Articles for Ordinary Time

  In so many ways the story of creation in the Book of Genesis unfolds like a progressive symphony. It reaches its climax when God creates man and woman and declares it to be “Very Good!” This ancient wisdom story highlights every aspect of creation and indicates that creation has purpose and value simply because…

  Modern popular culture seems to have a high regard for brute force. We see it in action movies where conflicts of whatever kind are usually resolved through extreme fighting and destruction of property and human lives, often in fiery crashes and explosions. The popular attitude seems to assume that every conflict contains a “win-lose”…

  Yesterday we explored some thoughts about searching for what is truly wonderful in our life. The effort to discover the good and wonderful will also uncover the reality of our weaknesses and sins. Which of the two categories should capture our close attention? Perhaps the Scripture readings for today can shed some light on…

  Some things naturally go together. Notice how our Sunday liturgical readings form a wonderfully combined chorus of Isaiah celebrating the blessings of God on the People of God, St. Paul celebrating the special gifts of every person, and Jesus with his mother’s gentle encouragement coming to the rescue for the bride and groom on…

  We often find ourselves asking why. Sometimes, the question is innocent and leads us to discover: Why do the seasons change? At other times, the question comes from pain: Why do bad things happen to me? And sometimes, the question is a statement of judgment: Why would you do something like that? The Scribes and Pharisees were judging Jesus for…

  St. Anthony was one of the first Christians to embrace the monastic life as a way of removing anything in his life that did not draw him closer to God. He gave up his material possessions and practiced great penances so that the temptations of the world would hold no power over him. One…

  Leprosy was not only a painful illness in the ancient world but also a communal affliction because its victims were excluded from normal society. It was so dangerous and so contagious that those who had it were forced to keep their distance from others in case they should infect someone by accident. Only in…

  Our lives are fragile. We have bodies that can be harmed, that grow old, and that will eventually fail. All the same, our bodies are gifts. We experience the many wonderful things God has made in this world through our bodies, and even the pains we undergo reveal the greater truths of the world,…

  Jesus wastes no time once he begins his public ministry. The time has come for him to reveal himself to the people in word and deed, which is made evident when he preaches with authority and drives out demons. The great scholars of the time would always refer to the teachings of their predecessors,…

  At Jesus’ baptism, we hear the Father announcing his Sonship. Jesus is loved by the Father because the Father is love. Jesus is even the expression of this love because he has come among us and offered himself for us even though we are unworthy of him. His Incarnation reveals to us the lengths…

  Now that the Christmas season has concluded, we return to the “ordinary” life of Jesus, the public ministry he performed as an adult before his sacrifice on the cross. In the Gospel today, Jesus calls his first disciples to come and follow him. It is an invitation to know him more deeply and, eventually,…

  This is the feast of St. Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, the first two apostles called by Jesus. Today’s gospel from Matthew 4:18-22 recalls that event: “Jesus…saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me,…

  In the first reading from the Book of Revelation we hear a dramatic description of the overthrow of Death and Hades. John speaks of the holy ones who have turned to Christ—those souls who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and the word of God, who have come to life and now…

  In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah enumerates the glorious acts of the Lord, the many blessings bestowed upon a people he calls his own: “The loving deeds of the Lord I will recall: …He became their savior in every affliction,” his love and pity redeemed them, he lifted them up and carried them…

  It is a tradition at Conception Abbey that a mass is celebrated during Thanksgiving week as a commemoration of the departed members of our monastic community and the deceased loved ones of our personal families. The readings are of the weekday. In the first reading from the Book of Revelation we see a vision…

  In today’s gospel from St. Luke, Jesus tells of the destruction of the temple and speaks of the end time when there will be earthquakes, famines, plagues and mighty signs from the sky. Jesus urges his disciples to remain faithful: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified.” But Jesus is…

  Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This Sunday opens the 34th and last week of the Church’s liturgical year, presenting us each day with reflections on the second coming of Christ in glory. In the gospel of today’s liturgy from St. John, Jesus, a gentle, poor…

  The Gospel for today is a discourse between the Sadducees and Jesus. The Sadducees ask Jesus a question on marriage and how the laws of marriage would follow one into the afterlife. Our Lord proceeds to speak on how there is no marriage between those who are found worthy and are risen in the…

  So often in prayer, when we read a beautiful scripture passage, or a touching reflection in a spiritual book or saint’s journal, our soul is enriched by the words that are so clearly called forth by the Holy Spirit. We may feel inspired to follow the words we read at that moment because, in…

  As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, He wept over the city, expressing profound sorrow for its spiritual blindness. His tears reveal the depth of His love and compassion for the people who have failed to recognize the time of their visitation. This moment highlights the duality of Jesus’ mission: He is both the Savior…

  In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares a parable as he is walking to Jerusalem. He knows that he will soon be leaving this world, and the people following him believe that the Kingdom of God will soon be upon them. What they don’t know is how this will happen. Jesus tries to prepare the people…

  In today’s readings we hear hard words about being lukewarm. Revelation tells us that it is better to be either too hot or too cold than to be lukewarm. So what is being lukewarm? It is saying, “I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,” seemingly believing in God but rejecting…

  Do you ever feel jealous of the saints? It seems impossible not to have a firm faith if you bear the marks of Christ’s crucifixion on your body like St. Francis of Assisi, or if our Lord comes to you in visions like he did for St. Faustina. Their stories are remarkable for the…

  ‘He Calls Us to Suffer with Him.’  “For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.” – Heb 10:14 This passage comes from our second reading from Mass today, and is centered on Jesus acting as The High Priest, making the ultimate single sacrifice; to suffer and die on…

  In the Gospel for today, there is a parable with an odd interaction between a merciless judge and a persistent widow. This parable is not as rich in imagery as maybe the story of the prodigal son or as economic as the parables of the talents. Why are we now getting a judicial lesson…

    We often live our lives as though we expect to live forever. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul admonishes Christians to wake up from their spiritual slumber, reminding them to understand the present time. “Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). The “present time” Paul refers…

  In Luke’s Gospel today, Jesus asserts that no one can observe the Kingdom of God, for it is among you. There are many instances in our daily lives where we can become distracted and look where our Lord is not. One way these distractions work is that you “look there or look here” while…

  “Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.” “O LORD, you have probed me, and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand.” Today’s responsorial psalm has an important lesson in store for us. God knows us and desires to pour his love upon us. Today’s psalm reminds us, “O LORD,…

  Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Josaphat, a bishop martyred on this day in 1623. St. Josaphat is most well-known for his zeal in uniting the Eastern and Western Churches. From a young age, he desired to give his life to the service of our Lord and started to study the lives of…

  “Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones…” How often, when we present ourselves to others, do we mention our slavery to God? I mean just think: “Nice to meet you Joe; my name is Gabriel, slave of God and messenger of…

  “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.” Jesus is giving us a very important message in today’s readings. It is a message of trust and gift of self. Complete trust includes death to self. In the first reading, we hear Elijah ask…

  “The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!” (Responsorial Psalm 46) Today, Jesus invites us to live in him because he is the living water that flows and brings life and freshness to the soul. “Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that…

  In today’s readings, we are confronted with the parable of the dishonest steward, which is often considered one of the most confusing parables in all the Gospels. “Why is the steward being commended for stealing from his master?” But the parable’s message is not that what the steward has done was morally right, but…

  “Rejoice with me ….” “…the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling….” But Jesus, in the two parables he uses, says, “Rejoice with me….” In all the years since Jesus died and rose, followers of Jesus have struggled with the reality of sin. In youth we may have the idea that we can eventually get over…

  “Great crowds were traveling with Jesus ….” A life of following Jesus is continually a life of “estimation:” That is, we are continually being placed in a question like, ‘What do I think of Jesus Christ?’ ‘What does he mean to me?’ What is this “life” he offers?’ Etc. This questioning is a call…

  “they all began to excuse themselves.” Fr. Bernard Lonergan has written that religious conversion is “the habitual acceptance of God’s gift of love flooding our hearts through the Holy Spirit He has given us.” I suggest this thought is as good as any in commenting upon our Gospel today. For it is the parable’s…

  “When you hold a lunch or a dinner…” I would like to expand the meaning of our Lord’s words here. Without taking away from the literal meaning, our Lord gave these words, I’d like to expand them into our daily lives. I take St. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians today, for a…

  Today the Sacred Scriptures speak to us about the first and greatest commandment that Jesus left us: the command to love God above all things. Like so much of the Christian life, it is better learned by doing it than asking how it is done. A story from the Hasidic masters exemplifies this. The…

  “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” (Benjamin Franklin). Each generation, each individual, discovers death anew. A youth generally does not consider death at all. Eventually a person may attend a funeral or…

  Illustrations of Jesus smiling with friends around him in a meadow on a sunny day are appealing. Images of saints with serene faces clothed in light while serving others are inspiring. I am sure that such scenes actually happened. The Beatitudes, blessings spoken by Jesus, actually happened, too.  But these paint a slightly different…