September 28, 2024
Today, I would like us to focus on the theme of the responsorial psalm. “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.” Everyone’s life is different, but every life has its trials, crises, upsets, and hard times. Take five minutes or more and review your life and see how true this verse in […]
September 27, 2024
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest Jesus announced early in his public ministry, “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” Emmanuel, “God with us,” is present in Jesus in every moment: at Mass, in our prayer, walking in the woods, in the eyes of a poor person, in the cry of a child in […]
September 26, 2024
Poor Quoheleth, he was so bored. After reading these verses, we are tempted to join him in his depression. He makes life sound useless and futile, a merry-go-round that doesn’t go anywhere. Conceivably, one could observe these very same facts and be thrilled by them, break into praise toward the Creator, as we find elsewhere […]
September 25, 2024
“God will provide for all that we need.” This line from Isaiah (also heard in several of our liturgical songs) summarizes today’s words from Proverbs (first reading) and Luke’s Gospel. The author of Proverbs 30 is explicit in asking God to ”give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need.” […]
September 24, 2024
OPENING OUR EARS TO THE POOR The first reading comes from the book of Proverbs. I invite you to reflect, especially on the last phrase of the text, which calls our attention to the poor. He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry shall himself plead and not be heard. (Proverbs 21:13) Last […]
September 23, 2024
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest The readings for Mass on Monday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time seem deliberately chosen for this commemoration of Padre Pio. It is possible to imagine Padre Pio writing words in the Book of Proverbs: “Say not to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come again; tomorrow I will […]
September 22, 2024
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Have you ever been caught arguing or gossiping and thought you were not heard, only to find out you were? My dad would line us up as kids, and we remained loyal to each other by being silent. There was fear, absolutely! Inevitably, if the guilty party did not come […]
September 21, 2024
Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle, and Evangelist Jesus asks many questions and gives many blunt directions to the apostles and disciples throughout the four gospels. Questions like “Who do you say that I am?” or “Can you drink the cup I must drink?” Directions like “Let the dead bury the dead.” or “Pick up your […]
September 20, 2024
Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs Accompanying him were the Twelve…. and some women who provided for them out of their resources. Interestingly, several women were among Jesus’ close followers. The lesson is that some people responded to their healing by helping provide Jesus with his mission. What Luke […]
September 19, 2024
Who is the mystery woman in today’s Gospel reading? Some scholars claim she is Mary Magdalene; other academics maintain she is probably some prostitute or adulteress. Names do matter, but they do not have to define who we are. Although nameless, she is a woman of great faith who risks social scorn to pay homage […]