Daily Reflections

  What is the fear of the Lord? The Scripture says, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10), and the Church’s tradition calls it one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1831). Today, though, we have a strong aversion to a God whom we…

  Jesus said, “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves.” I’m sorry, what? Why would you do that, Lord? “You will be hated by all because of me.” Well, at least you are upfront about it… Nevertheless, for all the throwing-the-lambs-to-the-wolves talk, Christ Jesus does not leave us defenseless. First,…

  The Church gives us a series of readings from the Prophet Hosea. Sometimes the prophets are asked not only to preach oracles but act out messages from God—like Ezekiel cutting a hole in his own house and squeezing through it (cf. Ezek. 12:5-15). Hosea goes to the extreme, marrying a prostitute. This was to…

  In my youth, the rap culture of the time had a catchphrase: “More money, more problems.” Jesus said something similar when Rich Young Man could not sell all that he had to be His disciple: “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). The…

  Gossip is nasty. However, the Church makes a distinction between two kids of slander. Detraction is telling information about someone that you had no right to share. Calumny is lying about someone—or more frequently, it happens when you speculate about the intentions of someone based on the actions you see. I found that as…

  Our gospel passage speaks about the New Creation. Much speculation is made about the significance of the 72 other disciples Jesus sends ahead of His journey to Jerusalem. Genesis 10 mentioned 72 nations of the whole world after the flood. This would mean that the 72 prefigured all peoples preparing for Christ’s Second Coming.…

  This week has been intense. We have been called to radically follow Christ, letting even good things take second stage to following him. We have been warned that we can be punished because of our following after the world, the natural consequence of failing to follow Christ. We have had two giants of the…

  It is easy to think that we are good people, but we fall short more often than we like to admit or are capable of noticing. Because of this reality, it is good for us to examine our lives and see what is going on. Today’s readings provide an excellent opportunity and source for…

  Last Wednesday, Jesus warned the people not to listen to false prophets, that they would be known by their fruit. Bad prophets will produce bad fruit, and good prophets will produce good fruits. Today’s readings provide evidence of what that looks like. In the first reading, Amos responds to Amaziah’s attack by saying to…

  Since Sunday, there has been an emphasis on placing Christ at the center of our lives, that even good things must come second to Christ. Today we celebrate two men who, in two unique ways, live that summons, even to death. The Gospel shares St. Peter’s confession that Jesus Christ is the messiah, a…

  This gospel is one of my favorites since it demonstrates Jesus’ divinity. In the Old Testament, only God can control the water’s chaos. Look back at creation, the flood, and the parting of the Red Sea; whose power was manifested in all those situations? Was it not God? Now it is Jesus who, with…

  Today’s Gospel repeats yesterday’s but in shortened form. Why would the Church repeat a Gospel like that? There must be something significant here. There is indeed something vitally important, the most important in fact, that following Jesus must come before ALL else, even things considered good and necessary. Our first reading highlights what happens…

  Being a Christian can be difficult. Its difficulty rests in its demand of us: it demands everything. Consider today’s Gospel—Jesus is personally inviting various people, “please, follow me.” In this invitation, Jesus calls them to be dedicated disciples who will proclaim him as Lord and Messiah, the coming of the Kingdom, and the new…

  “…and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” These are the last words of today’s gospel. It’s the end of the episode of Joseph and Mary losing Jesus and finding him ultimately in the temple. Having worked at a grocery store for 12 years, I saw many moms and dads lose their…

  I remember in grade school, I was always picky about my artwork. Whenever we had to cut out any kind of shape from construction paper, I always wanted my shapes to look perfect. I hated cutting out circles, I could never get a perfectly shaped circle. Even when I creased the paper, folded it…

  Today we celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist. John is my father’s name and it’s my baptismal name. So today is a very special celebration in my family. John Baptist had one sole purpose in life, to prepare people—to prepare people to meet their salvation, the Christ. He’s a guy that works in…

  I like to tell people that Benedictine monks are in school their whole lives and that our graduation date is when we die. Monks open themselves to continuously being educated and formed by God and our monastic teachings. King David in our Responsorial Psalm today pleads to God, “Teach me the way of your…

  I remember visiting my brothers in Alburquerque a few years back, and on a Saturday morning, I asked them to take me to the big city flea market. After parking the car I could already see a huge line at the gate door to get into the flea market. I told my brothers I…

  The gospel today gives us the sad truth of our human nature. We are persons who are quick to judge others. But when it comes time to judge ourselves, we move like turtles. There’s a very important lesson here that needs to be looked at. Taking the time to reflect and pray about our…

  I spent three years serving a parish in Oklahoma City, and I got to know many people. One person I got to know very well recently passed. I thought of him today as we celebrate this feast of Corpus Christi. When I first met this friend at the parish, he came up to me…

  The first reading from 2 Chronicles 24:17-25 recounts the disastrous reign of King Joash. His return to the worship of pagan idols and his murder of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest brought ruin upon Judah and Jerusalem. This story about an unfaithful king makes the entrance antiphon take on special significance today: “Hail,…

  In the first reading of today’s liturgy from the Second Book of Kings (11:1-4, 9-18, 17-18), we find the story of Joash, the child who was destined to be king, and how he was hidden away in the temple of the Lord for six years to protect him from the wicked Athaliah. Jehoiada the…

  Our first reading today from the Book of Sirach is a follow-up to the passages we have been hearing this week from the Second Book of Kings. It pays tribute to the life and accomplishments of the prophet Elijah and of his successor, Elisha. Yesterday, we placed the text of the entrance antiphon on…

  Today we continue our reading of the Second Book of Kings with the account of Elijah handing over his role as prophet to his disciple, Elisha. The young man is frightened by the thought of his master’s departure. As a flaming chariot suddenly appears and transports Elijah up to heaven, Elisha is left alone…

  Today we continue the story of the vineyard of Naboth. In the first reading, we hear of the aftermath of Ahab’s actions in the wrongful murder of Naboth and seizure of his vineyard. The prophet Elijah confronts him directly for his greed. “The Lord says: After murdering, do you also take possession?” (1 Kgs:…

  Today’s entrance antiphon—“Those who are wise will shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars for ever.” Cf. Dn 12:3— stands in sharp contrast with the first reading. St. Anthony’s life of preaching was a beacon of wisdom that lead many…

  The liturgy today opens with the words: “Blest be God the Father, and the Only Begotten Son of God, and also the Holy Spirit, for he has shown us his merciful love.” This acclamation of praise gives voice to our faith in the Most Holy Trinity, the focus of our reflection on this first…

  “When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” Notice this: this ‘son of encouragement,’ as his name means, can ‘see’ the grace of God…

  “The Lord will be passing by.” The prophet in our first reading is standing there, not in an ego-gratifying posture but to receive a mission—which we will hear about at the end of the passage. It is a mission that glorifies the grace of God at work in the prophet and produces in him…

  “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” We are a sacramental people. We can say the same thing if we say that we are a mystical people. This means that holiness does not flow out of moral effort; moral…

  “I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” St. Paul talks about this fulfilling in relation to Christ’s suffering for his bride, the Church: “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of…

  “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” This is light we already have if we are united to Christ. To be of Christ, a disciple of Christ—Christ in the world and yet in heaven too—is to live the truth in love: “the one…

  Standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother … When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son. Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. The Church today…

  “Peace be with you.” Notice what Jesus does immediately following those words—he “showed them his hands and his side.” It is as if he were saying to them—and to us—‘See what this gift I am giving you has cost me! It comes from my love for you! It is the precious gift of the…