Tuesday, February 17, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(James 1:12-18; Mark 8:14-21)

Novice hikers in the Rockies are told what to do if they spot a bear.  They are not to run.  Running would provoke a bear to attack if it is threatened or hungry.  Rather than run, hikers are to hold their backpacks over their heads and walk away from the bear.  Bears do not have 20-20 vision.  They would see a hiker with a pack held high as a giant with whom they would rather not tangle. 

What has this to do with today’s gospel? Only this: like a hiker with backpack raised high will appear formidable to a bear, pride and arrogance will distort the vision of a sinner.  She will think herself better than she is.  In the gospel Jesus warns his disciples not to think like this.  The “leaven of the Pharisees” is pride which puffs up one’s self-perception.  Disciples do not have to boast about who is smarter. stronger or more beautiful.  They have Jesus -- the one loaf – with them.  He is both sustenance and consolation for one and all.

Tomorrow we begin Lent.  It is a time of grace.  We will walk with Jesus forty days to temper our pride -- our love of self -- and to bolster our charity -- our love for others. 

Monday, February 16, 2026

 

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(James 1:1-11; Mark 8:11-13)

The Letter of James is a New Testament enigma.  No one knows who wrote it or to whom it was written.  Some think it was written by James, “the brother of the Lord.”  Perhaps, but if so, why does the author never relate a personal experience with Jesus?  In fact, he hardly mentions the Lord.  For this reason, others wonder if it is not a Jewish document that has been “baptized” with a few Christian references.  Yet the work echoes Jesus’ passionate defense of the poor.  This is seen in today’s passage which speaks of the lowly being exulted and the sun scorching the richly endowed flower of the field.

Today’s reading also mentions “the twelve tribes of the diaspora” as the letter’s addressee.  This may sound like a reference to Jews living outside of Palestine.  However, the First Letter of Peter begins with a similar reference.  Perhaps, then, the phrase refers to the communities of the twelve apostles. 

Since the Reformation, the Letter of James has been most noted for its apparent refutation of St. Paul’s claim, “… a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Rom 3:28). James states his case bluntly, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).   Paul himself bows to this truth in the Letter to the Galatians where he says, “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (Gal 5:6).  Let us note as well James’ testimony to faith in today’s passage.  He writes that when faith is tested, it produces perseverance which leads to perfection.  The perfection of sanctity is what we consider essential for eternal life.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

 

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 15:16–21; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10; Matthew 5:17–37)

Worldly wisdom. Isn’t this what our Uncle John used to describe as necessary for a good life? He outlined some of its principles for us: it is good to help your neighbor, but it is even better to be seen helping. Also, what matters most is not what you know, but whom you know.

In today’s second reading, from his First Letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul also speaks about worldly wisdom. He does not so much criticize it as he points out that it is not equal to divine wisdom. Indeed, in some ways human wisdom can help us move through life with a certain ease. For example, it suggests that we study when we are young so that we will not have to work as hard when we are adults. There is nothing radical about that.  Another saying of worldly wisdom, certainly more controversial, is this: it is good to be loved, but it is better to be feared. Dictators put this piece of worldly wisdom into practice.

The main problem Paul has with worldly wisdom is that it cannot save us from sin and death. On the contrary, according to Saint Paul, if we follow only the advice of the wise of this world, we will end up dead forever. That is why he exhorts the Corinthians to seek the wisdom of God. Where can it be found? Paul says it is no farther away —nor more difficult to grasp— than surrendering ourselves to Christ crucified.

In last Sunday’s reading, Paul spoke about how he himself surrendered to Christ’s cross when he came to preach in Corinth. He said, “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom… for I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Paul did not speak of an invincible warrior or an athletic champion who might gather mass allegiance.  Rather, he spoke of a man who gave his life for others. Somehow, this preaching won the minds and hearts of many listeners.

Preaching Jesus Christ crucified qualifies as the wisdom of God because it favors the poor and the humble rather than the powerful. Jesus died at the hands of the powerful in order to save the multitudes from sin and death. It is also divine wisdom because it works mysteriously: it does not attract people through a display of power, but through a story of universal love. Without a doubt, Paul preached the resurrection of the Lord along with his apparently complete defeat on the cross. Yet the acceptance of this message was the work of the Holy Spirit, not the charm of country folk tales, since the Corinthians were city people, not very tolerant of rural folktales.

In the Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples to put the wisdom of God into practice. He says that it is not enough not to kill; they must also avoid anger toward a brother or sister. In this way, everyone will know that they belong to God. Likewise, they must not only refrain from committing adultery, but also avoid looking at a woman with lust. In this way, people will recognize that it is God’s grace that is at work, not merely human discipline. Finally, Jesus says that his disciples should not take oaths, but should “let your ‘yes’ mean yes, and your ‘no’ mean no.” (We understand this prohibition as a condemnation of unnecessary, casual, or deceptive oaths.) His disciples are not meant to impress others with lengthy words, but to bear witness to the simple truth of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ..

In a few days we will begin the season of Lent. It is an opportunity for us to practice the wisdom of God. May our sacrifices and our prayer not be ways of impressing one another. Rather, may they be a testimony of our love for God and for our neighbor.

 

Friday, February 13, 2026

 

Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 11:29-32.12:19; Mark 7:31-37)

Most people credit Abraham Lincoln for ending slavery in the United States.  He is rightly seen as the great emancipator of African slaves.  However, more important than that feat, which was not accomplished until after his assassination, was Lincoln’s saving the country from division.  Lincoln himself saw the preservation of the Union as essential.  He wrote in a famous letter published in the New York Times during the Civil War: “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery.”  Lincoln knew that the end of slavery was inevitable.  He also knew that it would come about more easily and completely with the Union intact.  Unions of people and states allow dialogue, which fosters understanding, which brings about the give and take of compromise.  For this reason, the breakup of the Kingdom of Israel signified in today’s first reading is tragic. 

The union of the northern tribes and southern tribes was never easy.  It was accomplished by David, a strongman with an impressive faith in God as well as political shrewdness.  Its coming apart with David’s grandsons led to strategic weakness vis-à-vis the other nations of the region.  The gradual corruption of the leaders of both northern and southern kingdoms contributed to the downfalls of the kingdoms and the exiles of their peoples.

Our Catholic Church today is threatened by calls and acts of separation on both the right and the left.  The proverbial “man in the middle” is Pope Leo.  His mandate is not only to keep the Church together while seeking reunification with Orthodox churches and Protestant ecclesial communities.  He must accomplish these feats without betraying the apostolic tradition.  We can assist his efforts by prayer and also by developing restraint in judgment of others and by reaching out in honest dialogue with those who disagree with us.

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 11:4-13; Mark 7:24-30)

Today’s gospel may be compared to the experience of a priest asked to hear a confession on Easter Monday.  He is exhausted after Holy Week when he celebrated long liturgies and heard hundreds of confessions.  He just wants to rest when someone bursts into his office begging him to hear her confession.  It is not only that it would take time and effort, but also that there are posted times for confessions.

Jesus has arranged a retreat from his exhaustive schedule of preaching and healing.  He only wants a short respite from work when the pagan woman interrupts his tranquility. She requests that he expel the demon molesting her daughter.  Jesus tries to tell her that there will be a time for ministry to Gentiles, but she insists.  Jesus -- moved by the woman’s faith in him, love for her daughter, and humility -- grants her petition.

We may wonder why Jesus hesitates to utter a word that would drive out her daughter’s demon.  It probably takes more effort than we imagine.  It may create a ministry to the much more numerous non-Jews before he completes the mission prescribed by his Father to the Jews.  We also would like to ask about Jesus’ remark that refers to non-Jews as “dogs.”  This question may be answered by the Jewish use of “dogs” for Gentiles as a popular way of speaking in Jesus’ time.  It is no more insulting than for us to call our children “kids,” which is the proper name for small goats.  Rather than criticize Jesus’ behavior in this gospel, we might consider the following: he takes time to converse with the woman; he changes his position after hearing the woman’s argument; and he mercifully grants her request.  Jesus remains a model for us in everything.

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 10:1-10; Mark 7:14-23)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is astounding people today much like the personal computer did forty years.  Ask it any question – “How do I bake apples?” “Why do Chinese have trouble pronouncing the letter ‘r’?”  How does Kant’s philosophy compare with Aquinas’? – and it responds with a plausible answer in a second.  AI can write a letter for you, balance your checkbook, tutor you in a foreign language, and incredibly more. There is no more exaggeration here than in the first reading’s statement: “… there remained nothing hidden from (King Solomon) that he could not explain to (the queen of Sheba.).

Solomon is famous for his wisdom.  He not only knew many things but, more importantly, understood how things can work for the improvement of his subjects. Despite these blessings, Solomon died in a troubled state.  His many wives had twisted his heart away from the God of Israel.  His sons, Jeroboam and Rehoboam, were ready to divide his kingdom. 

In working with AI, we might take advantage of Solomon’s legacy.  The help AI provides is enormous.  But some will submit its products as their own creations.  Another problem is AI’s tendency to “hallucinate”; that is, to extrapolate from its base new information that is not accurate. If we use AI to deceive others, then it is not helpful but harmful.  In these cases, it is twisting us away from God, who is truth.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin

(I Kings 8:22-23.27-30; Mark 7:1-13)

Solomon built the “First Temple” in Jerusalem to unify the people of Israel.  The people came there from every part of the vast kingdom to worship.  They also celebrated Israel’s principal feasts and offered sacrifices for sins. 

The Temple was to the people of Israel what a monastery chapel is to a community of nuns.  The holy women come together several times a day for common prayer in the chapel.  Most monasteries practice “Eucharistic Adoration” where the Blessed Sacred is exposed in the chapel for a most, if not all, of the day.  The chapel is space where the nuns not only praise God but encounter Him much like healing is found in a hospital.

Because of her association with her brother, St. Benedict, today’s patron -- St. Scholastica -- is said to have founded the Benedictine nuns.  Not much is known of her life.  However, like Benedict, she was dedicated to God.  She worked, prayed, and lived simply with other consecrated women to express her love for the Lord.

Monday, February 9, 2026

Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 8:1-7.9-13; Mark 6:53-56)

Once upon a time a chicken and a pig were planning the farmer’s birthday party.  The chicken suggested to the pig, “Why don’t we give him a breakfast of bacon and eggs?”  The pig flinched at the idea. “Wait a minute”; he said, “for you, that may represent a token of appreciation.  But for me it is total sacrifice.” 

Humans have sacrificed animals for reasons greater than providing the farmer’s breakfast.  Today’s first reading tells of the people of Israel offering to the Lord “sheep and oxen too many to number or count.” Because animals are so vital for human welfare, their offerings may represent the people themselves.  The reading expresses this purpose.  The enormous sacrifice bespeaks the people’s intention to give themselves fully to God with Solomon’s temple.

Often, however, sacrifices from humans are compromised.  We make them to appease God, not to express the intention of dedicating ourselves to Him.  Because of this pretension as well as our other sins, Jesus handed himself over to be sacrificed.  As the divine Creator and the foremost exemplar of humanity, Jesus makes the perfect offering to God the Father.  Of course, he does not immolate himself.  Rather the world’s egotism condemns him to death on a cross.  His suffering that injustice out of obedience to the Father redeems us of our sins. 

 

Sunday, February 8, 2026

 

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Isaiah 58:7–10; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; Matthew 5:13–16)

As last Sunday, today’s Gospel is taken from the Sermon on the Mount. The disciples have drawn near to Jesus to listen to his teaching. He began by proclaiming “blessed” those who live the righteousness of God. In the passage we hear today, Jesus uses two images to describe the role of his disciples in the world.

But who are the disciples of Jesus? Some may think they are only the Twelve Apostles. That cannot be the case, however, because besides Simon Peter and his companions, the Gospel speaks of a relatively large number of followers. It was from among them that Jesus chose his inner circle of confidants. The word “disciple” comes from the Latin discipulus, meaning “learner” or “student.” Pope Francis has called all Christians “missionary disciples.” This was not merely a pious compliment, but a concrete call addressed to the baptized. Rather than simply praying in the pews, all Christians are called to learn about Christ so that they may speak about him to others.

There is a Protestant community that calls itself “the Disciples of Christ.” They see themselves as the vanguard of a movement to unify a fragmented world. Their spirit as well as their name would have certainly pleased the former pope.  Unfortunately, their beliefs and discipline do not totally conform to the Catholic tradition.

First, Jesus calls his disciples “the salt of the earth.” Salt has many uses, from preserving fish to melting ice. It is not only useful, but also inexpensive. Mahatma Gandhi, the Hindu leader, called salt “the condiment of the poor.” Probably Jesus has this use in mind when he declares that his disciples are like salt.

Salt adheres to starches, vegetables and meats to enhance their flavors. In a similar way, Christians are called to improve society. The Letter to Diognetus is a second-century document written to defend Christian customs against their many critics. It says: “(Christians) marry like everyone else and beget children, but they do not abandon the children they conceive. They share the table, but not the bed.” Over time, the Christian practices of rejecting abortion and reserving sexual intimacy for marriage were adopted by most nations.

In recent times, however, we have witnessed an erosion of these values. We have seen the acceptance of sexual promiscuity and abortion even among some Christian groups. One could say that “the salt has lost its taste.” Instead of showing the world virtue, these Christians have adopted worldly vices.

Even more common and beneficial than salt is light. Light makes it possible to transform water and carbon dioxide into food through photosynthesis, a process that also releases oxygen into the atmosphere. Without food to eat or oxygen to breathe, neither human life nor nearly any other form of life could exist.

We, as disciples of Christ, act as light when we share Christ’s teachings with the world. They serve as a guide that illuminates the path to peace. This is done more by example than by words, though both forms of instruction are necessary. In this same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches: “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (5:23–24).  When enemies are reconciled, a society becomes more united and more just.

Jesus exhorts us to let our light shine like “a city set on a hill.” What good is a light on a hill if it does not guide the traveler home? We, the disciples of Christ, are in the world to help everyone reach their true home with the Lord. Sadly, not everyone acts as if they want to arrive there. That does not matter. According to Jesus, we are here to illuminate the way to that home for all.

Friday, February 6, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

(Sirach 47:2-11; Mark 6:14-29)

Ten years ago, American filmmaker Martin Scorsese premiered his version of the persecution of Japanese Christians in the seventeenth century.  The film "Silence" depicts two European Jesuits who apostatize so that Japanese peasants are not tortured any longer.  Evidently Scorsese believed that apostasy can be good if done for an appropriate reason.

In fact, the Jesuits involved in the historical incident did not apostatize.  They, like St. Paul Miki and companions, whom the Church honors today, accepted martyrdom.  They knew that the world be better and that they would be judged favorably if they gave testimony to Jesus Christ as “the way, the life, and the truth.”

It is a terrible thing to die.  It is even more terrible to die young and after being tortured.  But it is far worse to betray Christ, our Lord, who himself suffered crucifixion to give humans eternal life.  No “appropriate reason” can turn something evil into something good. However, very good things will result when we endure evil for the sake of Christ.

Thursday, February 5, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

(II Kings 2:4.10-12; Mark 6:7-13)

Today’s gospel serves as a guide for navigating the approaching season of Lent.  In less than two weeks our heads will be ashed, and we will pray for mercy.  Spiritual masters have recommended that the forty days be considered a journey from self-indulgence to self-giving.

Jesus sends out the Twelve “two by two.”  We are reminded that the Lenten journey need not be solitary.  Sharing our experience with a couple faithful friends may keep us on track when temptations to abandon our resolutions arise.  Taking “nothing on the journey” reminds us to sacrifice comforts and delights as a testimony of our love for God.  A walking stick and sandals are essential for travelling on a rough road in Biblical days.  They are represented by Scripture and the Sacraments for our Lenten journey.

The gospel passage ends saying the apostles drove out many demons.  We want the demons within us like pride, laziness, and lust to be likewise removed.  Following the Lord’s instructions suggested here, we will progress in prying these demons loose.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

 Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

 (II Samuel 24:2.9-17; Mark 6:1-6)

 Today’s first reading should make us question the wisdom of using only Scripture to judge moral acts.  It indicates that David committed a terrible sin by taking a census of his people.  The United States and perhaps most governments of the world take such a census every ten years.  Do they thereby commit public sins?

 By no means!  It is necessary that a government have up-to-date knowledge of its people so that it might serve them better.  However, David’s action points to a deep shortcoming.  His hidden reason for the census is that he wants to know how many troops he can count on.  In this way he does not have to depend on God.  But God has been at his side in battle since the day he slew Goliath.  Now he wants to go out alone as it were.

Although trust in God in any endeavor includes one’s making preparations, there is a difference between the two.  When we trust in God, we do not violate any of His precepts nor do we presuppose accomplishment of our goal.  Rather we work diligently to assure success, pray that it is God’s will, and conform ourselves to His Providence.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

 

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr

(II Samuel 18:9-10.14b.24-25a.30-19:3; Mark 5:21-43)

Today’s rather obscure patron saint is one of the most celebrated by the people.  The reason, of course, is the long tradition of blessing throats with candles, themselves blessed yesterday, “Candlemas Day.”

The gospels report that Jesus worked many healings like the two done in today’s passage.  He cured sickness and expelled demons to show that the Kingdom of God has indeed come upon the world.  The Kingdom promises wholeness to loving believers although not immediate cure of every illness.  Healed or not on earth, they will experience the fulness of health in eternal life.

Today’s blessing should not be taken as a vaccine for throat disease.  It is a request for healing of every kind – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  It is said that St. Blaise’s prayers saved a boy from choking on a fishbone.  May his prayers clear our throats as well to profess faith in God and to tell of God’s glory.

Monday, February 2, 2026

 

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

(Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-32)

Throughout the Old Testament the People of God long to see God’s face.  Psalm 27 expresses the desire pointedly: “’Come,’ says my heart, ‘seek God’s face’; your face, Lord, do I seek!” (Psalm 27:8) Good people realize that in the Lord’s presence there is not only beauty but safety and happiness.  In short, in seeing God’s face, one experiences salvation.

In today’s gospel Simeon encompasses this longing.  A seer above all, he has been promised sight of God’s face.  He might have expected that the countenance of God would be that of a wise person full of trial, strength and compassion.  However, like Samuel when he is presented with David for anointing, Simeon is surprised by the face of an infant.  But he has no doubts.  Upon seeing the Christ-child, he breaks into song: “’Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation ….”

The Church sings Simeon’s Canticle at Night Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.  It assures us that Christ not only lights our way through this world but becomes our focus in the next.

Saturday, January 31, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

(II Samuel 12:1-7a.10-17; Mark 4:35-41)

Today’s first reading shows the effects of sin.  It not only comes back to bite the sinner but creates a destructive ripple in society.  Like a tsunami the ripple can grow to devastate homes and cities.  David believed that as king he could do anything he wanted.  He could sleep with another man’s wife.  He could have the man killed for his convenience.  But David like everyone else is subject to God’s justice.  He will not only suffer the death of his child, but also dissension among his other sons and continual upheaval among his descendants.

The story is repeated on a larger scale today.  Sexual promiscuity and marital infidelity have resulted in vast numbers of abortion, abuse of women, and children in poverty.  Should there be any wonder that sexual entrepreneurs like Jeffrey Epstein arise?

Our world often seems like the stormy sea described in today’s gospel.  Jesus is with us in the boat of society.  But we must seek his wisdom and follow it if we are ever to live in tranquility.

Sunday, February 1, 2026

 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a)

Today's Gospel records the beginning of the most famous discourse in history. As a work of rhetoric and as an outline for a worthwhile life, the Sermon on the Mount is unparalleled. The opening is renowned in itself. The Beatitudes paint a portrait of the perfect disciple whose destiny is none other than the Kingdom of God. Jesus is considered wise for placing the reward first, before mentioning the associated sacrifices.

The reading begins with Jesus taking a seat on a mountain. The mountain represents the pantheon of gods among whom Jesus, the “Son of God,” has a place. His disciples stand near him, and behind them, the crowd. Jesus proclaims, “Blessed…” or “Happy,” to nine kinds of people. Each member of these groups deserves eternal life for having lived the justice of the Kingdom.

The first group mentioned is “the poor in spirit.” They live dependent on God in life and in death, not on their own resources or the help of men. They are not lazy, and much less presumptuous. They simply recognize that the goal of life lies in God, not in material things. This characteristic is often found in the economically poor, but even the rich can entrust their lives to God. Saint Bridget of Sweden and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary were queens of nations who, as soon as they could, shared their wealth with the needy.

“Those who mourn” weep for their own sins or for the way evil has taken root in the world. With tears in his eyes Saint Dominic cried out: “What will become of sinners?” Of course, those who mourn are simply imitating Jesus weeping at the entrance to Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). In fact, Jesus is the model for each of the Beatitudes.

“The meek” do not insist on their own agendas but accept God’s inscrutable designs. Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers in history. When he became so infirm that he could no longer compete, he was asked if he resented what had happened to him. No, he said, “…in golf as in life, you have to play the ball where it lies.” Jesus promises that the suffering “will inherit the earth.”  But he is not referring to any worldly property but to the Kingdom of God.

In its list of beatitudes, the Gospel of Luke emphasizes physical deprivation, while Matthew expands the scope of deprivation. The fourth beatitude serves as an example. Luke has Jesus saying, “Blessed are you who hunger now…!” Biblical scholars comment that Jesus probably spoke this way in the style of the Hebrew prophets. But Matthew considers the message of Jesus’ the entire life: how he ministered and how he died. This is why he has Jesus saying, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” The blessed ones in Matthew have a spiritual hunger and thirst to always live in accordance with God's will. In the Gospels, Jesus never transgresses the Law. Even in death, he followed the Father's directives. Eric Liddell was an athlete from Scotland competing in the 1924 Olympics. When the 100-meter dash was scheduled for Sunday, Liddell refused to participate. He considered running on Sunday a violation of the Third Commandment. With a life oriented in this way, Liddell ultimately achieved the fulfillment of his heart's deepest desires. He died a missionary martyr in China during World War II.

In his confrontations with the Pharisees, Jesus warns them: “You tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness!” (23:23). Mercy will always require more of the individual than simply fulfilling the minutia of the law. Christ's disciples do not neglect to fulfill it. These are the ones the Lord will choose when He comes on the last day. The merciful include members of other faiths. In regions of Africa affected by Boko Haram terrorists, Muslim families have hidden Christians in their homes, risking deadly reprisal.

When the prophet Samuel visited Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king, he didn't choose any of his seven older sons. They were handsome and strong, but the Lord told the prophet that He doesn't look at appearances like men do, but rather at the heart. When David came to Samuel, he anointed him king. God wants men and women to have hearts cleansed of animal desires. Those with hearts inclined toward kindness and compassion, He will allow to see Him face to face in eternal life.

Mr. Bill Tomes was a businessman from Chicago. In the middle of his career, he traded his suit and tie for a blue denim religious habit. He began working among the gangs in his city. When he heard about a gang fight, he went to stand between the two sides until they stopped shooting. He is the kind of person Jesus has in mind when He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

The last two beatitudes are really just one. Jesus pronounces “blessed” those who suffer persecution to become holy like Him. Holiness is not achieved simply by praying in a pew. It also requires a life dedicated to others. Jesus adds that this struggle to be holy is at its root a quest for him. When we find him, our “reward will be great in heaven.”

Friday, January 30, 2026

 

Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 11:1-4a.5-10a.13-17; Mark 4:26-34)

An important American theologian wrote that the “Kingdom of God” is a poetic way of saying “God.”  What is God like?  Jesus gives a partial answer to this perennial question with today’s parables. He is like a mysterious power that makes things happen for human benefit.

There is no patent on the beginning of life. No one knows how exactly life first came about.  In today’s gospel Jesus attributes its coming to be to God’s acting in the world.  “The Kingdom of God” typically acting quietly, he says, describes how biological life came about. 

More than this, Jesus explains life’s blessings with another parable of God’s Kingdom.  He states that God’s Kingdom has the power to turn a tiny mustard seed into a giant mustard plant.  The product provides nutrition and repose to a multitude of birds.  One might make her own parable here.  God’s kingdom is the dynamic force that turned a little Georgian restaurant into the ubiquitous luncheon enterprise known as “Chick Fil A.” Or, more in keeping with the Eucharist, the Kingdom of God is like a band of twelve men in Israel becoming an institution with over one billion members in almost every country in the world.

The parables of the Kingdom inspire us to consider God’s goodness.  More than that, they encourage us to act so that we might benefit from its prodigious bounty.

Thursday, January 29, 2026

 

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 7:18-19.24-29; Mark 4:21-25)

The gospels frequently refer to Jesus as light.  In John, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world.”  In Luke, the visionary Simeon, while holding the infant Jesus in his arms, calls him, “’… a light for revelation to the Gentiles.’”  In today’s passage from Mark, Jesus uses a metaphor to say the same.  He is a lamp that has come into the world so that people may see. 

Jesus adds in the Gospel of John, “’… but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil’” (3:19).  The light of truth prohibits actions which many defend – sex outside of marriage, lying to get what you want, drinking until inebriated, and more.  For this reason, Jesus adds, “’The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.’”  That is, if you do evil, it will bite you back.

“’Take care what you hear.’” Jesus further tells us.  We must listen to him, reflect on what he says, and follow his counsel every day.  His light will point out the way to our true happiness.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and Doctor of the Church

(II Samuel 7:7-14; Mark 4:1-20)

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and Doctor of the Church

(II Samuel 7:7-14; Mark 4:1-20)

The name “Thomas Aquinas” suggests complexity to students of theology.  His magistral Summa Theologiae explores more than six hundred topics (called “questions”) with more than three thousand articles of investigation, and many thousands of citations from Scripture.  Yet Thomas was not a complex person and sees his principal subject of inquiry – that is, God – as complete simplicity.

Thomas was born into a semi-noble family in southern Italy.  Noticing his ability, his family hoped that he would be a future abbot of the Benedictine abbey where Thomas schooled.  However, when Thomas met the Dominicans in Naples, he found his true calling.  The Order exhibited a simplicity that touched his heart.  It professes poverty that eschews material accumulation. It strives above all to preach the gospel intelligently.  And its members wear a habit of the most basic of colors – black and white. 

Thomas’ conception of God bespeaks the singularity of Thomas’ own heart.  God for him is absolutely simple.  He has no essence other than existence, no attribute apart from His essence, and no possibility of being anything other than who He is.  In praise of God Thomas devoted his life.

Today’s gospel speaks of “rich soil” producing much fruit.  Like few others Thomas Aquinas exemplifies that soil.  His simplicity of heart explaining the complete simplicity of God gave rise to thousands of insights into both God and humans.

 

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

(II Samuel 6:12b-15.17-19; Mark 3:31-35)

In today’s reading from II Samuel, David consolidates his power over Israel.  He has been anointed the nation’s king.  Now he shows himself as its religious leader as well.  By capturing attention in the procession with the Ark of the Covenant, David is claiming to be the people’s de facto “high priest.”

Kings and presidents throughout history have sought high status in religious affairs.  The term for religious along with political supremacy is “caesaropapism.”  Roman emperors after Constantine relished this dual authority.  Henry VIII proclaimed himself head of the Church of England.  For all practical purposes Louis XIV did likewise in France.  Vladimir Putin seems to wield religious power in Russia today.

Most societies today, however, have firmly separated religious from political authority.  Political authority needs an independent religious counterweight to critique its determinations.  The converse is true as well. Religious authority can become tyrannical so that government should restrain its overreaching.

Monday, January 26, 2026

 

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops

(II Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 3:22-30)

Today’s feast of Saints Timothy and Titus remembers two of St. Paul’s most trusted collaborators.  Timothy accompanied Paul on several missionary journeys and represented Paul in different situations.  Paul probably ordained him the first bishop of Ephesus in the ceremony recalled in today’s first reading.  Titus accompanied Paul to the “Council of Jerusalem.”  There his Gentile upbringing probably lent credibility to Paul’s claim that Gentiles too could serve the Lord.   He became bishop of Crete.

The feast of these two saints provides opportunity to reflect on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which ended yesterday.  Every year from January 18 through January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, members of Christian churches pray together so that, in Jesus’ words, “… all may be one” (John 17:21).

Progress towards Christian unity has been slow.  Certainly, there is less hostility among the different communities of faith than a century ago.  However, some of the churches have introduced changes that seem to make union with the Catholic Church virtually impossible.  Perhaps unity will emerge rapidly after some unanticipated crisis.  However it comes about, there are glimpses of it in the fellowship and prayer during the week of unity.

Sunday, January 25, 2026

 

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 
(Isaiah 8:23b–9:3; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17; Matthew 4:12-23)

Today’s Gospel has long been a favorite of the Church because of its emblematic vocational call. At Jesus’ simple invitation, Peter and his companions immediately drop everything to follow him.

The reading begins with a sense of urgency. Jesus takes up the mission of his forerunner John, who has just been imprisoned. He proclaims the same message as John but reverses his word order. Where John announced, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand; repent…,” Jesus places the demand first: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In this way, he teaches his listeners the absolute necessity of placing God’s will at the center of their lives. The needs and desires of the self are not as important as God’s righteousness.

We are accustomed to thinking of ourselves as “number one.” But blessed are the children whose parents tell them, “Always do what is right.” Sadly, many children grow up hearing messages that encourage them to put their own interests first. The result is a society in which everyone claims personal rights without considering the responsibility of safeguarding the rights of others. When someone gives us the wrong change, we are quick to correct the mistake; but when the error is in our favor, we are reluctant to say anything.

The fishermen in today’s Gospel do not show this selfish tendency. Instead, as soon as they hear Jesus’ call, they respond quickly and wholeheartedly. Simon Peter and Andrew leave their nets — their livelihood — to follow him. James and John even leave their father behind.

By changing the focus of their hearts to follow Jesus, they allow him to transform their lives. They will no longer be simply “fishermen”; he will make them “fishers of men.” This transformation is not limited to the saints of the past or to priests today. It also occurs in the lives of many laypeople today. A man recruited students for colleges. After completing his formation as a lay minister, however, he came to identify himself more as a minister than as a recruiter. All of us know men and women who are successful in their careers but stand out even more for their Christian charity.

When we decide to follow Jesus, we experience grace as a dynamic force that moves us to do good and resist evil. Nevertheless, we will always encounter challenges that can cause us to stumble and sometimes fall into sin. Priests may fall in love; laypeople may also become romantically attracted to someone else. Or it may be drugs or alcohol that lead to our downfall. In one way or another, we drift away from our discipleship. Even Peter lost the enthusiasm of his initial commitment.  He denied Jesus three times out of fear when the Lord was arrested.

Yet the Lord called him again. After asking Peter three times to declare his love, Jesus entrusted him with the care of his flock. Just as Jesus acted with Peter, he will act with us. If we ask his pardon, Jesus will forgive our sin and call us once more — not for his sake, but for ours.

Life is a long journey filled with stumbling blocks. We will likely fail in our original commitment to the Lord. Still, as Saint Paul says to Timothy, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:13). The Lord is always offering us another opportunity to respond to his call.

 

Friday, January 23, 2026

 

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 24:3-21; Mark 3:13-19)

There are four lists of apostles in the New Testament.  Three are from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  One is found in the Acts of the Apostles, also written by Luke.  No two lists give exactly the same information. 

A couple of interesting observations can be made of the list from the Gospel of Mark. Andrew occupies fourth place in the order after James and John and, of course, Simon Peter.   The reasoning behind this placement is probably that Peter, James, and John formed Jesus’ inner circle.  They accompanied Jesus up the mountain of the Transfiguration and to the place where Jesus prayed in Gethsemane.

Mark also has the name “Matthew” rather than “Levi,” the tax collector whom Jesus called.  It is likely that “Matthew” was a name on an early list of apostles which Mark used.  Matthew tells much the same story of the tax collector’s calling but names him “Matthew.”  He probably wanted both to include the tax collector who received an independent call from Jesus and to use the early list.

All this may seem trivial.  However, the twelve apostles have great importance in the gospel.  First, they represent the New Israel that Jesus came to establish.  Secondly, they are the primary witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection.  They are the first to go out to the world preaching “Jesus as Lord.”

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

(I Samuel 18:6-9.19:1-7; Mark 3:7-12)

In its very first chapter, the Bible endorses human dignity.  “God created man in his image,” it reads, “… male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).  Of all creatures, humans stand out as godlike.  Catholic bishops rightly interpret this principle as implying that every person needs protection.  Humans must be safeguarded from those who would destroy them for their own purposes.

In modern times the assault on the human person has intensified.  Total war devastates foreign populations as well as their armies.  More insidious is the massive abortion of human beings in initial development.  Today, while much of society approves abortion, the Church continues its defense of human life from conception.

In 2022 the Supreme Court of the United States reversed a previous decision made on this date that legalized abortion throughout the country.  Now it is permissible only in states that approve it. Yet abortion has increased.  Drugs are taken to kill the human embryo.  We must back the Catholic bishops’ effort to protect life.  By talking about the issue, writing legislators, praying, and demonstrating we can support the most vulnerable of human beings.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr

(I Samuel 17:32.33.37.40-51; Mark 3:1-6)

Everyone knows the story behind today’s first reading.  The duel between David and Goliath resounds throughout Western civilization like the fall of Troy.  It advises the mighty not to be arrogant in their expectations, and the poor not to lose hope.

The reading draws attention to David’s innocence and courage.  More significantly, however, it reveals the almighty power of God over the forces of evil.  David does not rely on his sling or the stones to upend the giant.  Rather, he exhibits trust in God as he tells the pagan, “… I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.”

The story tempers the confidence of the strong in their own strength. It admonishes them to trust in God’s love.  Today’s patron, St. Agnes of Rome, shines as another example.  When she dedicated herself to the Lord, she refused to surrender her virginity to the pretensions of men.  She did not gain a long life like David but rather was awarded a place in God’s kingdom as a youth.

 

Tuesday, January 20, 2025

 

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28)

In a couple of weeks American attention will turn to the Superbowl.  Most people will make plans for watching the championship game on television.  They will root for their preferred team, enjoy the halftime entertainment, and take note of the advertisements.  More than any other public event, the Superbowl reveals how advertisements entice the public to spend their money.

In today’s first reading Samuel is similarly enticed by an array of characteristics that amount to advertisements for a replacement of King Saul.  Eliab looks good with his lofty stature. So does Abinadab, who fought in Saul’s army.  But what is appealing to humans may not be what God desires.  Although David’s ruddy complexion attracts human eyes, it is not for his appearance that the Lord chooses him to be king.  Rather, it is David’s heart which loves the Lord and will remain faithful to him.

We too must be careful not to judge only by appearances.  Whether it be a book or a spouse, the flashy, the sumptuous, the beautiful will draw our attention.  But as the wise know by instinct and most of us from experience, what makes a person worthy is not visible to the eye.  To paraphrase Martin Luther King, Jr., , it is not the color of one’s skin, but the content of one’s character that matters.

Monday, January 19, 2029

 Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

 (I Samuel 15:16-23; Mark 2:18-22)

 Jesus brings Israel a new holiness.  Seeing saw how many practitioners of the law have become hard-hearted, he provides a fresh interpretation.  He extends some precepts like love to include one’s enemies.  He also accentuates what the law has taught for centuries with uncommon vigor.  He compares this new holiness to “new wine” and warns that it requires “fresh wineskins.” By this he means that the people need to change the way they live.  They must move from an obsession with personal righteousness to heart-felt care for others.

 Today marks the ninety-seventh birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  In a very significant way his ministry resembles that of the Lord Jesus.  He too strove to change people’s minds and hearts.  Where many people thought that laws were fair because they were “on the books,” he showed that some were patently unjust.  Almost as important, he always preached respect, even love, for others.  Dr. King is not only an American hero exemplifying both courage and racial justice.  He is a kind of Christian saint dying, like Christ, out of selfless love.

 We can test ourselves as being “fresh wineskins” by asking how we see people of different skin color.  If we judge them inferior mentally or morally for that reason, we are old wineskins.  We will fall apart trying to accommodate Jesus’ teaching.  But if we respect them for their differences, then we should be able to follow Jesus to the end.

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 18, 2026

(Isaiah 49:3, 5–6; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3; John 1:29–34)

Although Christmas is a joyful season, the Church does not allow it to be a time of “pure joy.” She places the feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr, immediately after December 25. In doing so, the Church follows the pattern of the Gospels. In the infancy narratives of Jesus, both Saint Matthew and Saint Luke give hints of his death. Saint Matthew recounts the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, who were killed while Herod sought to destroy Jesus. In Saint Luke, the aged Simeon refers to Jesus as a “sign of contradiction.” It is an enigmatic description. It means that Jesus will be rejected and hated by the very sinners he came to save.

This juxtaposition of joy and sorrow continues today as well. We concluded the Christmas season a week ago with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. And now, on the first Sunday afterwards, we hear a note of sadness. John the Baptist, pointing to Jesus, calls him “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” At first glance, this seems like a peaceful image, but in reality it carries a frightening implication: the Lamb will remove sin by the shedding of his blood as a sacrificial offering.

As in the liturgies of Advent and Christmas, today’s Gospel fulfills the prophecy of the first reading. This reading comes from one of the four “Songs of the Suffering Servant.” These poems testify to a mysterious figure—the Suffering Servant—who appears in the second part of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The song proclaimed today reveals the Servant’s mission, while the other songs describe how he will carry it out.

According to this song, God has chosen the Servant to accomplish two goals: to restore the twelve tribes of Israel and to bring salvation to the entire world. In light of the story of Jesus, the early Christians could only see him as the fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus not only established the new Israel with his twelve apostles, but he also sent them to spread the Gospel to the farthest corners of the world. Equally significant, he fulfilled his mission according to the predictions of the Songs. He brought comfort to the poor and died for all men and women, without protest or complaint.

Pope Saint John Paul II helped us understand the greatness of these works of Jesus. He wrote that God creates the human person as a gift of love. In other words, our lives are gifts from God, given to us out of love. By “love,” we mean the willingness to seek the good of another. Since each of us is a gift, we fully realize ourselves as human persons when we give ourselves to others out of love. Jesus makes this self-giving possible through the sacrifice of his birth, his life, and his death. He was born in Bethlehem as God’s gift to the world. He lived by teaching us the ways of the Kingdom of God. Finally, he gave his life on Calvary for the salvation of the world from sin. In this process, Jesus not only modeled what it means to sacrifice oneself for others; he also conquered the spirit of evil that prevents us from imitating him.

Yet we live in a culture that has largely ignored the love of Christ. Many people today do not know Jesus. They live not as gifts for others, but for self-exaltation. Each year, fewer adults wish to commit themselves to another person in marriage. Why? Because they fear the sacrifice it requires. Young people avoid having children for the same reason. They do not understand that true joy comes only through this kind of sacrifice. Perhaps they may find pleasure in superficial relationships and excessive spending on themselves, but in the end they will likely wonder whether life has more to offer.

We have just begun Ordinary Time. This is the period in which we learn how Jesus gave his life as a gift. However, the season will be interrupted by Lent and Easter.  Then we will learn the cost of imitating him—and why it is worth it.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

 Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot

(I Samuel 9:1-4.17-19.10:1; Mark 2:13-17)

Today’s gospel passage has a reference that has defied commentators.  Where Mark writes, “While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples.”  To whom does the first “his” refer?  Possibly it refers to Levi whom Jesus just called to follow him.  More likely, however, it refers to Jesus himself.  If so, then Jesus invited sinners into dine with him.

Does this scandalize anyone?  It shouldn’t because we are all the sinners whom Jesus came to save.  Mark Twain said that he would choose “heaven for the climate” and “hell for the company.”  Jesus doesn’t go that far, but he still calls to his side those whom society rejects.  These companions include thieves or drug addicts.  As he loves people like us who come to mass, he loves them.

We have heard that we “are known by the company we keep.”  It is true that we must take care not to take up the vices of notorious friends.  However, we should not abhor those whom society finds objectionable.  Rather, we should respect them as humans made in the image of God.  We should also, as far as possible, convey to them the love of Christ.

Friday, January 16, 2026

 

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 8:4-7.10-22a; Mark 2:1-12)

Jesus’ question in today’s gospel is hard to appreciate.  Of course, it is easier to say “Your sins are forgiven” when no one can see the forgiveness taking effect.  But this is not what Jesus means by the question.  Rather, he wants the people to consider which will cost him more – to bring about the forgiveness of sin or to heal physical maladies?

Achieving the forgiveness of sins will cost Jesus his life.  He will be crucified as a human sacrifice to the Father so that the sins of the world may be forgiven.  Those who repent of their sins can walk free of guilt with Jesus enduring their due punishment. 

We might ask ourselves a question like the one Jesus proposes.  When we are offended, is it better for us to forgive our offender or to do something good for her or him?  It seems more efficacious for us to help the person than to dispense an unrequested pardon.  In this way the offender might be moved by our generosity to acknowledge his or her guilt.  Then we can forgive the offense and achieve the desired reconciliation.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

 Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

 (I Samuel 4:1-11; Mark 1:40-45)

 After every natural catastrophe – earthquake, hurricane, fire – humans ask themselves how God could have permitted it.  They wonder whether God has been capricious all along, whether they did not respond properly to His initiatives, or whether He exists at all.  Such questions echo the elders of Israel in today’s first reading.

  “’Why has the Lord permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines?’” the men ask themselves. Apparently assuming that the problem lies with God’s lack of attention, they summon the Ark of the Covenant to be brought to the battlefront.  “Surely the Lord will wake up,” the elders now seem to say, “when He sees His people’s need.”  Of course, the tactic fails.  God knows quite well of their vulnerability yet chooses not to support the Israelites. 

 God has His reasons which will always remain obscure to humans.  We might speculate in the case under consideration that God is changing the center of human authority from judges to a king as well as the center of cultic worship from Shiloh to Jerusalem. Or it may be that God is chastening his people for thinking that the mere presence of holy things, not their becoming holy, is what is most important.  Still, God’s ways are often inscrutable.  If we could figure them out, we would sit on an equal level with God.  But this does not mean that God caresses and despises humans at whim.  No, He has definitively chosen to support His people when He sent us his Son, Jesus Christ.  Like the leper Jesus cures in today’s gospel, God loves us despite our not always heeding His commands.  

 

Wednesday, January 14, 20216

 

Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 3:1-10.19-20; Mark 1:1-29-39)

Feeling called, like Samuel in today’s first reading, is an almost universal experience.  Most youth have a sense that they are called to do something or be something greater than they presently are or are doing.  Although they may not consider their calling with this term, they experience a vocation. “Vocation” is derived from the Latin vocatio meaning a “calling.” It may originate from an inner sense of destiny or something outside that attracts their attention like a poster to join the army.  In either case, they are moved to do something so that they might realize what they feel called to be.

Samuel senses his vocation to serve the Lord which apparently comes in a dream.  His words respond to the voice he hears while sleeping. He says, “Here I am.”  Church members should also sense a call to serve the Lord.  Most will not discern a calling to be a priest or religious sister.  But they may sense a call to a lay ministry like bringing Communion to the homebound.  Or they may discern a call to live as saints in the world; that is, raising a family, working at a job, serving the greater community with the love and diligence of Jesus’ disciples.

We sometimes resist our calling.  The fun or left side of our brain may signal that a Church ministry or even identifying too closely with our faith would be restrictive.  This type of thinking surrenders to unfounded fear.  We experience deep freedom when we serve the Lord.  He accompanies us, strengthens us, and fulfills us so that we feel his love. 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

 Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 1:9-10; Mark 1:21-18)

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? ...”  The devil’s question in the gospel resounds in the consciences of people today.  Seniors, reflecting over their lives, wonder if Jesus’ wisdom is any more efficacious than that of other sages.  The middle-aged, finding a measure of identity in a faith tradition, still refuse to follow all the tenets of the founder.  The young are mostly indifferent to Jesus as they pursue a life of autonomy and security. 

To be sure, Jesus has much to add to the lives of all.  The elderly will find hope in him. Even if they have not achieved fame or have had a family to remember them, he promises them eternal life.  The middle-aged will find in Jesus a more solid foundation for life than possessions or international experiences.  His ways will add a depth of meaning proven worthwhile by the saints over the centuries.  The young will have a way out of the insularity of self-concern.  They will learn from Jesus how to love with their hearts.

Just as Jesus brought freedom to the demoniac, he can free us to achieve the fullness of spirit that our creation as humans offers.  By no means is his way easy as it calls us beyond personal desires.  But whatever the difficulties it entails, it assures us of his companionship as friend and guide.

Monday, January 12, 2026

 

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(I Samuel 1:1-6; Mark 1:14-20)

The first words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark are telling.  He says them in in today’s gospel passage: “This is the time of fulfillment.” It is fair, even necessary, to ask, “fulfillment of what?” What are the desires and hopes that are now going to be fulfilled?

In an insightful article journalist David Brooks says that among Americans there has been a telling shift in hopes and desires.  No longer do they want love, at least as defined in a classical way of giving oneself completely to another, either one person, a group of people, or a cause.  Rather, he says, today most people want autonomy, a detachment from others so that one they might pursue personal interests without commitments standing in the way.

For Jesus fulfillment means the connecting of people to God.  This desire has been named “the holy longing.” Jesus is here to bring us much closer to the Lord and to one another.  He is present in the Church which gathers us as brothers and sisters and directs our corporate self to his loving Father.

 

Sunday, January 11, 2026

 

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

(Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17)

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Baptism of Jesus reveals to the world that he is the Son of God. The evangelist does not emphasize so much the water of the river as the voice from heaven. The story reaches its climax when the Father proclaims, “This is my beloved Son…” At this moment all present know the means God has chosen to save the world.

These words have resonance in the first reading. They are taken from the second part of the Book of the prophet Isaiah. The exiles from Jerusalem have lived in Babylon for decades when God tells them, “Enough.” He recognizes that they have suffered sufficiently to be cleansed of their sins. He chooses an agent to carry out His plan to save them. He describes the agent as His servant in terms similar to what is said of Jesus in the Gospel. He is “pleased” with His servant to whom He has given His “spirit.”

Biblical scholars have had difficulty identifying who this servant is. Some say he is a collective person -- the people of Israel. But the four “Songs of the Suffering Servant” do not fit well with a collective person. In sum, these passages from the second part of Isaiah give a portrait more of an individual. They say, for example: “And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant” (Isaiah 49:5). So, who is the servant? Perhaps one of the prophets like Jeremiah who suffered so much in Jerusalem before he was taken to Babylon?

The Gospel provides a more satisfactory answer. The servant is Jesus of Nazareth. We see his suffering clearly during Holy Week when the four “Songs” are read. However, to accept this answer, we must broaden the dimensions of the story. The servant has not come to save only the exiles of Israel but the whole world. His self-sacrifice will redeem all men and women so that they may walk with heads high in justice.

We encounter Jesus Christ above all in the sacraments. Consider this: In Baptism, he sanctifies our being. In Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, he heals our souls. In Confirmation and especially in the Eucharist, he nourishes and strengthens us. And in Matrimony and Holy Orders, he prepares us to fulfill our destiny.

The emphasis of this Christmas season has always been on God's gift. Above all, he has given us his own Son as our redeemer. By carrying out this mission, Jesus shows God's love for us. Now we can reciprocate his loving initiative. As St. Paul exhorts the community of Christians in Rome, we can clothe ourselves with Christ. That is, we can help others, not only our relatives but also those in need elsewhere.

A Christian church insists that each of its members have an "inner journey" and an "outer journey." The "inner journey" consists of Scripture meditation and prayer. The "outer journey" involves community service. This might be visiting the sick or bringing meals to the elderly. Just as it is essential that we always pray, it is meritorious that we lend a hand in helping others.

While we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, we can hardly forget our own baptisms. Like Jesus in the Gospel, we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit. Jesus will please God by illuminating our path to Him. In return, may we illuminate the paths of others to Him by our humble service.

Friday, January 9, 2026

 

Friday after Epiphany

(I John 5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16)

A Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia reports that when he contracted malaria, he was placed in a hospital room next to a young Muslim boy.  The boy was intelligent enough not only to speak English but also to ask a pointed question about the Christian belief that Jesus is the Son of God.  The boy queried the volunteer, “How could you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?”  He reasoned from the Muslim belief that God is a pure spirit, who would not beget a son with a physical body.   This kind of objection to Jesus’ divinity is what today’s reading from the First Letter of John attempts to refute.

The refutation presents three-fold evidence of Jesus’ divinity.  First, it claims that water testifies that Jesus is Son of God.  It probably has in mind the water of Jesus’ Baptism when the voice from heaven calling Jesus the “beloved Son” is heard.  The refutation proceeds by naming the blood flowing from Jesus’ side on the cross as testimony of the divine love which Jesus manifests as he dies.  Finally, the Spirit of God testifies to Jesus.  The Spirit not only enables Jesus to perform miracles but also moves Joseph of Arimathea to provide a stately sepulcher for Jesus and Nicodemus to come with enough spices to entomb a Pharaoh. 

As we close the Christmas season, we have more reason to accept the Incarnation.  In the person of Jesus, son of Mary impregnated by the Spirit, God has come to humans in their same flesh.  We know now whom to follow so that our lives may be full.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

 Thursday after Epiphany

(I John 4:19-5:4; Luke 4:14-22)

The world loves politics and sports because in these pursuits there are clear victors.  In politics every four years or so, a society will elect its leader.  One candidate will defeat another in the contest of winning the people’s confidence.  In sports winners more frequently gain recognition.  The competitions for championships in college and pro football currently hold the people’s attention. 

But in personal life victors and losers are not so nicely distinguished.  For sure Christ has won for the world a victory over sin and death.  However, sin still lurks in the background tempting people constantly.  Like honey in a beehive, sin has strong appeal although a thousand bees are at hand to attack anyone that comes near.

We must remain close to Christ if we are to benefit from his victory.  As the Letter of John tells us, faith in Christ means keeping his commandment to love.  And as Jesus proclaims in today’s Gospel, our love like his must be manifest by gracious action.

 

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

 Christmas Weekday

 (I John 4:11-18; Mark 6:45-52)

The Renaissance political thinker Niccolò Machiavelli famously compared fear and love.  He said that for a leader it is good to be both loved and feared.  But, he added, if a leader has to choose one or the other, he should choose to be feared rather than loved.   Fear touches most people more deeply than any other emotion.  It more likely makes a person submit to authority.  Yet both readings today at least hint that God wants to be loved, not feared.

The first reading from I John says that perfect love casts out fear.  It means that when one really loves God, she has nothing to fear.  God will meet all her needs.  In the Gospel the disciples are terrified when they see what appears to them as a ghost.  Despite knowing Jesus, their love for God is still shallow.  They lack the Holy Spirit.  They cannot yet appreciate that God will meet their every need when they trust Him.

We have received the Holy Spirit through the sacraments.  Yet our love is still often meager and our fear substantial.  As a surgeon has to perform an operation dozens of times before he perfects his skill, we need to practice loving God continually.  By prayer, fasting, and study we will come to know God and to love Him.  Then we will fear minimally if at all. 

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

 

Tuesday after Epiphany

(I John 4:7-10; Mark 6:34-44)

Among the bleakest words in English literature come from Shakespeare’s masterpiece King Lear. After being blinded by Lear’s cruel daughters, the Earl of Gloucester laments: "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; / They kill us for their sport".  In today’s first reading John, the Presbyter, looks toward the biblical God in an entirely different way.

The God in whom we believe loves His subjects far and wide.  He gave us His Son so that in bearing hardships with patience, we might be relieved of all suffering.  The Gospel today demonstrates God’s love.  Jesus reveals himself as God by not sending his listeners home hungry.  Rather he feeds them so that they can return home completely satisfied.

Love in Scripture is not simply the well-wishing of the Scholastics.  It is doing something beneficial for others.  It is cleaning out the family dishwasher or visiting the imprisoned.  By such acts we show ourselves as true children of God and heirs of eternal life.

Monday, January 5, 2026

 

Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop

(I John3:22-4:6; Matthew 4:12-17.23-25)

The First Letter of John indicates that belief in the incarnation separates true and false believers.  Its writer accuses those who deny that God took on flesh of having a false spirit.  He doesn’t say whether they are more like Manicheans, who hold the human body in contempt, or sensualists, who use the body for pleasure.

In any case, the Gospel speaks of Christ as the light shining in darkness.  Among other issues he enlightens people about the value of the body.  He never denies its inherent goodness although he warns about its abuse, especially through lust.

The issue of the body has dimensions beyond sexual desire.  Currently there is great debate about whether the body is peripheral or integral to the person.  Some consider that it is like an old computer that may be discarded when it disfunctions.  Others, thinking in the way of Christ, say that even if its mental or physical capacities fail, the body remains intrinsic to the person.  This necessitates that the body should be cared for despite the burden involved.  Having responsibility for a person in a persistent vegetative state or with Alzheimer’s will challenge anyone.  Nevertheless, it is our Christian duty to care for loved ones in these conditions and to advocate for their dignity in society.

 

Sunday, January 4, 2026

 

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, January 4, 2026
(Isaiah 60:1–6; Ephesians 3:2–3, 5–6; Matthew 2:1–12)

Today’s Gospel contains one of the most cherished stories in the entire Bible. It has been called “the Gospel in miniature” because it presents some of the most basic themes of the New Testament: 1) it reveals Jesus as king and savior; 2) it contrasts the eagerness of foreigners to find him with the resistance of the Jewish people; and 3) it hints at the painful destiny of Jesus at the end of the Gospel. Since the Church proclaims this Gospel today under the title of “the Epiphany,” let us consider these themes in the light of this strange word.

The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation,” “appearance,” or “revelation.” The “Epiphany of the Lord” presents Jesus as the Son of God. There are several epiphanies in the Gospels, such as the Baptism in Matthew when the voice of God the Father declares Jesus his “beloved Son.” The Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain is also an epiphany. Nevertheless, today’s Gospel account is the clearest instance of epiphany, for it shows how men from a faraway place come to adore the King of the Jews.

The story begins with the Magi observing a new star in the sky. Matthew certainly understands this star to represent Jesus. But the star also symbolizes the human capacity to know God through nature. The First Vatican Council taught that human reason can come to know the existence of God, but only with difficulty and with a mixture of error. For this reason, the Magi must stop in Jerusalem to consult the Scriptures. Only when the scribes discover that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem can they reach their destination.

This process of human coming to know God through nature is repeated even in our own day. It is often assumed that most contemporary scientists are atheists. Yet, according to reliable sources, a growing number of scientists acknowledge the existence of a Creator. Put simply, science cannot fully explain the convergence of factors that makes life on earth possible. If the earth’s temperatures were not moderate; if the mixture of gases in the atmosphere were not exactly 21 percent oxygen and 78 percent nitrogen; if there were not a large moon and the other planets, among many other factors, life on earth could not exist.

But all this knowledge tells us little about God’s compassion and about his will that human beings practice justice. To know God better, the Scriptures are necessary. And to know him as fully as possible, the Gospel is needed, because Jesus is the perfect revelation of God.

The second reading explains that the apostles brought the Gospel to the Gentiles. This also continues today. We may ask: what moves people to take an interest in God? Some are still drawn to Christ by science, which raises questions that are not fully explained. Many more come to know Christ through the lives of the saints, who sacrificed everything out of love for him. Some are deeply moved by the beauty of shrines, sacred music, and art, and they seek their source. Still others are so impressed by the good and ordered lives of ordinary Christians that they wish to imitate them.

In truth, it does not matter very much what brings us to Christ. What matters is that we embrace him and follow him. He is the way to God, because he is God. And being God, he will give us the happiness we seek in life.

 

Saturday, January 3, 2026

 

Christmas weekday

(I John 2:29-3:6; John 1:29-34)

Two children who just made their First Holy Communion were discussing their “Communion gifts.”  One child, after naming her gifts, asked the other, “What did you get for Communion?”  the other child responded, “Isn’t Jesus enough?”  Of course, he is more than enough.

Today’s first reading tells us of the “love the Father bestowed upon us.”  That love is Jesus.  He is, of course, the source of all Christmas gifts.  For this reason, I squirm when I attend a Christmas party which features a so-called “Chinese gift exchange.”  Not only does the name betray bigotry, the idea of taking someone’s gift to satisfy our hidden desire seems to betray the love of God given us in Jesus.

The magnificence of this gift is suggested in today’s Gospel.  John points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”   Have you ever done something so wrong that you wished with all your heart it might be undone?  Undoing our sin, at least where it matters most, is the reason that Jesus is enough.