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.

Friday, January 2, 2026

 

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

(I john 2:22-28; John 1:19-28)

Today’s patron saints were great theologians of the fourth century.  Both merited to be celebrated separately as they were until 1969.  However, now they are remembered together because they were the best of friends.  Moreover, their teachings on the Trinity set the new year on a sound theological basis.

St. Basil is called “the Great” because of his many accomplishments.  He wrote a rule for monastic life, reformed the liturgy, championed the poor, and demonstrated the correctness of considering the Holy Spirit “God.”  St. Gregory Nazianzen, a reluctant warrior, contended with false doctrines and their advocates when he would rather have retreated to his monastery.  Gregory showed that the Holy Spirit is not begotten of the Father like the Son but proceeds from Him.  He also laid the foundation for the Christological truth that Jesus is a single divine person with both human and divine natures.

The issues that Basil and Gregory Nazianzen dealt with are largely academic.  Yet they have critical applications in our lives. How are we to understand our redemption if not by one with both a human and a divine nature?  How are we to explain the healing effects of the sacraments if not by the working of the Holy Spirit?  These teachings, based on the Scriptures, make our faith both credible and coherent.