Saturday

24th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading Paul tries to explain to the Christians at Corinth what the Resurrection will be like for them. Most of his imagery describes something in perfect condition and full bloom. What will a glorified life be like? Will we all be like Golden Age superheroes? Maybe not just in the way we think of them usually: superpowers and perfect bodies. When we are risen the world will be saved definitively. No new threats, either within us, due to our sin or our poor health, nor in the world, suffering and wondering what evil may be around the next corner.

The last part of the parable in today’s Gospel also gives us an idea: “they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” Sometimes we think of the “super” part of the equation, but we forget about the “hero” part. In a glorified life we will be heroes because we’ll have conquered evil inside us and in the world. We’ll enjoy no longer being short-tempered or weak willed. In short, the virtues we’ve striven to heroically live will become second nature.

With hope in the glorified life that awaits us, let’s strive to be heroes in virtue and help Our Lord save the world.

Readings: 1 Corinthians 15:35–37, 42–49; Psalm 56:10c–14; Luke 8:4–15. See also 24th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday and Friday.

23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading Paul invites us to consider who or what we are idolizing. We only really have one altar in our hearts, and no matter how much we try to crowd onto it, it only has room for one. Anything else will just fill us with restlessness and unhappiness.

The Christians of Corinth faced a polytheistic culture that was woven into the fabric of their society. Banquets and even the meat from the local butcher was food that had been sacrificed to idols, and eating that food gave the impression of worship those false gods. Paul explains the danger by reminding us that when we eat the Bread of life and drink the Precious Blood we enter into communion with Our Lord. Partaking of food in any other context of worship implies desiring communion, and we are only meant for communion with God and with each other.

We may not face this danger in the same way today, but we do often risk putting others or other things on that altar in our hearts that should be reserved for the Lord alone. Let’s take a moment today to withdraw into that shrine of our souls and make sure the Lord alone is worshiped and honored there.

Readings: 1 Corinthians 10:14–22; Psalm 116:12–13, 17–18; Luke 6:43–49. See also 1st Week of Advent, Thursday, 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, and 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday.

22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading Paul reminds us that the mission of the apostle is to put others first, and that invariable leads to the frustration of being put last. He describes the Christian communities he founded as his spiritual children, and every good father strives to give the best to his children. How many parents have worked overtime and given up opportunities for the sake of those they love? The apostle’s mission is very similar.

Whether we are on the receiving end or the giving end of this process, the correct response is humility. Humility helps us not lament our lot in life when it seems hard and thankless, and it also helps us remember that we are beneficiaries of everything, including our very existence. When everything is a gift from the Lord and acknowledged as such there’s no room for an attitude of entitlement. The Corinthians were put in first place by Paul and Apollos, but that should be a motive for thanking Our Lord, not boasting.

Take some time today to take stock of all you’ve received and all those who’ve put you in first place, and try returning the favor by putting others in first place in your own life.

Readings: 1 Corinthians 4:6b–15; Psalm 145:17–21; Luke 6:1–5. See also 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, and  15th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday.

21st Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year II

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Today’s Gospel is a parable about our life. Paul reminds us in the First Reading that everything we have received is from the Lord; we have nothing to boast about. The master in today’s parable gives his servants all the capital they need, but he also expects them to use that capital in a way that benefits him. We have been given talents, some more, some less, and we’re expeced to do something with them. We cannot boast about coming up with any of them on our own.

It doesn’t matter how talented we are; what matters is how we use our talents in the service of God and for the good of others. The succesful servants doubled what they’d received; if through our efforts even one more believer stands before Our Lord on Judgment Day, prepared to enter into his master’s joy, we’ll have accomplished our mission. The master departed for a long time; we have a lifetime to make those talents bear fruit. The only thing we need to fear is not using our talents in the Lord’s service at all. If the master is so upset in today’s parable it is because it is so easy to use your talents to bear even a little fruit that not doing so is negligence.

Take stock of the talents you’ve received from Our Lord and ask him to show you how to best invest them.

Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:26–31; Psalm 33:12–13, 18–21; Matthew 25:14–30. See also 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday.

20th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading Ezekiel has a vision of the glory of the Lord returning to the Temple. Earlier he had a vision of that same glory leaving the Temple when it and Jersusalem were about to be conquered by the Babylonians. The Lord promises to dwell among the children of Israel forever. This promise goes beyond the building; the Temple would be rebuilt, but after it was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans it was never rebuilt. The Lord meant something more in this vision.

When we are baptized the most Holy Trinity comes to dwell in our hearts. The Lord is always with us, and St. Paul reminds us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and should act accordingly. Just like Ezekiel’s visions, when we commit grave sin the Lord doesn’t just leave our hearts; we kick him out. Even in those sad moments he is just waiting for us to reconcile with him and welcome him back. He wants to be with us forever and he will be, if we let him.

Communion with the Lord means you are never alone. He is always with you. Let’s thank him today for this precious gift, and if we do feel like we’ve kicked him out of our hearts, let’s not be shy about putting out the “welcome mat” again through the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Readings: Ezekiel 43:1–7ab; Psalm 85:9ab, 10–14; Matthew 23:1–12. See also 2nd Week of Lent, Tuesday, 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, and 9th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday.