Tag: Word of God

“Everything will be clean for you.” | Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 11:37-41)

The Lord said to the Pharisee, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

The words of Jesus from today’s Gospel are directed to a Pharisee who invited him to dine at his home. As a guest, Jesus pours insult on the head of his host, and it is understandable that the Pharisee would have been offended. As the Son of God, Jesus directs the Pharisee to true freedom in worship of the creator. By noting that Jesus did not observe the prescribed washing before a meal, the Pharisee follows the Jewish tradition of ritual purification. Yet, here is Jesus, the invisible God made visible in his presence, who is inviolably holy, the source of holiness. Jesus redirects the gaze of the Pharisee toward what is pure and free of every form of evil. What Saint Paul says in the first reading encapsulates not only Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisee but also all of us who forget the glory of our immortal God: “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever.”

Father in heaven, Lord of all, call me to you so that I can live in the freedom of the creator. I get caught up daily in the tangible things of this world, good in themselves, but often forgetting the source from which they are made manifest. “But as to what is within,” Jesus says, “give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” Help me find you today in every good gift you give me that I can sense but also through the unseen work of the Holy Spirit, who makes manifest your presence in my inmost being every minute of the day. Give me the grace to distinguish between the creature and the creator, to recognize that you alone are freedom at its source.

From the Gospel acclamation: “The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” Lord, teach me your ways!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Something greater than Solomon here.” | Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 11:29-32)

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.”

As today’s Gospel picks up where the Gospel reading for Saturday left off, the crowd continues to surround Jesus. As he speaks to the people, he refers to two great prophets and his fulfillment of them as the Messiah. The crowd would have known about Solomon and Jonah and shared stories about them for generations. Jesus says of Solomon’s wisdom: “there is something greater than Solomon here.” Similarly, he refers to Jonah among the Ninevites in his call for repentance: “and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Just as Jonah’s experience was a sign to the people of Nineveh, Jesus’ death and resurrection would become a sign to the people of his generation, both a sign and the signified. He is present today in his living word and present body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist.

Father in heaven, help me fully appreciate the significance of Jesus your Son. While the prophets pointed to you, they lived and died as signs of your mercy and your coming kingdom. Jesus pointed to you and continues to point to you; even more, he is the living sign, the Word incarnate, present to me in this moment through his death and resurrection. Give me the grace to distinguish between human wisdom and divine guidance. As far as human wisdom can ascend, in the life of the Trinity there is something greater than Solomon. As Saint Paul says, help me remember my call and my end in the person of Christ: “Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. The Lord has made known his salvation.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaVQ82g2C4

“The feast is ready.” | Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 22:1-14)

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants. . . . Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. . . . Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to the chief priest and elders, the Jewish spiritual leaders. The wedding feast he describes is the kingdom of heaven. In the parable, the king goes to extremes to fill his hall with guests. The ones invited are not worthy to come. Why is that? One went away to attend to his farm, another to his business. Others beat and killed the servants who invited them. In comparing the unworthy who were invited to the banquet to the chief priests and elders, Jesus then goes on to say in the parable that the invitations would go out to those on the street, to the good and the bad alike. As in the wedding banquet, the invitation to the kingdom of heaven goes out to the good and bad alike. Some accept that invitation, and some don’t. God goes to extremes in his invitation to feast at the banquet of his mercy. What in the world is there that would keep us from accepting it?

Father in heaven, you invite me to hear and accept your invitation to come into your kingdom. Throughout the course of the day, let me stop to ponder what that means. You, the creator of heaven and earth, say to me as you say to many, “Come to the banquet.” How am I to respond to that in thanksgiving, in my words and actions, and in how I treat others? Give me the grace, Lord, always to say yes to your invitation.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Blessed are those . . .”| Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 11:27-28)

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

In today’s Gospel, a woman calls out from the crowd, rejoicing in the holiness of Jesus and blessing the mother who bore and nursed him. Jesus responds in a way that might seem terse and unsympathetic. Yet, the words “the womb that carried you” bring to mind Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant. What Jesus brings to all who hear him—what he fulfills through his life, death, and resurrection—is the old law and commandments brought to perfection in the new covenant. So rather than contradicting what the woman says to him, Jesus, the incarnate Word, takes her words to show us that blessedness is born by hearing his word, bearing it within, and observing it.

God, help me understand the promptings of the woman who called out to Jesus even as he was speaking. Rejoicing in the holiness of your Son, the woman couldn’t help but shout for joy. As the psalmist says, “Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name.” How often today will I see before my eyes an opportunity to rejoice in your name? I often struggle throughout the day to be aware of your presence at all, let alone rejoice in you. Let your word dwell in me today, aware and grateful for your presence in prayer, in the Scriptures, and in the sacraments. Give me the grace, Lord, to hear and observe your word and to know genuine delight in that.

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 8:19-21)

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Today’s Gospel picks up where yesterday’s left off. After Luke relates Jesus’ parable of the lamp, he describes a time when Jesus had before him a great crowd. Someone tells him that his mother and his brothers, or brethren, stand outside, unable to get to him. Jesus’ reply to him seems brusque. Yet, before him at that moment were people intent on hearing the word of God. No one else supported Jesus’ mission and fulfillment as the Messiah as much as Mary did, so how is it possible that Jesus was rejecting Mary and his brethren? A central message of the Gospel is unity, as Jesus prays in John’s Gospel, “so that they may all be one.” Rather than pointing out divisions among those who come to hear him, Jesus has in Mary and the brethren members of a spiritual family united in God.

God, deepen in me the desire to hear your word and act on it. Through your grace, help me see beyond superficial divisions within relationships and nurture unity among people I encounter by acting on your word—your word, which alone is the source of all unity in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Luke says that Mary was unable to join Jesus because of the crowd. Teach me what I need to take to heart: whether I am aware of it, you always take initiative to make your nearness known. In obedience to your word and your Church, Lord, I become your adopted son, confident in your presence.

From the responsorial psalm: “I rejoiced because they said to me, ‘We will go up to the house of the LORD.’ And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Lord, guide me in your ways today; teach me to observe your word.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:36-43)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds among the wheat. In his own words, the Son of God teaches us about the final judgment and the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The harvest, or final judgment, represents the end of the age when the angels will separate the righteous from the wicked. Jesus also says that he is the sower. Although the enemy who sows the weeds is the devil, Jesus himself is the sower. Dwelling on that offers consolation while considering that the Son of Man will send his angels to toss into the fiery furnace all those who cause others to sin and all evildoers, while the righteous in heaven will shine like the sun.

God, help me understand the parables you shared with the disciples and share today with all believers who hear your word. Evil is a reality in this world, and working through that every day presents me with many more challenges than I can take alone. Stay beside me and be merciful, Lord, as I navigate this world where good and evil exist side by side. Strengthen me to persevere in the face of evil and let me work toward the eternal reward of life in your kingdom.

From the responsorial psalm: “Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:31-35)

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.

Matthew relates the parables Jesus proposed to the crowds about the kingdom of heaven. It is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds but as a full-grown plant becomes large enough for birds to dwell in its branches. In another parable, he describes it as yeast mixed into three measures of wheat flour, leavening the whole batch. In each distinct parable, the mustard seed in its fullness and the yeast spread throughout the batch of dough become a means of sustaining life. The branches of the mustard plant become a place where birds dwell, where the spirit resides. The yeast becomes one with the batch of dough, transforming it and providing sustenance.

God, help me understand these parables and how they apply to this day. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, seemingly small but producing profound impact and providing a spiritual dwelling. Give me the grace today to allow you to permeate my entire being and transform it. Let me find shelter in your care, and make me into a new person through communion with Christ and in his indwelling through the Holy Spirit. Nourish and sustain me, Lord; strengthen me with your presence.

From the responsorial psalm, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” Saint Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:44-46)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Jesus shares with the disciples parables that have come to be known as the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value. These parables convey the profound significance of finding the great treasure of the kingdom of heaven, or God’s reign in our lives. In each parable, the one who finds the treasure shows a sense of joy and urgency. Joy because the one who finds recognizes its authentic value, and urgency because finding it requires a response. In the first reading, Solomon asks God, “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” For asking for that, God blesses him beyond what he can imagine. Every time we ask God that his kingdom come and his will be done, from the mystery of his grace we find the hidden treasure of understanding and wisdom.

God, help me learn to seek what is authentic in asking that your will be done. The kingdom of heaven at times can seem remote and unseen, the pearl of greatest value overlooked. Direct my gaze with the gift of understanding toward what you have hidden in plain sight. The kingdom is here, the kingdom is to come. Give me the grace to understand the urgency in listening out for your voice, and having found it, respond to your will. As Saint Paul says, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Grant me the wisdom, Lord, to understand your call.

From the responsorial psalm, “Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.” Thank you, Lord, for the immeasurable gift of your kingdom.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Jn 11:19-27)

Jesus said to [Martha], “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

On the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the Gospel according to John relates the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. It also conveys the depth of his friendship with these three siblings. In other Gospel accounts, Martha is busy in the kitchen while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to him. But in this passage, Martha approaches Jesus, expressing her faith in him: Martha goes out to meet Jesus after Lazarus’s death. She expresses her faith in Jesus by saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” She goes on to express even greater faith in Jesus as he asks if she believes he is the resurrection and the life. “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

God, through his death and resurrection, your Son offers me and all who believe in him the promise of eternal life. Help me today strengthen my faith in you by imitating Martha in going out to meet Jesus, who alone is the resurrection and the life. Just as Mary, Martha, and Lazarus welcomed Jesus into their home, let me learn from their example; grant me the grace of friendship with your Son, the one who is coming into the world to save us for eternal life. Jesus, I trust in you.

From the Gospel acclamation: “I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:18-23)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Sower. Seed sown on the path the Evil One steals. Seed sown on rocky ground gives joy but has no root and withers. Seed sown among thorns is choked by worldly anxiety and the lure of riches. But seed sown on rich soil takes root and bears abundant fruit. Anyone who is even the least receptive to the word of God has experienced at some point what Jesus describes in the parable. Yet, God leaves the decision to receive his word entirely up to each of us.

God, you invite me to soften the soil of my heart for you, but you don’t force; you merely invite. How I respond because you give me the gift of free will is my choice. How often does the well-trodden, rocky, or thorny ground prevent me from hearing and understanding your word? I think about worldly anxiety and the lure of riches. Daily it pricks me and chokes my ability to respond and learn to love you. After the Our Father during Mass, the priest says something I want to remember today, a remedy to treat the rocky ground and thorny path: “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of Your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” 

God, help me soften my heart today to receive and understand your word. From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.