Articles for Ordinary Time

  There were many times when St. Paul was frustrated by his fellow Christians in Corinth. Today’s selection from 2 Corinthians exemplifies this. He had just written that one should not boast about oneself. And then he does it himself! But he is doing it for effect. He wants to show how much he cares…

  In today’s reading, taken from chapter 9 of 2 Corinthians, St. Paul discusses why Christians should be generous, especially to the poor. He has in mind the poor in Jerusalem, but the lesson is very universal. Generosity to others and almsgiving were a part of the Jewish religion. St. Paul accepted this and alludes…

  Today’s first reading comes from the eighth chapter of 2 Corinthians. It shows us something about the life of the early Christian communities, how they related to one another, even to the extent of giving financial support. Early in his career, St. Paul traveled to Jerusalem to discuss with the apostles why he was…

  Last week, the tenth week in Ordinary Time, the first weekday readings were from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. The gospel readings were from the Sermon on the Mount, found in chapters 5-7 of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The readings this week continue from the same New Testament documents. St.…

  In the first reading, from the Book of Exodus, we hear about the Chosen People. They have escaped from Egypt. They have made their way to Mount Sinai. Here the Lord God will enter into a covenant with them. Moses, their leader goes, up to the top of the mountain. There he receives the…

  Yesterday we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We reflected on the powerful realization that Jesus loves us no matter what. Today we reflect on the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The heart has long been the symbol and center of a person’s most profound thoughts and desires. What the heart reflects on, there rests…

  I was once asked, “Why does Jesus love us?” The question seemed to be coming from a place of deep longing. This person knew too well that he was a sinner and had painfully rejected God in various moments of life. It seemed unfathomable to him that God still loved him because of his…

  On Monday, we heard Jesus teach the Beatitudes as a new law and way of living. The Beatitudes challenge us to live differently. Today we hear Jesus challenging us, once again, to live differently than how the world expects us to do so. He tells us that even those who are angry with his…

  We have heard Jesus say many times, “I have not come to abolish the law or the prophets…but to fulfill.” Specific laws have changed. We are not bound by many of the Jewish laws in the Old Testament. So, what does Jesus mean then? It means that the Law and the Prophets—the Old Testament,…

  We are being challenged this week to radically follow Christ. First, we have been called to receive his Body and Blood. In this, we are called to communion with God and our neighbor. As we reflected yesterday, this allows us the strength and means to live in the beatitudes. We are called to obedience,…

  Reflecting on the power of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, Pope Benedict XVI remarked that he could turn to his brothers and sisters who had received and say, “alas, bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh.” He reflected on the reality that by receiving Christ in the Eucharist, we receive…

  Bless God! Give him the praise and the glory. The revelation of Azariah’s true identity as the angel Raphael in the Book of Tobit resolves one of the twists in this story. It unveils a profound spiritual truth: God often works in mysterious ways, using unexpected means to bring about His divine purposes. We…

Brothers and sisters, as we begin to conclude our study of the spiritual lessons in the Book of Tobit, let us put on the mind of Christ and see the profound parallels that are present between the obedience and mission of Tobit’s son Tobiah and that of Lord Jesus Christ to His Father in heaven.…

  In the intriguing narrative of the Book of Tobit, the angel Raphael plays a central role under the guise of Azariah, son of Hananiah the elder, one of Tobit’s own kinsmen. This hidden identity adds a layer of mystery and suspense to the story and reminds me of the plot twists and intrigue found…

  In times of suffering and lament, prayer becomes an essential lifeline that connects us with God and provides solace and hope amidst our struggles. It is through prayer that we find the strength to endure, the courage to face our challenges, and the grace to forgive and be forgiven. The Book of Tobit offers…

  The story in the Book of Tobit contains both moments of serious spiritual lessons and subtle, unexpected elements of humor. There is often a humorous side to our own life story, and this family’s situation is no different. Tobit’s loss of eyesight is the beginning of the plot and is significant throughout the narrative.…

  The Book of Tobit is a beautiful religious novel that offers valuable insights into the post-exilic Jewish experience and into our own relationship with God. It recounts the story of Tobit, a righteous man who faced many trials and tribulations, yet remained faithful to the Mosaic Law and trusted in God’s commandments. One significant…

  The doctrine of the Holy Trinity holds a profound and central place within the Christian faith. Based on Sacred Scripture and Tradition, it is a theological mystery that attempts to explain the nature of God and His relationship with humanity. As I reflect upon this doctrine, I find myself drawn into a deep sense…

  In our Alleluia verse today, we hear “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; giving thanks to God the Father through him.” I can’t help but think of St. Charles Lwanga and his companions with this quote. Charles defended his companions from King Mwanga who persecuted the Christians in his region and…

  Today’s gospel readings are about faith and trust. Jesus gets angry at the people in the temple who are treating the house of God like a Walmart, and he has every right to be! It shows a lack of faith of the people in the temple area. They care more about profit than worshiping…

  “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” I can only imagine, as we celebrate the feast of the Martyr St. Justin, that this quote from today’s gospel was going through his mind. “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” This quote can run through our minds as well when we feel like…

  Today is a very special day for me. On this very day in the year 2001, I consecrated myself to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today I can say “The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will…

  “With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy,” I remember hearing a homily once about tithing, and I thought it was the most boring homily in the world. Of course, I was only six or seven at the time, but I remember my dad would say…

  “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” This quote from our first reading from Genesis is above the mural of the Immaculate Conception in our Abbey Basilica. It reminds us who is in charge…

  “At the judgment, the citizens of Nineveh will rise along with the present generation, and they will condemn it. For at the preaching of Jonah they reformed, but you have a greater than Jonah here.” We “have a greater than Jonah here.” The greater than Jonah is the Incarnate Word, Jesus, who is among…

  Sirach tells us when we come to serve the Lord, prepare ourselves for trials and testing. And gold is tested in the fire and those found acceptable in the furnace of humiliation. The words of Sirach fit well with Jesus’ journey with his disciples as we hear it in the Gospel. Jesus was setting…

  At the Steubenville youth conference, high school students gather together to reignite their faith. Most high school students who attend experience what many people call a “Jesus High,” when they are on fire with their faith and filled with the love of Jesus. On the last day of the conference, one of the speakers…

  Today’s first reading and psalm put a special focus on the poor. In his letter, James remarks, “Show no partiality” between the rich and the poor. He follows this statement with a rebuke for those who judge or deal harshly with the poor. The point he is clearly trying to convey is that the…

  In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins to give the apostles a glimpse of the Father’s will for him. He explains that he must suffer greatly, be killed, and rise after three days. This must have been very difficult for the apostles to hear. We see this when Peter responds by taking Jesus aside and rebuking…

  “As the crow flies” is an expression that denotes the shortest and most efficient path between two points. It is a route without wrong turns, dead ends, or detours. No traffic jams, checkpoints, or road rage. It is a direct path to one’s destination. In today’s first reading, Noah has spent forty days on…

  In our Gospel today, Jesus warns the disciples against false teachings using an analogy about leaven. The disciples are confused by his words, thinking that He is talking about food, which leads Jesus to ask, “Do you still not understand?” We are often told that the disciples were confused or didn’t understand where Jesus…

  In our first reading, we hear the story of Cain and Abel and the betrayal of brothers due to resentment. In the Gospel, we hear the Pharisees wanting a sign from Jesus, but he tells them “no sign will be given to this generation.” There are many things to say about these passages, but…

  There are many out there who believe the Catholic Church to be an institution for the mere purpose of laying down many, many rules. “Do this with your life, and do not do that.” Today’s readings point to a different reality, however. The first reading points out that “if you choose, you can keep…

  Witness by Ariel Burger Seldom do you find a book that truly gives credence to its title, and yet Witness does. Ariel Burger is a Jewish Rabbi who mentored under Elie Wiesel, the writer, teacher, human rights activist, and Holocaust survivor. The author describes how he witnessed under the quiet and unassuming Wiesel whose…

  Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza Immaculee Ilibagiza was very young when the Rwandan Genocide broke out. She witnessed some of the worst evil that one could imagine. She survived because a local pastor took her and eight other women into hiding. She had to hide in a tight space for three months. She…

  Life of Pi by Yann Martel Very seldom is it that a book pulls a reader in and challenges their perception. This one does. Life of Pi is a novel written with deep philosophy. Pi is the main character. His family owns and operates a zoo in India. Pi grows up with a love…

  A Refutation of Moral Relativism by Peter Kreef We live in a time where objective truth is not recognized, and time-honored values are usurped by individual autonomy. In other words, we live in a time where too many people want to be their own gods without any rules or responsibilities. This book here was…

  The Spirit of the Liturgy by Joseph Ratzinger This is one book of spirituality I cannot hesitate to share. Joseph Ratzinger is known most famously as Pope Benedict XVI. He came to prominence as a young theologian at the Second Vatican Council. He went on to serve as an acclaimed theology professor, and then…

  The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch Few books have the power to make sense of life, and yet this book does exactly that. Dr. Randy Pausch was a young, gifted professor who taught at Carnegie Mellon University. He made a name for himself working in computer programming and research. He had quite a talent…