. 383) 14TH WEEK 1) Genesis 28:10-22a IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 9:18-26 (Opt. Mem. Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr)
FOCUS: God’s generosity is limitless.
Today’s Gospel reading affords us an opportunity to ponder the boundless generosity of God’s love for all of his children, not just for Catholics, not just for Christians, but for all of his children. God’s Church is called to include, not exclude.
In today’s Gospel, we have a Jewish religious leader, a synagogue official whose daughter has just died, humbly asking Jesus to raise her from the dead. The remarkable thing is that he believed Jesus could do it! Bowing down to Jesus, he showed respect. This is in great contrast to the way many of the other Jewish religious authorities regarded and treated Jesus.
God’s love is boundless. Boundaries are human constructions, human categories. God knows no boundaries, including the boundary of time itself. Time is a human measurement, a human category. God operates outside of time. He is limitless. Nothing can limit him. And nothing can limit his love.
In this Gospel account, we need to give attention to Jesus and the woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years. The woman came up from behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak, thinking, If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed. Jesus turned, saw her, and said, Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you. And from that moment the woman was cured.
You can imagine how the synagogue official must have been terribly chagrined. He needed Jesus to come to his recently deceased daughter immediately, and yet Jesus, while on his way, is stopped by this woman. Time was of the essence and yet Jesus was unconcerned about time. How would you have felt had you been in the shoes of this frantic father?
So as we go about our lives today, and in all the days of our lives, it’s helpful for us to place all of the events and occurrences in which we find ourselves into the loving care of God who wants to heal us and deliver us from life’s fears, maladies and the evils that confront us. He will care for us according to his schedule. It can give us hope and serenity to realize that God’s saving and healing love has no limits and no boundaries. The only limits and boundaries that beset us are those of our own making, such as rejecting or closing our hearts to God’s love.
Peace comes into our souls when we place our cares and worries, our hopes and dreams, into the hands of Jesus who loves us beyond our wildest imagination. Tuesday, July 7, 2015 TUESDAY OF (Lec. 384) 14TH WEEK 1) Genesis 32:23-33 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 9:32-38 Gospel related: CCC 2611; CSDC 259
FOCUS: Discover God in the midst of your human troubles.
In today’s first reading, we hear about Jacob in the midst of family troubles, at a crisis point particularly with his brother, Esau. Jacob thought Esau was about to kill him, so dreadful were their troubles. Jacob was wrestling with huge problems. Eventually he came to realize that he was wrestling with God, with God’s plans and purposes. You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob he was told, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed.
The mysterious wrestling of Jacob with God is symbolic of the wrestling we Christians have within ourselves, with others, and with God – with God seen in the light and the obscurity of faith. Faith is, indeed, often a wrestling in the night with realities that surpass us, with a God so great and yet so lovable that he appears unbelievable, so different from us, at times seemingly absent, and yet so near. In these struggles, it is often not clear with whom we are wrestling. But we must hold on; we may not allow ourselves to be beaten. In the end there will be a blessing, just as Jesus had to wrestle with the forces of evil through his passion and death, until the dawn of the resurrection and of new life.
No one lives a trouble free life. The trick is to discover God, as Jacob did, in the midst of our wrestling with what we encounter in life.
* * * * * Wednesday, July 8, 2015 WEDNESDAY OF (Lec. 385) 14TH WEEK 1) Genesis 41:55-57; IN ORDINARY TIME 42:5-7a, 17-24a 2) Matthew 10:1-7 Gospel related: CCC 543
FOCUS: Let us, like the Apostles, be beacons of light in a world filled with darkness.
Jesus sent out his Apostles to heal the ills of the people, thereby ushering in the new era of the kingdom of God. Like the Apostles, we have to be healers in a world filled with moral and spiritual sickness.
We probably don’t think of ourselves as exorcists, as those who expel demons, but perhaps we should reconsider. To do that we need to put aside Hollywood versions of devils being driven out of poor souls, and then think of those times when perhaps we have helped people overcome sicknesses or their dark mental states of being. For instance, helping someone out of a depression is a form of exorcism. It is a driving of dark forces away from someone. That’s what the Apostles were sent to do; that’s what we are sent to do.
Prayer is a form of exorcism, a form of spiritual healing. The Act of Contrition is another. Turning to Jesus or turning to our Blessed Mother in times of temptation is a type of healing, a type of exorcism. Prayers for protection are forms of preventative medicine, preventative spiritual medicine. Our Blessed Mother has answered so many prayers for protection from people beset by many evils surrounding them. Turn to her.
Loneliness is a sickness that can bring darkness and various temptations to people. Helping them out of loneliness is a form of healing the sick.
There are so many ways we can drive the forces of darkness away from ourselves and others. All it takes is a little reflective thought on our part, and we can then be like the Apostles, bringing the light of God’s kingdom into the dark parts of our world.
Sometimes we may feel too self-conscious about sharing our gifts and talents with others. We should be careful not to slip into false humility and in so doing hide the gifts God has given us. Remember what Jesus taught us: You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The glory is not yours, it is God’s. Thursday, July 9, 2015 THURSDAY OF (Lec. 386) 14TH WEEK 1) Genesis 44:18-21, IN ORDINARY TIME 23b-29; 45:1-5 (Opt. Mem. Saint Augustine 2) Matthew 10:7-15 Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs) Gospel related: CCC 543, 1509, 2121, 2122, 2443; CSDC 184
FOCUS: Grateful for the manifold gifts and blessings that God has bestowed upon us, we are to generously pour ourselves out in love and service to others.
The school of thought known as radical individualism is prevalent throughout society. Radical individualism encourages a person to believe they are the author of their own destiny, encourages a person to believe that right and wrong are merely a matter of personal choice, and encourages a person to think that the only obligation they have in life is to themselves.
One place where radical individualism is readily apparent is in pop culture. Take for example, Frank Sinatra’s hit song My Way which includes the following lyrics, “Regrets, I’ve had a few; But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exception. I planned each charted course; each careful step along the byway, and more, much more than this, I did it my way.”
Although this type of individualism has a seemingly benign presence in popular culture, it is a source of concern because of the negative influence it has on people today. When people adopt this school of thought and its tenants to guide and direct the decisions they make in life, they begin to make choices based solely on self-interest, regardless of the impact those choices may have upon the lives of others.
As Christians, we recognize that this is a skewed vision for living life. The good news is that we do not have to look far for direction on how to respond when confronted by radical individualism. Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. These words remind us of the truth that all we are and all we have are gifts from God, and rightfully cannot be claimed as our own.
Pausing for a moment to reflect, it is apparent that this truth has some important implications for our lives. Namely, that God expects us to be grateful for the gift of life he has given us, for our unique gifts and talents, and the other material blessings he has bestowed upon us. Then, out of love and gratitude, God expects us to generously give of ourselves in love and service to others and to share our blessings. When we do this, we are able to touch the lives and hearts of others, make the world a better place, and help build up the kingdom of God on earth. And we testify to the truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
* * * * * Friday, July 10, 2015 FRIDAY OF (Lec. 387) 14TH WEEK 1) Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 10:16-23 Gospel related: CCC 161, 728, 764, 1821
FOCUS: God is with us, and has promised that we need not be afraid of whatever may come.
Today’s first reading contains an often-used phrase in the Bible when God says: Do not be afraid. He says this to Israel, or Jacob, as he calls him to go with his people to the land of Egypt. This takes place many years after Israel’s sons sent their brother, Joseph, into slavery there, where Joseph rose to prominence.
But as Israel was traveling to Egypt, God came to him and spoke these powerful words: Be not afraid. What did Israel fear? We get a sense from how God responds. He says that in Egypt, he will make Israel a great nation. This was the promise given to Israel’s grandfather, Abraham, and given the situation, it seems Israel would be concerned about the fulfillment of that promise.
Israel also seems also concerned about another promise given to his father, that he would inherit the Promised Land. Egypt was in the wrong direction, so Israel was afraid. How does God respond? He says, I will go down…with you, and, I will also bring you back here. God does not simply tell Israel that he will be safe. Instead, God says that he will be with him, and that Israel will accomplish these things. This is why Israel does not have to worry. God does not say, “This will happen,” but “I will do this.”
Is this not what God also says to us today? In our Gospel we catch a glimpse of what God will do for us as Christians. Just as Israel had to trust that his family would be safe in moving to a pagan land, so we have to trust in God’s promises as well. Jesus describes in detail the persecution his disciples will face, no doubt preparing them for the reality of what was to come. We face similar challenges in being outwardly Christian in our world today.
But should we be afraid of these challenges? No! Israel had the promise of becoming a great nation, inheriting the Promised Land and having God at his side. We also have received a promise: the promise of being a part of the adopted family of God, the Church, on our way to the Promised Land of heaven. We have been promised that through baptism and Eucharist, we are united to God.
This is why Jesus tells his disciples not to fear when they are brought before authorities in persecution. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father, will speak through them. Surely, with such a God as this, we need not fear the trials that may come. Therefore, let us draw ever closer to the Lord in faith and entrust our lives to him, for he is our rock and our salvation. Saturday, July 11, 2015 SATURDAY OF (Lec. 388) 14TH WEEK 1) Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26a IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 10:24-33 (OBL. MEM. Saint Benedict, Abbot) Gospel related: CCC 14, 305, 363, 765, 1034, 1816, 2145
FOCUS : Fear not, Jesus tells us, be not afraid. I am with you.
In the first reading, we find the brothers of Joseph, those who had tried to get rid of him, now begging for Joseph’s forgiveness. Joseph had ended up in Egypt, and was the Pharaoh’s most trusted and chief minister, the second most powerful man in Egypt. Please, they begged Joseph, forgive the crime that we, the servants of your father’s God, committed. Joseph was so moved to be reunited with his family that he broke into tears. He replied to them: Have no fear. Can I take the place of God? Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people. Therefore have no fear. I will provide for you and for your children.
By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them. Forgiveness is powerful. It frees us.
Fear is a powerful emotion that can paralyze us. Fear can tear us away from God and can prevent us from accomplishing God’s purposes. Again and again, Jesus said to his disciples: Do not be afraid. After the Resurrection, those were Jesus’ first words to his disciples as they were locked in the upper room out of fear.
God's kingdom cannot be built up without crosses and sacrifices, not without being contested by a world that wants to create its own future. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul, Jesus tells us, For only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows.
Do not be afraid of professing your faith or afraid of living it. Trust in God, the God who stands behind you even though the forces of evil in this world surround you and attempt to control you. They will use fear as their chief weapon against you.
Pope St. John Paul II, from the very first moments of his papacy, constantly and continually cried out: “Do not be afraid.” His strength was great, and it encouraged and empowered many people. Let us model that strength and courage today.
Fear not, Jesus tells us, be not afraid. I am with you.
* * * * * SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2015 FIFTEENTH (Lec. 104) SUNDAY 1) Amos 7:12-15 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Ephesians 1:3-14 or 1:3-10 3) Mark 6:7-13 Gospel related: CCC 765, 1506, 1511, 1673
FOCUS: God calls each of us to a life of discipleship.
In today’s readings, we see the theme of being called is readily apparent. The prophet Amos explains he has been called by God to bring his word to the people. In today’s second reading from the letter to the Ephesians, the theme of call is emphasized as we are reminded that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing under the heavens. As such, we are called and expected to lead lives which bear good fruit for the Gospel and give glory to God. And Jesus, in today’s Gospel, summons the Twelve; he instructs them, gives them authority and sends them out two by two to preach repentance to cure the sick and expel demons.
Similarly, each of us is called, by virtue of baptism, to holiness – to lead lives which are holy and without blemish. However, as we know, perhaps all too well, it’s not easy. We often fall short and sin. When this happens, we needn’t be dismayed, but rather turn to Christ and ask for his forgiveness and healing mercy so that we may get back up on our spiritual feet and continue to live, love and serve as he calls us to.
Sometimes, answering God’s call will lead to rejection, as the prophet Amos is rejected in today’s first reading, and the twelve Apostles in today’s Gospel are prepared to be unwelcome and unheeded by some people. Even when being a disciple of Jesus is difficult, though, it’s important to remember that God loves us. He has a plan for you that includes – according to Saint Paul – being blessed, being adopted as God’s daughter or son, being redeemed from sin and death, being forgiven, being lavished with grace – living in the favor of God.
Yes, there will be times when people might say, by word and deed, Off with you, as the prophet Amos experienced in being faithful to what God had called him to do. Yes, there might be times when our transgressions will discourage us. But our “yes” to God – our answering his call – ensures that his healing and his great love are always available to us through his son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
God has a plan for our lives. He loves us. He will stay with us during trials and struggles. He will pour down his healing mercy. He had redeemed us by the blood of his only-begotten son, Jesus, shed on the cross out of love for us, to save us from sin and death. Just keep saying “yes” to God’s call. Be like Amos, Saint Paul, the Apostles and Jesus, and keep saying “yes” to our Father in heaven.
* * * * * Monday, July 13, 2015 MONDAY OF (Lec. 389) 15TH SUNDAY 1) Exodus 1:8-14, 22 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 10:34-11:1 (Opt. Mem. Saint Henry) Gospel related: CCC 858, 1506, 2232; CSDC 379
FOCUS: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Many of us have found ourselves in the difficult situation where there is conflict between our faith and the choices those closest to us make. At times like these, speaking up, even with respect for others, is difficult. Sometimes remaining faithful to God can drive a wedge between friends, and even family.
It may be friends cheating on a test or taxes. Do we remain honest? It may be terrible things being said about another person, and people turn to us expecting our agreement or participation. Do we join in the gossip or defend the reputation of others?
We could be asked to approve of something with which we don’t agree. We may need to express an opinion that is consistent with the Gospel, but in conflict with those with whom we share friendship or family ties.
In all these circumstances, we are faced with the truth of today’s Gospel. Remaining faithful to Christ can mean division, persecution and possibly rejection. How do we stand firm?
In the first reading today from the Book of Exodus, the growth of the number of Israelites posed a threat to the people of Egypt, and they were persecuted. The Israelites had done nothing to deserve such treatment; they had remained faithful to God and had flourished. Yet, for no other reason, a great burden was laid upon them, including the death of the innocent.
In our day, the death of the innocent still happens, as in the case of the unborn. Yet when we speak up for the rights of the unborn, we may risk alienation. If our words are harsh and without love, we may deserve the alienation our words bring. If our words of support are spoken with compassion and accompanied by charitable actions, they may still bring division. But at some later time, our faithfulness may provide a bridge for others back to God.
Regardless of whether our words or actions bring unity or division, today’s Gospel calls us to faithfulness. Our first reading gives us hope, knowing that in the end the Israelites entered the Promised Land.
Remaining faithful to Christ will bring division – Jesus foretells this. But it is worth it to remain faithful to the one who is always faithful to us. Tuesday, July 14, 2015 TUESDAY OF (Lec. 390) 15TH WEEK 1) Exodus 2:1-15a IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 11:20-24 (OBL. MEM. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin) Gospel related: CCC 678
FOCUS: God desires our salvation and relentlessly pursues us with love.
A father instinctively reaches out to stop a child running toward a roadway. When a young child reaches out a finger to touch a hot stove, a mother screams or slaps their hand away. The mother doesn't worry about hurting her child's feelings, she is focused on preventing a dangerous burn. Protection and warning are part of a parent's job.
The same is true of our heavenly Father. There is a tendency to wince when we hear the firm words of Jesus' warnings in this passage from the Gospel of Saint Matthew. It's OK if wincing gets our attention, but never should we miss the great love with which these difficult words are spoken. They call us to repent, to turn away from sin, so God can draw us closer to himself. Paired with today's Gospel, the story of Moses stands as a good reminder of how God longs to deliver each of us, to bear us up, favor us and protect us, so that each of us may play our own unique role in God’s unfolding plan of salvation.
The book of Judith, chapter 8, verse 27, says this about God: He has not tested us with fire, as he did them, to try their hearts, nor is he taking vengeance on us. But the Lord chastises those who are close to him in order to admonish them.
Sacred Scripture reveals to us the nature of our loving God. He is a gentle Father and a faithful shepherd. In today's Gospel, we can sense the intensity of God's longing for us.
Today is the feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a young Mohawk woman who was orphaned at four, and who survived a terrible smallpox epidemic. At the age of twenty, she gave her life to God, living as an example of Christian virtue until her death a few years later. Kateri found in her sufferings not the punishment of God, but the love of Jesus. She died with a prayer of love on her lips. Hours later, witnesses report that the severe scarring on her face from the smallpox had disappeared. In death, her new life of glory shone through. Her face was radiant.
Let us, like Kateri, offer the suffering of our mind and bodies to our loving God. Let us hear sometimes difficult words as tender gifts of love from our Savior, and let us, like Moses, go forth with willing, humble hearts to do what God bids of us.
* * * * * Wednesday, July 15, 2015 WEDNESDAY OF (Lec. 391) 15TH WEEK 1) Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 11:25-27 (OBL. MEM. Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) Gospel related: CCC 2603, 2779
FOCUS: We become holy by trusting in God.
Bonaventure was a brilliant man. He was a formidable theologian, on a par with Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas. He was a brilliant philosopher, drawing ideas from both Plato and Aristotle, and contributing substantially to the rise in the medieval Church of a system of theology and philosophy based on Aristotelian logic and the writing of the early Church Fathers known as Scholasticism. He was a gifted administrator, steering his fellow Franciscans on a course that would make them the most prominent Catholic order until the rise of the Jesuits. He was even a skilled politician, guiding the election of Pope Gregory X at the close of the longest papal conclave in history, and working toward a short-lived reunion of the Church in the East and the West at the Second Council of Lyon shortly before his death in 1274.
But none of these qualities made him a saint. His holiness grew from his love of God. To Bonaventure, the intellect, while important, paled before the power of the heart. He was named a Doctor of the Church because of his intellectual contributions. He was named the "Seraphic Doctor" because of his undiminished adoration of Jesus in prayer and in the Blessed Sacrament. Like the seraphim before the Throne of God, Bonaventure sings "Holy, Holy, Holy" to the undivided Trinity through his humble trust in Christ.
And that's why in our first reading, it is appropriate we hear Moses in his humility asking, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? and God replying I will be with you. It's not Moses who brings the people out of Egypt, it is God by his mighty hand.
And that's also why we hear Jesus thank his Father for hiding these things from the wise and learned and revealing them to the childlike. The wise and the learned thought they were too wise to learn any more. The childlike retained both their childlike trust and childlike wonder in Jesus' presence.
And Saint Bonaventure, who was “wise and learned,” understood that continuing to lead a life patterned on Jesus comes from having a humble heart and a childlike trust and dependence upon God. He never seemed to lose the wonder or the love he experienced in God's presence. His head may have been filled with the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, and the theology of Augustine, but his heart was filled with the love of God.
His holiness grew daily through his childlike trust in, and great love for God. And that holiness is what made Bonaventure a saint. We are called to the same holiness, and if we continue to love and trust God with a childlike trust every day, then we, too, like Saint Bonaventure, will become saints.
* * * * * Thursday, July 16, 2015 THURSDAY OF (Lec. 392) 15TH WEEK 1) Exodus 3:13-20 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 11:28-30 (Opt. Mem. Our Lady of Mount Carmel) Gospel related: CCC 459, 1615, 1658
FOCUS: The abiding presence of God knows the suffering of his people. He will save and comfort us.
Time after time, suffering and oppression move people to pray, but also to question. God, why did you allow this to happen? God, do you hear my prayers? God, do you not care? Are you even there?
Perhaps no one knew praying and questioning better than the oppressed, suffering people of Israel. Today’s reading from Exodus is the pivotal point when God will begin to deliver his people from slavery. God speaks to his chosen servant, Moses, out of a burning bush and reveals himself, and reveals his concern for his people and his plan to free them from their bondage. These revelations answered the typical questions prompted by suffering. Let us listen to God’s words. First, God does exist: I am who am. Second, God cares for them: I am concerned about you . . . Third, God will save them: I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt. The hand of God frees them and leads them to the Promised Land.
God the Father, by sending his son, Jesus, to become one of us, revealed himself unlike ever before. The healings and other miracles Jesus worked throughout his public ministry were clear and concrete signs that Jesus was truly the Son of God, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world, and make it clear that God is concerned about his people. Through Jesus, God’s plan of salvation is brought to fulfillment.
Our Gospel passage is a clear invitation from Jesus to find peace and rest from our sufferings and struggles by uniting our lives to his life. We are to envision Jesus at our side, sharing the yoke of suffering and oppression, and teaching us to trust the power of God in our lives. This takes on a special meaning through our understanding of the Church as the body of Christ. As members of the body of Christ, we share in each other’s sufferings, we strengthen each other in faith and we reassure each other that God saves his people. These measures of support lighten heavy burdens and bring rest to troubled souls.
Human suffering and oppression existed long before Israel was enslaved by Egypt. They will be present until the Lord returns. They undoubtedly raise basic questions of faith. As Christians, we know where to go for the answers: to Jesus. He is the presence of God, the concern of God and the saving hand of God in our lives.
* * * * * Friday, July 17, 2015 FRIDAY OF (Lec. 393) 15TH WEEK 1) Exodus 11:10-12:14 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 12:1-8 Gospel related: CCC 581, 582, 586, 590, 2100, 2173
FOCUS: Jesus calls us to live according to the law of love. How do we regard laws? Why do we have laws? Many people regard laws as restrictive. Others think that laws take away their freedom, their freedom do to what they please whenever they wish. Such people struggle to live in peace with others around them. Others take a more responsible position and realize that laws preserve good order and allow us to live in peace with each other.
The Magna Carta was signed by King John of England June 15, 1215. This year is the 800th anniversary of its signing. It was drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and it made peace between a tyrannical king and the English barons who rose up in rebellion against him. It was because of them that the English people have a House of Lords. Among its provisions, the Magna Carta protects the rights of the Church and protects people from illegal imprisonment and the whims of kings. The United States Constitution is based on it; their purposes are related.
In the same way that our civil laws bring order and even freedom to our society, the Ten Commandments allow us to live together in peace and justice. They are not designed to test the extent of our love of God. He gave them to us not to test us but to protect us, to protect us from each other, to allow us to love each other and care for each other in peace.
Today’s Gospel account highlights the Pharisees’ misuse of laws, laws that were derived by their human misinterpretation of the Ten Commandments. Jesus, on the other hand, points to a higher law, the law of love, the law of God. Caring for each other as God’s family and loving God and loving neighbor – these precepts trump all other laws. The laws of the Temple were made to serve us, to serve the reason God made us. God didn’t make us to serve the Temple; he made the Temple to serve us.
The First Commandment is: I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before me. So let’s ask ourselves: who, then, are we serving? What is our highest good? Where does our dignity come from? We should spend some time thinking about these things. If not now, when?
* * * * * Saturday, July 18, 2015 SATURDAY OF (Lec. 394) 15TH WEEK 1) Exodus 12:37-42 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 12:14-21 (Opt. Mem. Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest; Saturday in honor of BVM) Gospel related: CCC 713; CSDC 261
FOCUS: We are called to bring to life the words of Scripture.
It’s always a wonderful thing when we can see the words of sacred Scripture or the thoughts of a prayer come to life in our time and in our world. This is possibly why so many people are attracted to our Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Holy Spirit has filled him and inspired him. The prayers and readings of today’s Mass are a good example of why this seems to be so true. In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the words of Isaiah, the great Old Testament prophet. Pope Francis often reminds us to follow Isaiah’s prophetic voice and bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the marginalized, to the “peripheries” as Pope Francis likes to put it. Here, again, is what Isaiah proclaimed:
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
Pope Francis is calling and challenging us to share in the task of serving and healing the poor, the weak, the marginalized, the outcast, and those living on the peripheries of life. He is all about lifting up with compassion and tender love those who live broken lives wounded by sin.
Let us then with our prayers help Pope Francis to help people become aware of their innate human dignity and to make them aware that they know the new life, hope and salvation that comes from placing their faith in Jesus.
* * * * * SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2015 SIXTEENTH (Lec. 107) SUNDAY 1) Jeremiah 23:1-6 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Ephesians 2:13-18 3) Mark 6:30-34
FOCUS: In the midst of our busy lives, let us remember that God has his own plans for us.
Plans. All of us are familiar with plans. There are family plans, school plans, plans at work, travel plans, game plans and all sorts of other plans. Our days are lived out with plans in mind. Even our fun times are planned – sometimes over-planned.
In today’s Gospel, we heard about the Apostles who had been out preaching and had come back to Jesus to report about all they had been doing. The apostles rejoined Jesus, Saint Mark reports, and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. They obviously needed a break, so Jesus decided it was time to get away and get some rest. We all can identify with that, can’t we?
It must have been a lovely scene. They all get into a fishing boat and begin rowing out across the lake, the boat gliding along the smooth waters with only the sound of the oars dipping in the water and perhaps a screeching gull or two swooping overhead. Peace at last, along with the prospect of finding a quiet place on the other side where they could unpack their food, sit and talk, and quietly have time to share stories and listen to what Jesus had to say.
But then as they approached the opposite shore, they saw a large crowd and heard the noisy voices of people. You can imagine how those Apostles felt. No doubt they were more than annoyed. Their plans were being disrupted. Life is like that, isn’t it? Our best- laid plans, and our cherished moments, are too often stolen from us.
How do we react when our plans are either interrupted or completely disrupted? How do we react when people get in the way of our goals? Do we get resentful and make life miserable for those around us? Do we lash out at those around us?
When you stop and think about it, Jesus endured many setbacks in his earthly life, and turned these moments into blessings for all. He answered a lawyer’s tricky question by giving us the wonderful story of the Prodigal Son. On the cross, dying in agony, he asked his Father to forgive those who had nailed him to that cross. Here, in today’s Gospel account, he got out of the boat even though he was weary and needed a break, waded into the crowd, and then gave them beautiful lessons and teachings about life. Saint Mark reports: So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length. He did not send them on their way. Instead he gave them his tender and caring love.
We must remember that God’s agenda and our own agenda might not be the same. God, after all, has his plans for us, and when they come to bear in our lives we might have to make some adjustments to our own plans. After all, where is it written that we are entitled to live an easier and more problem-free life than Jesus? Where is it written that our plans are never to be changed?
God is a God of surprises, just as he is a God who gives us unplanned opportunities to show what we’re made of and respond to him in patience and humility, and with love.
We all have plans. At the same time we must remember that God has his, too. It’s best to go along with his plans.
* * * * * Monday, July 20, 2015 MONDAY OF (Lec. 395) 16TH WEEK 1) Exodus 14:5-18 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 12:38-42 (Opt. Mem. Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr) Gospel related: CCC 590, 627, 635, 678, 994
FOCUS: Keep still and trust in God’s love for you.
What do you do when trouble strikes? When your best-laid plans fall apart and you can see disaster on the horizon? Do you fall into despair? Wear yourself out with worrying? Or do you go to the other extreme? Do you work out a new plan? Take action? Do something?
God freed the Israelites from oppression and slavery. They rejoiced when they left Egypt to follow Moses to the Promised Land, but when they turned to see Pharaoh and his army in hot pursuit, their joy turned to fear. Faced with danger, their first thought was to reject the freedom they had been given, saying, What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? – and their first reaction was fear. They had been freed by the awesome power of God, but not one of them even thought to turn to God for help. Surely they expected Moses, as their leader, to come up with some clever plan or at least to take up a defensive position to withstand the impending military assault. Instead, he rebukes them for their panic: Do not fear! Stand your ground … The Lord will fight for you, you have only to keep still!
Keep still? Who can keep still in the face of anxiety and distress and fear? Being still requires trust. It requires letting go and giving up control of our lives to God. But why do we find it so hard to trust God? Maybe we’re afraid that he won’t do what we want. A friend once said that the Lord’s Prayer frightens her because of the words “thy will be done.” She finds it hard to let go and give up control to God. Truthfully, she would prefer that “her will be done.”
We are surrounded by messages that are contrary to God’s call to trust in him. Media messages admonish us to take control of our own destiny, to set goals and be self- confident in meeting them. We are told that we have everything we need inside of us, and only need to rely on ourselves. In our secular world, it is blasphemy to even think about giving control of our lives to someone else – even to God.
The key to trusting in God is love. If we truly understood and believed in how deeply God loves us, we would find it easy to trust in him. How could he do anything other than what is best for us? Pray for God to deepen your awareness of his love for you. Your ability to trust him will come more easily and you can keep still and allow the Lord himself to fight for you.
* * * * * Tuesday, July 21, 2015 TUESDAY OF (Lec. 396) 16TH WEEK 1) Exodus 14:21c15:1 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 12:46-50 (Opt. Mem. Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church) Gospel related: CCC 764, 2233
FOCUS: God’s power can work wonders in us.
Today’s first reading from Genesis testifies to the wondrous and mighty deeds wrought by God to bring about the salvation of humankind. The first reading from the Book of Exodus recounts the Exodus event in which God liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. An event portrayed in many films, the Egyptian army is swallowed up by the sea and all perish, whereas just moments before, the Israelites had walked through the parted sea unharmed. It is a miracle beyond our comprehension, and yet it speaks to how the power of God defies the limits of human understanding.
In the Gospel, Jesus clarifies that those who are closest to him are those who do the will of my heavenly Father. Jesus devoted much of his three years of teaching to explaining what this means.
Surely, one part of the Father’s will for us is to manifest concern for others. We are to respond to all people with forgiveness, generosity, compassion and an open-hearted readiness to serve. Doing God’s will requires a great deal from us. Often times it can be hard. We can be uncomfortable. But doing God’s will isn’t about feeling, it’s about doing what God calls us to do.
Most likely, our everyday actions of love will not make the movies. But it’s important to remember that God works wonders in the lives of others around us through our everyday actions of kindness and love in ways that are not always apparent to us.
Consequently, if we do not put limits on how God can help us, heal us and transform our lives, then indeed, we become instruments of his love. For example, forgiving a person who has wronged us can seem just as difficult as climbing a high mountain. If we have been deeply hurt, perhaps even betrayed, we may judge harshly the person who has hurt us, and perhaps try to get even. But a form of miracle can happen in our lives if we seek God’s help. In such a situation, we are not asked to deny any hurt we feel, but instead we find a way to move beyond the hurt. The love of the Father brings us the grace, healing and strength to love and forgive just as Jesus asked us to do. On this day, the Church remembers Saint Lawrence of Brindisi. Saint Lawrence was a learned scholar of the 16th century, a priest and Capuchin monk, and was eventually named a Doctor of the Church for the depth of his writing and insight into Scripture. In addition to his intellectual abilities, and with the power of God’s love in his heart, Saint Lawrence was well-known for responding to the immediate needs of whoever God brought before him. For example, he attempted to bring God’s peace to war-torn 16th century Europe.
Now it is our turn. Are we open to God and his working wonders through us? Will we open our hearts, forgive immensely and love without end? As we attempt to do so, God can use us as instruments of his love to accomplish marvels in the world.
* * * * * Wednesday, July 22, 2015 WEDNESDAY OF (Lec. 397) 16TH WEEK 1) Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 IN ORDINARY TIME (Lec. 603) (OBL. MEM. 2) John 20:1-2, 11-18* Saint Mary Magdalene) Gospel related: CCC 640, 641, 2174
FOCUS: Let our lives give a faithful and effective witness to the Gospel.
Today, the Church remembers Saint Mary Magdalene, who is often referred to as the Apostle to the Apostles. Though many of the details regarding her life are not known, both Scripture and tradition are clear in attesting that Mary was a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus who accompanied him at different times throughout his public ministry.
Mary’s extraordinary faith in and love for Jesus shows forth when, unlike most of the Apostles who deserted and abandoned Jesus in his hour of greatest need, Mary stood strong and persevered in faith. She remained by the Lord’s side near the foot of the cross until he took his last breath. And then, as today’s Gospel makes clear, on the first day of the week, Mary woke early to go and visit the tomb of the Lord only to find it empty. Surprised by this she ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple Jesus loved and told them, They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put him.
After this, Mary returned to Jesus’ tomb and stood outside weeping. Then Jesus, in his resurrected glory, appears to Mary, although she is unable to recognize him until Jesus speaks her name. Jesus then instructs Mary to go and tell the rest of his disciples that he has risen. Mary obeys, and goes out to announce the good news that Jesus has risen.
Mary Magdalene’s life and example remind us of some basic and essential truths necessary for living as a disciple of Jesus.
First and foremost, living as a disciple of Jesus requires that we strive to love Jesus with our whole heart, and to be faithful to him through thick and thin. This means that when adversity comes our way, or when there is pressure to compromise with regard to faith and values, we, like Mary, are to stand at the foot of the cross of Christ and carry our crosses, persevere amidst adversity, and by refuse to compromise our faith or values for temporary gain.
Living as a disciple also means that, like Mary Magdalene, we must announce the good news and lead lives that give a faithful and effective witness to the Gospel.
* * * * * Thursday, July 23, 2015 THURSDAY OF (Lec. 398) 16TH WEEK 1) Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 13:10-17 (Opt. Mem. Saint Bridget Religious) Gospel related: CCC 787
FOCUS: God is greater than anything we can imagine.
God is beyond our theories, beyond the futile images we have formed of him, beyond our attempts to possess him. We can only stumble his name out with words that say something about him, yet that never can encompass him. We can only comprehend certain things about God and about what he does, but we can never fully comprehend him because he is “totally other,” as the theologians tell us. We have our theories but they all fall short. Why? Because God is infinitely greater than anything we can imagine. Still, he enters into a dialogue with us through his Word made flesh. He speaks to us in words and in a language that even children can understand.
In today’s Gospel account, we find our blessed Lord rejoicing in the fact that his disciples want to listen to him, but at the same time lamenting the fact that many others do not. There are those, both then and now, who close their hearts to his message of life. Yet his message is simple. He teaches using the simple but memorable stories found in his parables. Why don't people pay attention to them? Is it because people spend their days and their lives focused on things that in the long run don’t matter? It is easy to allow our hearts and minds to be filled with clutter.
Things change when people realize that they are spiritually impoverished or when they face terminal illness and know they are poorly equipped to deal with suffering and death. Powerlessness has a way of bringing us back to the power and love of God. This is perhaps why Jesus was so attractive to those who recognized their powerlessness… and why those in power wanted to do away with him.
At one point Jesus praised his followers saying: Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear.
What we need to do above all else is to listen to the Lord not just with our ears, but with our hearts.
* * * * * Friday, July 24, 2015 FRIDAY OF (Lec. 399) 16TH WEEK 1) Exodus 20:1-17 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 13:18-23 (Opt. Mem. Saint Sharbel Makhluf, Priest) Gospel related: CCC 29; CSDC 325
FOCUS: The law of God brings peace.
Our story begins with a people who have only recently been freed from slavery in Egypt. They have seen the Lord God perform great miracles, showing his dominance over the false gods of the Egyptians. Yet as a people who have lacked spiritual leadership for generations, freedom without direction and discipline can be a dangerous thing.
Knowing the guidance the Israelites truly need, and as an act of love for them, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments to share with the Israelites. The commandments accomplish three goals:
First, the people are commanded to respect the Lord God above all creatures and objects, in their speech and in the way they spend their time.
Second, God gives the people basic rules for how they are to treat one another in word, in deed and in their hearts. God commands that we honor each other’s life, property and relationships.
Third, this list of restrictions on behavior actually results in greater freedom for God’s people. Think about it. A group of people who avoids murder, theft, dishonesty and jealous behavior is free to unite against external threats and live in peace. This group of people can focus on continuing to receive God’s word.
In the Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples. Just as Mosaic Law prepared the way for the teachings of Jesus Christ, living the Ten Commandments prepares us for fruitful Christian lives. The Evil One is banished from a person or community that lives the Ten Commandments. A person or community that focuses first on God can pay attention to his word and allow it to take root. The thorns of worldly anxieties cannot choke the word of God if people treat one another with honor and respect. Christian virtue, service and evangelization are built on the foundations of basic morality.
Today, we are challenged to examine our consciences. Do we put God first? Do we honor the life, property and relationships of others? Do we live in freedom from sin? If not, our Christian life may be choked off. We are called to repent, seek God’s mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation and begin to live again in freedom from sin.
* * * * * Saturday, July 25, 2015 SAINT JAMES, (Lec. 605) APOSTLE 1) 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 - FEAST 2) Matthew 20:20-28 Gospel related: CCC 440, 601, 605, 622, 786, 2235; CSDC 379
FOCUS: Seek to serve God and others.
Jesus, in today’s Gospel, says whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant. It is his response to the request made by the mother of James and John that he give them places of special honor in his kingdom. The petition may have come from the mother, but it is clear, that she had the full backing of her two sons. For when Jesus asks if they can share the chalice of pain and suffering from which he will drink, the two brothers respond eagerly, we can. Clearly they have no idea what lies ahead for the Master they love and revere.
It quickly becomes clear that the other disciples do not understand either. They become indignant at James and John for staking out a claim before the other disciples can assert theirs. Patiently, Jesus explains that this whole contest for honor is totally unacceptable among his followers: Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. And immediately, Jesus ratifies this teaching with his own example: The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
We all need a measure of recognition and affirmation. But if finding it is a central concern in our life, we will never get it often enough. We will always be seeking recognition and most likely will become disappointed and disillusioned when it doesn’t come in the ways or at the times we want and expect it. We can end up frustrated and dejected.
Our desire should be to look for opportunities to serve others. In our service of God and others, we have the opportunity to find happiness: here and now in this world, and in the next we have the promise of eternal life with the Lord who tells us, later in this Gospel, Whatever you do for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you do for me.
* * * * * SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2015 SEVENTEENTH (Lec. 110) SUNDAY 1) 2 Kings 4:42-44 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Ephesians 4:1-6 3) John 6:1-15 Gospel related: CCC 439, 549, 1338
FOCUS: God provides an abundance of what we need so that we may help satisfy the needs of others.
Today’s readings give us more than the usual chance to consider a miracle. We are talking here about events that cannot be explained by common sense and certainly not by science. The events are fully supernatural in origin, an act of God’s intervention in the world he loves.
Elisha was a great prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel some 800 years before Jesus was born. He was a crusader against the moral and religious laxity of his time. As a holy man, Elisha stayed close to Yahweh and therefore, he was privileged to be a vehicle of God’s power to work numerous miracles. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves we hear about in the first reading today is rather unceremonious and even matter of fact in its brevity. A famine has been in the land and now that it has subsided, the first fruits harvested are to be offered in thanks to the Lord. Elisha relies on the Lord’s power to produce a miracle and instructs the servants to feed the people. Not only are all fed, but there is some left over.
Each of the four Gospels contains a miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. To be sure, there was a physical hunger in the vast crowd that followed Jesus. However, what appears to be even more pressing was the spiritual hunger of the people. The people were following Jesus because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. The actions of Jesus – the forgiveness of sins, the healings, the casting out of demons – were all spiritual acts that had a profound effect on the everyday life of those who followed Jesus. Certainly, the people had physical needs; however, they had spiritual needs that only Jesus could satisfy.
How in touch are we with spiritual needs and desires, our own and those of our world? Too often our culture lures us to dismiss or cover over our spiritual needs and entices us instead to pursue money, status or power. However, deep spiritual longings have brought us to this eucharistic celebration. The rich traditions, rituals, movements and words of our liturgy unite us and allow the miraculous power of God to be made manifest. These realities satisfy our deepest longings just as assuredly as the miracle performed by Jesus satisfied the large crowd that followed him.
What is more, as in the miracle in the Gospel, there are plenty of leftovers that we will take from our gathering. One leftover is grace. Grace, the presence of the Holy Spirt, will continue to feed us throughout the week. Grace opens our hearts to touch others with the abundant love we have received from our Lord. Another leftover is thanksgiving. We gather to give thanks, and Jesus feeds us through the Scriptures and with his body and blood making us more thankful people. As thankful people, we are moved to tend to the spiritual and temporal needs of others.
Our God is a God of miracles and abundance. He satisfies our spiritual longings so that we can better serve our brothers and sisters. We have been blessed with the miraculous gift of faith and abundant reserves of grace and thanksgiving sufficient to meet our deepest hungers and the hungers of our world.
* * * * * Monday, July 27, 2015 MONDAY OF (Lec. 401) 17TH WEEK 1) Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 13:31-35
FOCUS: Pay attention to the small acts in life.
In our day, so removed from the time and culture of the Exodus story, you might think that the Israelites’ sin of idolatry, as we see in today’s first reading, is outdated – not a sin that we need to guard against at all. How many of us manufacture golden idols and worship them?
People in our world today commit the sin of idolatry, not with golden calves, but with anything that they place above God in their lives – from money, fame, and power, to alcohol, material possessions, work and their own reputation. It can be amazingly easy to break the First Commandment when we let other things in life supersede our love for God. The smallest unhealthy sinful habit, when placed before our love of God, can become an act of idolatry.
Idolatry is a matter not only of preferring something to God, but of trusting something or someone more than we trust God. Wherever we put our focus, whatever is at the center of our hearts, is where we place our trust. Do we gain our sense of value from whatever we own, from our own power or reputation, or from the knowledge that we were created and are loved by God? When we look at the First Commandment from this perspective, we can truly see that it is the key to how we keep the rest of the commandments.
Just as we begin to see how precarious our faith lives are because of our sometimes unconscious sins of idolatry, Jesus shows us in the Gospel that our smallest intentions toward good, our tiny “mustard seed” of faith, can blossom and grow into a powerful force for the kingdom of God. Using references from his day, Jesus cites such small items as mustard seeds and yeast as examples of our faith and good deeds. One small act of faith, when placed into the hands of Jesus, can develop with his help into wonderful works that will build up the kingdom of God – just as the mustard plant grows to provide a resting place for the birds.
Take some time this week to explore who is really the “God” in your life. If you find yourself centered on something or someone other than God, what steps can you take that will help you to open up your heart and center it on God alone? Let us ask Jesus for faith the size of a mustard seed to allow us to put him at the center of our lives. And when he is at the center of our lives, God the Father can guide us to plant mustard seeds and mix in yeast, so that our small acts of faith and love can produce an abundant yield.
* * * * * Tuesday, July 28, 2015 TUESDAY OF (Lec. 402) 17TH WEEK 1) Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 13:36-43 Gospel related: CCC 333, 1034
FOCUS: Sin is not just personal, it also has a social component.
The Gospel reading today is perhaps one of the more jarring. And so we may be tempted to think that Jesus is not speaking to us, but he is.
In the parable of the weeds, which can be read a few verses before today’s reading, Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sows good seed. The enemy sows weeds. After a time, a servant asks his master about pulling out the weeds. The master tells the servant not to do so, lest in pulling out the weeds, the good wheat is taken as well. Rather, says the master, wait until harvest.
So in today’s Gospel reading, the Apostles have asked Jesus for an explanation of this parable. He explains that the weeds are the wicked people of the world, who will be thrown into the fiery furnace. Then Jesus names two types of wickedness: The first is the wickedness in those who cause others to sin; the second is more generally all evildoers.
Jesus uses the parable to show us that weeds, by their very nature, choke off the good plants just like the wicked cause others to sin. Sin leads to separation from God, and if one leads a totally wicked life and doesn’t repent or turn to God, one will suffer eternal condemnation. This should cause us to be aware of the far-reaching effects of our behavior.
The Gospel reminds us that we ought to give careful consideration to how our sinful example might lead others to sin. Particularly with very common sins such as gossip and slander, we can become like the weeds that, through bad example, can lead others to sin and separation from God.
When we fall, we can always confess our sin in the confessional. But it is much harder to undo the damage done to our children or to our friends who witness our bad behavior. The Church, too, suffers when its followers behave badly. Sin is social in that it always has an effect on the world around us, even if we are not aware of it.
So as we consider our spiritual life, and our relationship with God, it may be a good idea to start to think about how our sin is social instead of private. Where can we behave as the good wheat instead of as a weed that leads others to sin? Where can we each begin to give a good and/or better example of Jesus?
* * * * * Wednesday, July 29, 2015 WEDNESDAY OF (Lec. 403) 17TH WEEK 1) Exodus 34:29-35 IN ORDINARY TIME (Lec. 607) (OBL. MEM. Saint Martha) 2) John 11:19-27* or Luke 10:38-42*
FOCUS: Saint Martha shows us that we can be honest and genuine in our prayers to God.
If you can, think back to a time when someone you loved was dying. So often at that time we desperately long for someone to do something to ease the pain and grief of the situation. Sometimes that person who can help arrives, but comes too late. How might you respond to that person’s arrival, especially if you believe they could have gotten there sooner?
It is likely that Martha’s tone of voice was anything but pleasant when she first spoke to Jesus after her brother had died. Put yourself in her sandals. When Martha meets Jesus, she is clearly aggravated with him. She criticizes him for not being there in time to prevent the death of Lazarus. Notice, though, that in her next breath she asks Jesus to do something to fix the situation. Martha seems very natural and human. Her statement of faith, however, is remarkable, given the gravity of the situation. It seems the presence of Jesus calms the moment.
Martha seems honest and transparent in her interaction with Jesus. She appears to go from anger, to request, to stating her faith. What a great model of prayer. This is one of the reasons we honor her memory today. Most of us have times when we are angry with God. Think back, again, to the time when a loved one was suffering or dying. A careful reading of Scripture shows many times when biblical characters were angry with God. Apparently, God is used to it. Martha’s example encourages us to be honest in our prayer; to express our feelings and frustrations. She shows us we do not have to hold back our doubts. When you think about it, God already knows how we feel. Once we have had it out with God, then, like Martha, our faith can rise to the surface and we can open ourselves to God’s will, whatever it may be.
In our hearts we know that, through it all, Jesus holds us in his loving hands. We know that suffering and death are not really the end. We know that resurrection and new life await each of us and those we love. Sure, along the way there will be frustrations and anger. Even in those times – perhaps especially in those times – God holds us, waits for us and acts powerfully in our lives.
* * * * * Thursday, July 30, 2015 THURSDAY OF (Lec. 404) 17TH WEEK 1) Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Matthew 13:47-53 (Opt. Mem. Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) Gospel related: CCC 495, 500, 1034, 1117; CSDC 12
FOCUS: How do we discern what God is asking of us?
Some people, especially the saints, and prophets like Moses, receive private revelations where they hear God speak clearly, perhaps during prayer. We, at times, may sense a gentle nudge that comes to us like a thought. We think to ourselves, “I should call my mother.” When we do, we may find out she has been ill, too ill to even call us. We are glad to have called and we make time to tend to her. Was it really our own thought or did the Holy Spirit inspire us to call her?
We make decisions every day. Are we always pausing to check in with what God wants of us in that moment? How can we know what he is asking of us?
We have a great gift in the Catholic Church where we are given precepts. These are basic acts that every good Catholic is called to; they help us ensure we are aligning our lives with God’s will for us. We know that, as faithful Catholics, we are called to attend Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days of obligation. We are to be a prayerful people. We are encouraged to frequent reception of the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist. Daily reading of Scripture will help us nurture our relationship with Christ. We also have resources to help us, such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Vatican documents and letters from the pope.
Being righteous and obedient may not come easy for us. Following the basic tenets of our Catholic faith can seem daunting on some days. Instead of focusing on trying to receive private revelations, we should focus our time and energy on doing the basic acts that God, through the Church, has commanded us to do. When we do this we will be able to discern what God is asking of us. At times it is easier to know what God is asking of us than it is to do what he is asking of us. The day will come when the righteous will be separated from the rest. Among which group will we be found?
* * * * * Friday, July 31, 2015 FRIDAY OF (Lec. 405) 17TH WEEK 1) Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, IN ORDINARY TIME 15-16, 27, 34b-37 (OBL. MEM. Saint Ignatius 2) Matthew 13:54-58 of Loyola, Priest) Gospel related: CSDC 259
FOCUS: As God’s people, we are invited to celebrate his loving presence among us in the ordinary events of our lives and on special occasions.
Throughout the Old Testament, the fate of prophets was inevitably tied to how well the people responded to their messages. Sometimes they were received with great adulation, especially if they came with a message of consolation for a community in turmoil and in need, but more often than not, the response was mixed and even negative. Their message of challenge was regularly called into question and often led to persecution of the prophet himself.
In today’s Gospel, this is the fate that awaited Jesus when he returned home to Nazareth. In his proclamation of the kingdom, Jesus used imaginative and thought- provoking parables to describe its reality: the seed, mustard seed, the hidden treasure, fine pearls, all of which helped the people understand its true meaning. Yet having heard Jesus’ preaching, their response was often not to embrace the message of the kingdom but instead to question his credentials and ultimately his right to preach to them at all. By choosing to focus on his lineage and family connections, they opted out of receiving his message positively and instead questioned where he got such wisdom and power. They believed that Jesus, who grew up among them and was known to them as the carpenter’s son, could not be the source of such wisdom and miraculous power.
As we reflect on today’s readings, we are reminded that the Christian life demands that we, too, must respond to Christ’s message. Living the Christian life compels us to open our hearts with joy and to trust the whole of the message and not just to those parts we find convenient and easy. It will at once assure us of God’s steadfast loyalty and fidelity in the midst of the ups and downs of life and console us when times are difficult and threatening.
Saint Ignatius Loyola, whom the Church honors today, understood this. His many theological writings and preaching sought to help his followers understand it too. As patron of soldiers, retreat masters and spiritual directors, and as founder of the Jesuits, he fought against Christian disunity, religious rigidity and the pessimism of his day.
For Saint Ignatius, the Christian life was a great adventure whereby the human heart searched for that divine presence that the people of Nazareth experienced but sadly rejected in our Gospel today. His choice of motto for the Jesuits, “For the greater glory of God,” reminds us that the human heart is called to delight in the presence of God and to celebrate that divine presence in the daily events of life.