Month: August 2015

19th Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday

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In today’s Gospel Our Lord teaches us that children are precious for two reasons: because they teach us about the simplicity and humility that we must all live as Christians if we are to form part of the Kingdom of heaven, and because they are all precious in the eyes of God. It’s sad that in society today things are branded as “adult” or for “mature” audiences when they contain content that isn’t appropriate for children or for adults. It’s not a society at times that fosters the innocence of children or adults, and sometimes children are forced to “grow up” before their time due to the dramatic circumstances they have to face, and certain adults need to grow up, living in a state of immaturity that’s not health for adults or children.

We must care for our children and we must learn from them: a child shows joy, kindness, simplicity, and trust. He or she reminds us that we are children of one Father and that He has given us a Blessed Mother to watch over us. Like children we can turn to God and to Mary for help in whatever we need, and let ourselves be led by Mary’s hand to her Son in order to be lead to Our Father. Anything that interferes with that, whether for children or adults, is toxic. Our Lord reminds us today that the loss of one member of the flock is not indifferent: everyone deserves care and attention, which is why we defend life from the moment of its conception to its natural death and support whatever measures help that life to grow spiritually. In today’s complex society there are so many ways for sheep to be lost, so we must be vigilant and be voice for those lost sheep who can’t speak for themselves.

Let’s ask Our Lord today to help us grow in child-like simplicity and humility, and pray for the protection and spiritual growth of every life in every stage of its existence so that we may all enter into the Kingdom.

Readings: Deuteronomy 31:1–8; Deuteronomy 32:3–4b, 7–9, 12; Matthew 18:1–5, 10, 12–14.

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

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Deacons are characterized by service, and the heroic witness of St. Lawrence reminds us that service cannot just be skin deep. There is a difference between the 9-5 attitude of a customer service representative, as noble a work as that may be, and seeing service as a mission that has no limits. Deacons serve in imitation of Christ, who became the servant of all through his sacrifice on the Cross. In the case of St. Lawrence his ministry as deacon reflected Christ’s service perfectly and reminded us that we are all called to service, even to the point of dedicating our lives and, if necessary, surrendering them for the sake of the Gospel.

As Paul reminds us in the First Reading we must be joyful in giving, and not stingy. The example of martyrdom summarizes that principle to a tee: in the Gospel Our Lord reminds us that, like a grain of wheat, we must die to ourselves in order to become something better, something fruitful. St. Lawrence gave witness to a service and concern for others and the Gospel that was not just skin deep: he didn’t see his mission of administering the material goods of the Church for the sake of the poor as just a job. The poor were his treasure and material goods were just a means of serving them.

Let’s pray for all deacons today, and let’s pray that Our Lord help us to serve generously and profoundly, not shy about being that grain of wheat that dies in order to bear fruit for others.

Readings: 2 Corinthians 9:6–10; Psalm 112:1–9; John 12:24–26.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

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The journey to a profound and meaningful encounter with Our God is a long one, as the First Reading reminds us today. For Elijah the Lord sent an angel as his messenger to give him food and drink in order to continue on his pilgrimage to meet God and sort out what had happened in his mission and what needed to happen. Elijah had all but given up, but he was sent encouragement and nourishment along the way. He wanted the journey to be over, but the Lord still had plans for him.

In today’s Gospel God himself, the Son, has come to encourage the faithful, and today he tries to teach them that he is the Bread of Life who will sustain them in their pilgrimage toward eternal life. It’s difficult for the crowds to understand this teaching: they know Jesus, where he is from, who he parents are, so it’s hard for them to believe he has come down from Heaven. They’re earthly knowledge and reasoning are not enough: it’s time for faith. It’s not just a faith born in a vacuum: they’re receiving grace to help them believe and be open to the Heavenly Father’s messenger. If they open their hearts to the Father, the Father leads them to take the next step. They must believe in His Son, not just as a sure guide in their pilgrimage to eternal life, but as their nourishment to be able to undertake the journey and as their “sponsor:” his self-offering makes the journey possible at all.

Let’s thank Our Lord today for helping us in our journey toward eternal life, and open our hearts to whatever he is trying to teach us.

Readings: 1 Kings 19:4–8; Psalm 34:2–9; Ephesians 4:30–5:2; John 6:41–51. See also 3rd Week of Easter, Thursday.

18th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday

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In today’s Gospel Our Lord shows a rare case of frustration with his disciples over their inability to help a boy who is being plagued by a demon. Throughout the Gospel Our Lord is preparing his disciples to continue his ministry after his death and resurrection, but on various occasions the disciples don’t seem to be up to the task. These moments in the early Church are a reminder to us of what we can improve on when it seems some challenge we’re facing is insurmountable.

In this case, Our Lord is expecting more faith from the disciples. It’s seen throughout the Gospel that Our Lord can only work miracles based on the faith of those who need them. The disciples’ faith, just like our faith, is how we connect to God, the true source of miracles, insights, and strength. We can never lose sight of the fact that God is active, but he wants to act through us. A seemingly difficult case–a boy plagued with symptoms that are like epilepsy, are chronic and life threatening, but are actually the result of a demon–to Our Lord doesn’t seem like one that requires much faith to overcome. Evil and difficulties often try to appear bigger and nastier than they actually are: with faith Our Lord helps us to put them into perspective. The enormity of God makes other things seem tiny in comparison.

Is Our Lord asking you to move any “mountains” today? A chronic problem? An enduring evil? Ask him to help you grow in faith today in order to face them and surmount them.

Readings: Deuteronomy 6:4–13; Psalm 18:2–4, 47, 51; Matthew 17:14–20.

18th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

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Today’s First Reading from the book of Deuteronomy is part of Moses’ “last testament” before the Israelites enter the Promised Land. He reminds them that all the prosperity they have enjoyed and will enjoy is a gift from God, and that God should be acknowledged as the source of all prosperity. Through no merit of their own they were liberated from Egypt and then taken to the Promised Land. Despite all their complaining Our Lord continued to be faithful to his promises, as he had throughout their history and the history of their fathers, the Patriarchs. When they lost sight of that, they got into trouble.

In today’s Gospel Our Lord encourages his disciples to practice detachment and to remember that everything they have comes from God. All things that God has created only serve us to the degree that they help us and others draw closer to God. Sometimes we lose sight of that: we want a life that does not involved self-denial and the Cross, a life where we own everything we could possibly want, not just everything we need. We seek financial security, comfort, and control, and we convince ourselves that we’ll be satisfied with having more money, more comfort, more control. But the things of this world are fleeting and we’ve all experienced that after one bill comes another, that we can’t always enjoy the health or comfort we crave, no matter how hard we try, and that there are many things that will always be beyond our control. When we get obsessed about achieving the impossible in this world–unlimited wealth (the latest and greatest and a big nest egg), complete comfort (no aches and pains, nothing unpleasant), and total control (everything arranged to our satisfaction)–those things that God created for our good become obstacles to drawing closer to him, and throw up obstacles for others as well.

Let’s take stock today of what we want in life and what we truly need, and see how we can better use the gifts God bestows on us to draw closer to him and help others to draw closer to him as well.

Readings: Deuteronomy 4:32–40; Psalm 77:12–16, 21; Matthew 16:24–28.