Tag: kingdom of heaven

“The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” | Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist | 10.18.23

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 10:1-9)

Jesus said to the disciples: Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus commissions seventy-two disciples, sending them out ahead of him to do urgently what he himself will do: proclaim the Kingdom of God. His words are not meant only for those disciples at that time in history but also for every Christian who hears and responds to the Lord. In a world full of brokenness and division, Jesus commands those who follow him to be a means of peace and healing while proclaiming God’s kingdom. To take on such a task, the disciples are to depend on God for a roof over their head and a meal placed before them. Like lambs among wolves, the disciples are to rely on God’s guidance and provision, and the power to bring God’s work to fruition. Then, as today, the Kingdom of God is at hand!

Father in heaven, give me the grace I need to be steadfast every day in proclaiming your kingdom. Saint Paul describes the resistance he met in preaching and his isolation and exposure to mortal danger. Whatever I do in your name today, Lord, help me remember his complete reliance on you. As he writes in his letter to Timothy, “But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” Stand by me today, Lord, as you give me every opportunity to love and serve others according to your will.

From the Gospel acclamation: “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” Saint Luke, 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.

“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.

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 12:24-26)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that unless a grain of wheat dies to produce fruit, it remains just a grain of wheat. Held on to for its own sake, life results in life lost; if it falls, though, it sprouts, takes root, and goes on to produce abundant fruit. Jesus then tells the disciples how this comes to be. In following and serving the Lord, the present life is lost in the love and service of his will. In that, the present life for its own sake is given up in love of the Father, who preserves us for eternal life.

God, you alone know what the words “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies” mean to me. Hearing that makes me reflect on the brevity of life and the sorrow of growing older, losing life bit by bit. Yet, you are the master of time and space; it is subject to your word. When Jesus says “whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life,” it is his body that is the grain of wheat, his dying that destroys death, and his rising that brings eternal life to all. Through participation in the Eucharist, the Mystical Body of Christ is life itself laid down and brought to eternal life through his resurrection. I die in this life to be brought into eternal life through taking the body and blood of your Son, the medicine of immortality.

From the responsorial psalm: “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord.” Lord, let the light of your face shine upon me. Saint Lawrence, 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.

Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 15: 21-28)

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”

The woman in today’s Gospel comes to Jesus seeking healing for her daughter. Matthew describes how Jesus says nothing to her on her first request. The disciples ask Jesus to send her away, but she persists in calling out to him. As a Canaanite, she is an outsider, not one of “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Jesus says to her in reply: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” But the woman says to him, “Lord, help me.” And then Jesus says, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was immediately healed. Jesus came to heal and heals still regardless of nationality or background. The woman’s faith is an example of trust in God’s mercy.

Lord, help me. Let the words of the Canaanite woman be my prayer today. Help me seek to make my will conform to yours. In trust and persistence, let me come to you for what I need with childlike faith. Help me see you, know you, and follow you, and let me be free from any fixed conceptions of you that would keep me from asking even for little things. You alone are God; you alone know what I need.

From the responsorial psalm: “Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.” Lord, hear my prayer today; in persisting, let me hear your voice.

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 Dominic, Priest

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 14:22-36)

During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

In today’s Gospel, as Jesus walks on the sea at night toward the disciples, they are at first terrified at his appearance but at the same time recognize his divine identity. Thinking Jesus is a ghost, they cry out in fear, and Peter says to Jesus: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus then invites him to get out of the boat and walk toward him. Peter begins to walk on the water but then becomes frightened by strong wind and starts to sink. He cries out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus saves him and says to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Once on the boat, the disciples did Jesus homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

God, help me understand the significance of today’s Gospel. Help nurture my childlike faith and trust in you, and free me to live in your peace apart from phantom fears and anxieties that have no correspondence to reality. Instead, let me find in the events of the day that the personhood of reality is Jesus Christ your Son and that he is present with me from the beginning to end of the day.

God, you said to Moses: “Face to face I speak to him; plainly and not in riddles. The presence of the LORD he beholds.” Be with me, Lord!

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.

Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 14:13-21)

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over– twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

In today’s Gospel, we hear about the events that follow the death of John the Baptist. On hearing that news, Matthew tells us, Jesus withdraws by boat to a deserted place. But he’s not alone. The crowds follow him on foot. As he disembarks from the boat, he sees the vast crowd. Moved to pity at the sight of them, he cures their sick. Just as in the first reading, where God provides manna for the Israelites, Jesus provides for the crowd of 5,000 from the multiplication of five loaves and two fish. When God divides, he multiplies so that there is plenty for all.

God, help me today to be among the vast crowd that comes to you for every need. Let me remember to look around and help others approach you or need direction in finding you. Jesus disembarked from the boat, and there the crowd stood before him. Bring me to that place where I cast aside what is unneeded and instead stand before you in need of receiving the true food and true drink of your mercy.

From the responsorial psalm: “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Lord, in your mercy, hear me.

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.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord | August 6, 2023

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:1-9)

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

In the Transfiguration of the Lord, as his face shines like the sun and his clothes become brilliant white, Jesus reveals his divine identity to Peter, James, and John. In conversing with Moses and Elijah, Jesus shows that he is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. At the same time, the Father reveals his relationship with the Son with the words “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This is the same relationship Jesus invites us into as he prays the Lord’s Prayer with his disciples. In that relationship, the Father of the beloved Son becomes Our Father, who is well pleased in our love for his Son.

God, help me understand that although the Transfiguration occurred in history, it is more than a historical event. After Jesus becomes transfigured before them, the disciples fall to the ground in fear. It is your Son alone they see when they look up and hear him as he touches them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” Peter says of the Transfiguration: “Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” This is the same man who denied Jesus three times. God, help strengthen my faith and my resolve to share in the relationship your Son has with you.

From the responsorial psalm: “The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the LORD of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory.” Overshadow me, Lord, with your majestic glory.

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.

Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 14:1-12)

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

Today’s Gospel begins Matthew’s fourteenth chapter, where he describes the puzzlement people felt over witnessing Jesus’ miracles. Like the people of Nazareth, Herod speculates what this might mean and from what source Jesus derives his power. Concluding that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead, he is drawn back to the fear that led him into beheading John to save face in front of his guests at his birthday celebration. Herod’s actions foreshadow the treatment Jesus receives at his coming Passion and death, which he endured to destroy death and give us eternal life.

God, I am not as unlike Herod as I would like to believe. Herod responded out of fear, and so do I; he acted to save face and uphold his authority, and so have I. He was a sinner, and so am I. In the last words of today’s Gospel, there is comfort knowing that Jesus your Son received the abominable news of John’s beheading and took it all in. In his Passion and death, he took on our sins; by his resurrection, he restored life. Lord, help me not be so afraid of what is to come, which often doesn’t come to pass. Give me courage today to trust in your providence, to be a witness to you even in the face of opposition and persecution.

From the responsorial psalm: “The earth has yielded its fruits; God, our God, has blessed us. May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him!” Lord of heaven and earth, be my strength!

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.