Tag: God

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:22-27)

Jesus said to Peter: “But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

In today’s Gospel, Matthew recounts Jesus’ prediction of his own death and resurrection. Following that, Jesus also provides instruction regarding the payment of the temple tax. Jesus asks Peter whether the kings of the earth collect taxes from their own sons or from foreigners. “From foreigners,” Peter says. Jesus then tells him that the sons are free from paying the tax but to avoid giving offense, they will pay it. He instructs Peter to go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. In the fish’s mouth, Peter finds a coin to pay the temple tax for both Jesus and himself. The reading for today shows that Jesus is aware of the mission he must fulfill and also demonstrates his humility in paying the temple tax to avoid unnecessary conflict.

God, help me understand today’s readings in light of my own life. Let me consider the words of Moses to the people of Israel: “What does the LORD, your God, ask of you but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD which I enjoin on you today for your own good?” At the Auschwitz concentration camp, Saint Maximilian Kolbe offered his own life in place of a fellow prisoner, a husband and father, so that the man could live. How far am I willing to love and serve you, Lord? Give me love and understanding to serve you, God, and the courage to follow you whatever the cost.

From the Gospel acclamation: “God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Saint Maximilian Kolbe, 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.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 14:22-33)

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 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.”

It is the fourth watch of the night, a dark hour. In the boat alone, the disciples have left Jesus to pray on the mountain after he had fed the five thousand. Then, in the midst of a storm that tosses about their boat, the disciples see a figure approach them on the water. They are terrified. Elijah, who took shelter in a cave also experienced the presence of God in a storm, in a landslide, in an earthquake, and in fire. But it was in none of these that the LORD was present. After the storms passed, Elijah heard a tiny whispering sound, and there the LORD was. In the same way, Jesus reveals his divine identity to the disciples in quiet, calming words: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” The disciples come to know Jesus by his words, and they proclaim: “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

God, just as Jesus reveals his identity to the disciples, I stand in disbelief of your presence. Unlike them, my response to you is not terror, not primordial fear; instead, subject to the modern age, I express conscious or unconscious skepticism each day as I consider how things come to be, how you are at work in the world. Still, you are present to me in the same way you were to Elijah and the disciples. Lord, you have authority over all of nature; you who calms the storms, give me the grace to put aside any frame of mind that prevents me from recognizing that you alone are God. “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for his word,” says the Gospel acclamation. God, quiet my heart today so I can hear your voice.

From the responsorial psalm: “I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD — for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.” Lord, give me courage to love and serve you.

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 Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:14-20)

A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured.

Jesus demonstrates to the father and son his power to heal where the disciples failed. Jesus, who has complete faith in the strength of his Father, cures the boy immediately. His disciples ask him why they could not drive out the demon, and he tells them: “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” What might seem a swift dismissal of the disciples is instead Jesus’ invitation into that same relationship of faith with Our Father in heaven.

God, help me understand the significance of the Gospel as it relates to this day. Give me strength to accomplish your will, and help me turn to you for my needs. Along with hope and love, faith is one of the three theological virtues infused by you, and I ask to exercise that today with you beside me. As Jesus did with his faith in you, as your adopted son show me how to turn to you always to strengthen my relationship with you and receive your grace.

From the responsorial psalm: “I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.”

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 Clare, Virgin

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 16:24-28)

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

With the words from today’s Gospel, Jesus proposes with all who would hear him the purpose and goal of discipleship: pick up your cross and follow him for the sake of eternal life. The paradox he presents to the disciples refers to the cross of this earthly existence and the Second Coming when “the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory.” In losing this life for his sake, losing oneself in the cross, new life comes to be; in a lifetime of losing one’s life for his sake, enteral life comes to be. What degree of loss am I willing to assume for the Lord’s sake?

Lord, you desire to bring me into your glory as an adopted son through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus your Son. What is the difficulty, what obstacle is there in seeing that in losing my life for your sake there is no loss but only gain? Help me remove any doubt that prevents me from losing my life, even little bits of my life, for your sake. Help me trust you. As Moses says in the first reading: “This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.” Lord, teach me to fix my heart on you.

From the responsorial psalm: “I remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I remember your wonders of old. And I meditate on your works; your exploits I ponder.” Saint Clare, 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.

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.