Wednesday, June 24, 2026

 

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

(Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66.80)

A man in his second career was having a “mountaintop experience.”  His wife had just given birth to their first child.  He looked at the baby and recognized his replacement.  Or so it seemed at the moment.  God-loving people will allow the possibility of the Lord’s shaping the destiny of their progeny in ways unthought of.

Elizabeth and Zachariah prove themselves such people in today’s gospel.  For years they have waited for their newborn.  Like the people surrounding them, they had probably presumed that he would be called “Zachariah” and follow in his father’s career path.  But when it all happened, they were aware enough of God’s hand in their son’s becoming to name their son “John” as the Lord indicated to them.

John did not follow his father as a priest, but he did manifest his father’s submission to God’s authority.  He had thought that the Messiah would purify the people with fire so to speak.  Then he met Jesus and recognized in him another kind of saving power.  John gave up his pretension of how the Messiah would fulfill his promise.  In John’s eyes Jesus was the lamb and not the lion of God.

We too should align our hopes and expectations with the Lord’s.  Our lives, after all, are not about ourselves but about Him.  This may mean a career change when we enjoy what we are doing.  It certainly necessitates our following His commands and not our own instincts and feelings.    We do it for Him who will compensate us more than we imagine.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings19:9b-11.14-21.31-35a.36; Matthew 5:6.12-14)

The kings of Judah and Israel were often as corrupt as tyrannical strongmen today.  They feigned piety while using their position of power to satisfy mundane desires.  King Hezekiah of Judah, however, was an exception to this rule.  Acting contrary to his unfaithful father, he destroyed idols and reformed public worship.  In his greatest trial he turned to the Lord for mercy and was not denied.

We read today the account of Assyria’s siege of Jerusalem.  Having subjected the Northern Kingdom, its powerful army and was bearing on Hezekiah’s Southern Kingdom.  The king recognized his desperate situation and prayed to the Lord for deliverance.  In one of the most remarkable turnabouts in recorded history, Assyria retreated without assaulting Jerusalem.

God hears the prayer of His faithful servants.  We can live assured of this.  His response to our request is not always what we desire, but it does bring us peace.  Having fulfilled His will, we can look forward to experiencing now the beginnings of His glory.

Monday, June 22, 2026

 

(Optional) Memorial of Saint John Fisher, Bishop and Saint Thomas More, Martyrs

(II Kings 17:5-8.13-15a.18; Matthew 7:1-5)

Today’s first reading demonstrates the viewpoint of the Deuteronomic author (or authors).  This writer composed or at least edited the Book of Deuteronomy and several other Old Testament works including the two Books of Kings.  Deuteronomic theology sounds to many rather karma-like.  It teaches that if you do good, you will be rewarded and if you do bad, you are doomed.

In the first reading the tit-for-tat is straight forward.  The Samarians (that is the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom (also called Israel and Ephraim) repeatedly violated Israel’s law.  They paid for their transgressions with deportation from their land.  Today’s gospel is more conventional, at least for Christians. Jesus tells his disciples not to judge, by which he means not to condemn others quickly.  If they do, he warns, God’s judgment of them in eternity will be swift and severe.

We see the two martyrs in this conventional light.  Both were beheaded for testifying to the supreme authority of the pope in the Church.  They are remembered after almost 500 years among England’s most renowned saints.  Thomas More has been lionized by the play and movie A Man for All Seasons.  John Fisher is recognized as a brilliant bishop whose theology influenced the Council of Trent.  More importantly, they have been rewarded with seats in the Kingdom of heaven.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

 

TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, JUNE 21, 2026

(Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33)

Once again the gospel today imparts a basic lesson for growth in the spiritual life. The passage is taken from Jesus' “apostolic discourse,” one of the five lessons that along with their accompanying narratives constitute the body of Matthew’s Gospel. We can think of it as preliminary instructions for the great sending of the apostles at the end of the work.

As Pope Saint John Paul II used to tell all Catholics, Jesus warns his apostles: “'Do not fear.'” Afraid of what? In the first three centuries of the Church, the lives of Christians were in danger because of their beliefs and practices. This type of persecution still exists in China, several Muslim countries and some parts of Africa. But it is rare in Western nations.

However, there is another type of fear among us. Many fear being belittled or considered out of touch and not “cool” if they live the faith as the Catechism teaches. That is, if we insist on attending Sunday mass even though we have to drive twenty miles or if we leave a movie theater that shows nudity. Some may make fun of us now. But it should not surprise us that in twenty years we will be remembered for having dedicated ourselves to a cause as noble as the conspiracy of charity that is the Catholic Church.

Jesus does not say that all kinds of fear are unnecessary. In fact, he recommends fear of the one “who can throw our soul and body into the place of punishment.” Unfortunately, he does not mention who he is referring to. Who can throw us into hell? Some Bible commentators have said that he has in mind God, his Father. Others think he means the devil. But isn't it true that both – God and the devil – are formidable and merit fear?

We think of the devil more as a person who can seduce us to perdition than as someone who could throw us there. However, the effect would be the same: the perpetual loss of happiness. By the way, if we do not accept terms like “devil” and “Satan,” we can change them to “evil” or “the web of evil.” What we are saying is that our natural tendencies toward  goods such as pleasure, power, and prestige can become disordered so that they suffocate us. That is, they can extinguish our desire to have just relationships with God and neighbor.

Certainly God can throw us into hell, but would He? Maybe not in the sense of forcing us out of His care. However, He has created us with free will to be responsible men and women. Furthermore, he has sent us his own Son to break the bonds of sin and light the paths to justice. If we wish to reject all these advantages, He will not prevent us from separating ourselves from Him.

Yes, we must fear God, particularly when we lack maturity. But once we grow in wisdom, fear turns into love like a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. We recognize that our happiness remains with Him and not with the praise of drinking buddies. For this reason, the Word of God stipulates that fear of God is only “the beginning of wisdom.” We are truly wise when we cling to God like a child to his father in the middle of a crowd at a soccer match.

Since we have mentioned soccer, we can conclude with a comment about the World Cup. In previous years the competition was associated with much illicit pleasure. Obviously, the participants in the disordered activities were immature people despite being millionaires. They needed the fear of God to put them on the right path. But fans who are also friends of God always thank him for having created athletes with such skill as a Lionel Messi or a Kylian Mbappé. For them, football is an exciting pastime, but not as importance as Sunday mass.  It gives them even more reason to glorify God for all He has done.

Friday, June 19, 2026

 Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 11:1-4.9-18.20; Matthew 6:190-23)

The first reading today is long and impossible to appreciate without awareness of its context.  It forms an episode in the saga of the kings of Judah and Israel.  Athaliah is the daughter of the wicked King Ahab and Jezebel of Israel.  She is also the wife of King Jehoram of Judah.  When her husband and son are killed, Athaliah attempts to have all Jehoram’s sons by other mothers slain so that she can rule Judah.  Her plan is foiled as one of Jehoram’s sons survives Athaliah’s massacre and comes to rule the nation.  The saga demonstrates what Jesus teaches his disciples with his difficult parable.

“’The lamp of the body is the eye,’” Jesus tells his disciples.  He is saying that we look into ourselves with the same eyes that we see the world.  If we see the world as the locus of growth in truth and goodness, we will find in ourselves the seeds of virtue to be cultivated.  But if we look at the world primarily as opportunities for more fame, wealth, or pleasure, we will mostly desire to satisfy our basest needs.

Although Scripture testifies to God’s plan for us, it can be opaque at times.  We need to use its clearer parts to help us interpret the problematic ones.  Its long and rich contents provide material to ponder and contemplate as we make our way through life.  Hopefully, it will guide us to God’s Kingdom.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

 

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Sirach 48:1-14; Matthew 6:7-15)

A man was hurt as a child by the school’s bully.  His arm was twisted behind his back until its ligaments were torn from the bone.  The injury caused intense pain at the moment and long afterwards. He resented his offender until he experienced a conversion when he was writing him a letter about the trouble he caused.

One day, the man found his abuser’s picture and a description of his activities in an Internet search.  The former bad boy was the director of a large trucking company.  The man began a grudge letter but then stopped realizing that he harbored hatred.  The letter changed from vindictive to reconciliatory as the man asked forgiveness for his long-term resentment.  He received a gracious letter back, but it was also a bit disappointing.  The former bully said that he honestly could not recall the incident but was sorry for any injury he had caused.

Sometimes we hurt others without realizing the damage that is done.   We cannot make an adequate apology.  We stand helpless before God unable to feel contriteness for our sin.  In light of what Jesus says in today’s gospel, we should ask God to forgive not only the offenses we are conscious of but also those which we do not realize that we made.  Likewise, we pray that we may forgive others even when – as is sometimes the case -- they do not realize how they have offended us.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 2:1.6-14; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18))

There are two transitions in today’s first reading.  Obviously, Elijah is giving Elisha his authority to speak on behalf of God.  The younger prophet will need a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to face the new challenges of his generation.  Elijah defeated the threat of the Baalites to Israel.  But other false gods and empty promises will attract the people.  Elisha will need to assert God’s ongoing presence in their midst.

The second transition is the forever changing times.  Things never stay the same but are always in flux.  Seniors today recall the pre-computer age.  Television threatened the development of children in the 1950s.  Artificial Intelligence reached instantly through smartphones has become the culprit today.  Will our children overcome the challenges of technology to remain peaceful and loving?

They can if they disconnect long enough to hear the voice of God spoken within their hearts.  He will tell them not to worry about being better than others but try to serve the needy.  He will assure them of His love but assert that the world does not revolve around them.  He is at its center with the Son in the Spirit forever making things new.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 21:17-29; Matthew 5:43-48)

Biblical theologian John Meier found Jesus’ command, “Love your enemy,” unique.  He examined all extant Jewish and pagan literature before and during Jesus’ lifetime without locating any equivalent saying.  For Meier this indicated that the words come directly from Jesus.  That is, he was convinced that the command could not have been borrowed from another source and attributed to Jesus as “the kind of thing he would say.”  “Love your enemy” may be jarring to those who hear it for the first time, but it is not the only statement of today’s gospel that wakes one from slumber.

Jesus tells his disciples to “’be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.’”  This statement sounds almost neurotic.  Conventional wisdom states that “perfection is the enemy of the good.”  Mothers advise their children that only God is perfect and that humans must accept their fallibility.  But Jesus remains unsparing in his command.  His disciples are to become like God in their relations with others; that is, they must treat everyone justly.

Before putting aside Jesus’ command as impossible, impractical, or self-destructive, we need to consider something.  These dictates come with grace of the Holy Spirit.  He is the very presence of God who does not merely help but transforms us.  We are no longer crippled by sin but walk as God’s children. As Bach’s children wrote music approaching the glory of their father’s work so too can our virtue resemble the perfection of our heavenly Father’s.

Monday, June 15, 2026

 

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:43-48)

“’Frailty, thy name is woman,’” Prince Hamlet says of his mother, the queen, in Shakespeare’s play.  But it is not true.  Some women, like Lady Macbeth in another Shakespearean play, are as hard as the seats in the church basement.  There is nothing frail either about Queen Jezebel in the first reading.  As her husband, the king, pouts over not being able to obtain a parcel of land, she cooks up a treachery that would impress the Godfather.  She not only defrauds but murders to steal the land away.  Then she triply defies God’s law by arranging false witnesses testify that they heard poor Naboth curse God.  Not frailty but pure wickedness characterizes this dame!

Some may see Jezebel as a figure of the archetypal Eve and cast all women in a negative hue.  But that characterization is erroneous as well as villainous.  In Genesis, both Adam and Eve willingly share the forbidden fruit.  In contemporary life, men much more typically than women commit heinous crimes.  What sin always demonstrates, however, is the human need of redemption.  Somehow humans must be freed from the burden of guilt attached to their crimes.

“...all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus...,” declares St. Paul in the Letter to the Romans.  Christ has freed Jews and Greeks, men and women, the dark and the light complexioned from the guilt which would hold them in sin like a car stuck in sand.  We celebrate this redemption in the Eucharist.  Here he frees us from our wanton desire to possess, dominate, and even to kill like King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.

 

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Exodus 19:2-6a; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36–10:8)

This Sunday we resume reading the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. It will be our guide until Advent. Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes discipleship.  It teaches us how best to serve the Lord.

In today’s reading, Jesus notices how much the people need pastoral care. He sees them as “troubled and abandoned.” To a large extent, the Jewish leadership has failed them. The scribes are preoccupied with the minutiae of the law, while the people long to hear about God’s love. The Pharisees seek places of honor at banquets, while the people need to know how to respond to God’s goodness.

The lack of adequate pastoral accompaniment continues today. However, the problem is not so much that people feel “troubled and abandoned.” Rather, the faithful are often confused and bewildered by the things they see around them. Many people in Western society desire affirmation even when they act in ways that were once considered abominations. The problem is not so much that they want to tattoo their arms up to their shoulders or dye their hair green. Rather, they show little regard for the primacy of the family. They want to live with their partner outside of marriage, to have a same-sex partner, or even to change their biological sex.

These irregularities become particularly visible during this month of June, designated by some as “pride month.” It seems strange to us that so many people want to boast publicly about things that were once considered private. As disciples of Jesus, how should we respond? Jesus’ recommendation in the gospel that we pray to the Father is particularly appropriate. These sexual matters are profound and sensitive. Wisdom is needed to address them appropriately. What else could we do?

In the first reading, God indicates what He wants from Israel. He says that they will be His chosen people if they keep His commandments. He adds that he will protect the nation as long as it maintains the covenant it has made with Him. In addition to advising prayer, in the gospel Jesus chooses the Twelve Apostles to proclaim this same message of election and protection. He sends them particularly to those who have gone astray to guide them back to the right path. The message remains relevant today.

God's love does not allow us to condone habits that distance those involved from Him. Behaviors such as having sex outside of marriage do precisely this. We may have the opportunity to speak honestly and openly to those in these situations. If so, we can convey to them how their actions offend God. At the same time, we want to hear their personal histories if they are willing to share them. In this way, the give and take will foster mutual understanding and goodwill.

Let's take the case of a Catholic school teacher who has a child in her class with two fathers and no mother. Some might wonder if the school administration should admit children in this situation. However, the Church does not consider admission impermissible in such cases. It reasons that the child will receive a Catholic education. It can be further hoped that by dialoguing with the teacher, his parents will come to value chastity. At the same time, the teacher will learn something about the reasons for and difficulties of having homosexual tendencies.

One might ask if our era is the best time to live in history. Who knows? It is true that we live more comfortably today than at any other time in history. On the other hand, it may be harder now than ever to convey the teaching of Christ. Nevertheless, we are called as ever to follow the Lord Jesus. We must ask for his help as we proclaim his truth.

Friday, June 12, 2026

 

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Deuteronomy 7:6-11; I John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30)

Some Christians still believe that there is a qualitative difference between “the God of the Old Testament” and “the God of the New.”  In the Old, they say, God is primarily wrathful, even vengeful, with inklings of tenderness.  In the New Testament, they would say, Jesus reveals God to be much kinder and gentler.  Jesus certainly emphasized the Father’s loving kindness, but so do the prophets of the Old Testament.  In the first reading Moses does not refrain from speaking of God’s merciful love.

We might note as well Jesus’ God never hesitating to correct His people when necessary.  The context of today’s gospel is Jesus’ chastising Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Their failure to believe in him as God’s Son, despite his powerful preaching and mighty deeds, required disciplining.  Fortunately, not all reject Jesus.  It is the poorer, lesser educated who tend to accept him.  To these he offers his yoke of wisdom.

Jesus’ wisdom is a product of both his brain and his heart.  By “brain” we understand correct assessment of right and wrong.  By “heart” we mean a proclivity to forgive. Jesus’ heart was pierced on the cross and drained of its life blood but hardly of his mercy.  It dispenses forgiveness where our sins deserve punishment.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

 Memorial of Saint Barnabas, apostle

 (Acts 11:21b-26.13:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12)

St. Barnabas is mentioned a number of times in Acts and the letters of St. Paul.  From all that is said, he is an exemplary Christian disciple.  He donates the proceeds from the sale of his land to the community of disciples (Acts 4:36-37).  He is sent to Antioch as a representative of the Church to investigate the new Christian community there.  One may find in him the gifts of patience and mercy in an incident that occurred while preaching with Paul.  Barnabas’ desire to allow John Mark to rejoin the preaching team after previously abandoning the project contrasts with Paul’s demand that he stay behind (Acts 15:39).

Today’s reading from Acts even testifies to his virtue calling him “a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24).  The same Spirit asks that he and Paul be set aside for missionary work (Acts 13:2). It further indicates his ability by naming Barnabas the first of the prophets and teachers at Antioch.

 We should imitate Barnabas.  We certainly can be generous with what we own.  We can also be people of faith ready to forgive others.  We should also speak up in favor of Jesus and the Church.  Jesus’ teachings of self-sacrificial love are called into question by radical groups today.  The Church has detractors for its stand in favor of the assignment of gender with DNA code, the integrity of marriage between a man and a woman, and the dignity of life from conception to natural death. Jesus never doubted these natural truths as he showed us our destiny with God through his Paschal experience.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 18:20-39; Matthew 5:19-19)

It should be no wonder why Israel is looking to Baal for salvation.  Their land has had draught conditions for years.  The people need rain in order to survive.  Yahweh seems deaf to their pleas.  Then they hear their neighbors speak of Baal, the god of rain, lightning, and fertility.  They say to themselves, “Why not give this god a try?”

Elijah, however, knows that appealing to Baal will only bring ruin to Israel.  He realizes that the reason for the draught is not an indifferent Yahweh.  Rather, Yahweh is chastising them for their faithlessness.  The infidelity is epitomized by their wicked king Ahab.  Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a test.  If Baal exists, then as the god of lightening, he should be able to easily burn his prophets’ offering.  But, of course, he doesn’t exist and cannot consume the offering.  Yahweh, however, burns up Elijah’s sacrifice, even after the prophet has made it hard to do so.

Don’t many people – perhaps some of us -- worship Baals?  They attach superhuman status to entertainers, politicians, and athletes.  These people try to fulfill their needs for doing well and being recognized by identifying with these celebrities.  They may even wear their jerseys, copy their hairstyles, or imitate their mannerisms.  Such attention to gifted but inevitably flawed heroes may bring a little euphoria but cannot bring happiness.  Worse, it diverts one from following the true God revealed in Jesus Christ.  If this portrait describes us, we must stop worshipping Baal and concentrate on following Jesus.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings7:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16)

As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, its citizens will recall a famous sermon preached by John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  In 1630, Winthrop told a shipfull of Puritan colonists that they would be like “a city on a hill” of which the world would take notice.  He exhorted the people to reflect the decency and justice which their faith espoused. The analogy was taken from today’s gospel passage.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus coins the expression “a city on a hill.”  He means, of course, that his disciples should lead exemplary lives of virtue.  He himself is the lamp to be reflected by every household as a guide for all the world.  Living as he teaches, they would make of the earth the forerunner of God’s Kingdom.

The United States is not a Christian nation.  It is composed of adherents to many different religious traditions and of people without faith.  Yet its founding principles are largely in line with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  It has always advocated the primacy of law, the virtue of charity, the value of freedom, and (yes) the necessity of belief in God.  It has been “a city on a hill” that has not only guided many to its shores but has served as a model for other nations.

Monday, June 8, 2026

 

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12)

Both readings today speak of the Lord’s care for those who love Him.  The context of the first reading is important.  Elijah is announcing to King Ahab God’s guilty verdict.  Israel’s ruler has married a pagan woman and worshipped her god.  Having spoken truth to power, Elijah is forced into exile.  He might perish, but the Lord has ravens bring him food.

Once again, we hear the gospel pronouncing as "blessed" those who overcome pride and do good.  Although the world may be blind to their sanctity, the Lord will not let it go unrewarded.  He will grant Jesus’ faithful disciples the most wanted real estate of all, a place in the Kingdom of heaven.

As good as it sounds and as reliable as it has been, we may still doubt God’s beneficence.  Doubting and temporizing, we don’t place ourselves in God’s hands when in trouble. Rather we let ourselves worry.  Yet our experience is quite the contrary. Like me, you probably ask yourself why God is so good to you.  We just cannot place ourselves outside the infinite reach of His mercy.

Sunday, June 7, 2026

SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

(Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58)

We might call this time of the year “the season of the great mysteries.” Last Sunday we celebrated the Holy Trinity, known as the central mystery of the Christian faith. Although it does not belong to this season, the mystery of the Incarnation, or Christmas, is also of extraordinary importance. Likewise, the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead holds a transcendent place among the mysteries of our faith. We complete this list of principal mysteries with the feast we celebrate today: the Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi.

Before reflecting on this solemnity, it is important to understand what a mystery of faith is. It is not a puzzle to be solved by the human mind. Rather, it is a revelation from God to be contemplated, accepted, and incorporated into our lives. We speak, for example, of the “mysteries of the Rosary,” such as the Assumption of Mary and the Transfiguration of the Lord. By contemplating them, we realize that they are not entirely beyond our grasp. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we too hope will be assumed into the Kingdom of God where we shall behold Christ’s glory.

When we speak of the “Body and Blood of Christ,” we are referring to the Eucharist, the sacrament that strengthens and deepens our relationship with Jesus Christ. In his presence we experience the first glimmers of eternal life. In this way, we move toward the universal human goal of everlasting happiness. Today’s readings teach us what this sacrament is and how it transforms our lives.

In the Gospel, Jesus declares that he gives his own body to eat and his own blood to drink. Because the Jews respond with disbelief, Jesus emphasizes that he is not speaking figuratively. He repeats what he has just said but uses an even stronger expression: whoever eats his flesh remains in him. How can the flesh of a person be consumed without violating human dignity? The answer introduces us to the Eucharistic mystery. Eucharistic bread has been inwardly transformed into Christ’s Body for the benefit of the one who eats it. Human dignity is not violated because what is consumed is the appearance and qualities of bread, not those of human flesh. Yet beneath the appearance of bread remains the reality of Christ’s Body.

As evidence of this mystery, the Body of Christ does not diminish within the person who receives it; rather, it grows. In the second reading, Saint Paul asks, “The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” Of course it is. The Body of Christ, which is also the Church, grows as we are strengthened by the Eucharist. In a famous statement, Saint Augustine explains this phenomenon: ordinary food is transformed into the person who eats it; but when we receive the Body of Christ, it is the communicant who is transformed into Christ.

The Eucharist is also food for the journey. The first reading comes from Moses’ final address to the Israelites. There he reminds them that the Lord fed them with another extraordinary “bread” in the desert. That “bread,” the manna, enabled them to continue their journey and become the People of God. In the same way, the Eucharist enables us to persevere through the struggles of life. Through it we can overcome temptations, grow in charity, and endure life’s trials until we reach our final destination with God.

The mysteries of faith are not meant only to be contemplated; they are also meant to be lived. With regard to the Body and Blood of Christ, living this mystery requires that we give positive answers to several questions. Do we give the Eucharist the honor it deserves by preparing to receive it through the proper fast, by seeking forgiveness for our sins, and by responding with a sincere “Amen” when it is handed to us? Do we observe the commandments and teachings of the Church, cooperate with the initiatives of our parish, and take an active role in its ministries? Finally, are we preparing for the end of our life by treating our family members with love, sharing our abundance with the poor, and avoiding evil?

Although living in this way requires effort, it is well worth it. It is no accident that the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, is called “the source and summit” of our Catholic faith.  It is the source because it nourishes us on the journey, and it is the summit because it becomes the heavenly banquet.

 

Friday, June 5, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

(II Timothy 3:7-10; Mark 12:35-37)

The two readings today are deceptively rich in ideas.  In the first, St. Paul reminds Timothy of the different uses of Scripture.  Beyond its help in praying, the Word of God instructs and can be used to refute mistaken beliefs.  In today’s gospel Jesus employs Scripture for this third purpose.

Jesus has won the crowd’s esteem by overcoming the challenges of his religious adversaries.  Now he instructs the people with a display of mastery over the Holy Writ.  He brings up a claim of the scribes that the Messiah is merely the Son of David.  Later he will tell the Sanhedrin that he is the Messiah, the Son of God who will sit on God’s right hand.  For now, he just shows how even David recognizes that the Messiah (or Christ) is more than his Son; he is also his Lord.  Jesus uses Psalm 110 to make his point.  David presumedly wrote the psalm, which says: “The Lord [that is God] said to my Lord [that is Christ], ‘Sit at my right hand …’”

We cannot underestimate the value of Scripture. St. Jerome said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  Scripture is like a roadmap to get us through life safely.  If we do not consult it regularly, we are going to lose our way to salvation.

Thursday, June 4, 2026

 

Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Timothy 2:8-15; Mark 12:28-34)

We nod affirmingly to the words of Jesus in today’s gospel.  “Yes,” we say, “we are to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves.”  But then, as Paul points out in the first reading, we quibble about words.  “What does it mean to say, “above all”?  we ask, and “How can I be expected to show the same love to another household as I do my own?”

Responses to our queries need not be abstract.  “Above all” means that we realize, as Bishop Robert Barron frequently says, that our lives are not about ourselves but about God.  We are to seek what He wants of us, not what we may like for ourselves.  I might enjoy watching sports events at the bar with my friends on Sunday evenings, but my conscience – that is God speaking -- tells me to spend time at the nursing home visiting an old relative.

As everything else in the world, love should be ordered.  We can hardly pay as much attention to the needs of all who are around us as we do to ourselves and our families.  Loving our neighbor as ourselves means that we don’t forget them as we proportion our resources.  Certainly, our children have a greater claim on our time than the neighbor’s children.  But those children too require our consideration and effort. 

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

 Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

 II Timothy 1:1-3.6-12; Mark 12:18-27)

In A Grief Observed, his memoir of dealing with the death of his wife, C.S. Lewis exhibits no euphoria about eventual reunion.  He almost dismisses the idea saying that it is not biblical and, in any case, cannot be a replay of earthly bliss.  In this last remark Lewis reflects the surprising teaching of Jesus in today’s gospel.

 The context of the passage is a debate between Jesus and a group of Sadducees, the priestly party which does not believe in the resurrection of the dead.  The Sadducees propose to Jesus a ridiculous scenario of seven brothers marrying in succession the same woman in order to give the first brother-husband an heir.  Then they pose the question, “’At the resurrection when they arise, whose wife shall she be?’’’  Jesus responds that the Sadducees misunderstand the nature of resurrected life where marriage between man and woman does not exist.

 Although Christians eagerly look forward to eternal life, it is best that we not try to describe it.  Saying that it is like an eternal honeymoon seems to conflict with what Jesus is saying here.  Describing it as an eternal liturgy is likely to take away many people’s interest.  The idea of an eternal banquet may raise more interest, but sound theologians have commented that there is no corporal satiation in heaven.  We just don’t know what eternal life is like, yet we do know that it brings happiness eminently worth striving for.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Peter 3:12-15a.17-18; Mark 12:13-17)

The recent motion pictures “Man of God” relates the saintly life of the Greek Orthodox priest, Nektarios of Aegina.  Nektarios demonstrated holiness when he gave a beggar the shoes on his feet, when he retired to prayer and work in a monastery, and – most of all -- when he refused to use his popularity as a platform to attain high ecclesial office.  In a poignant scene, Nektarios is urged to seek the patriarchy of Alexandria for the sake of the people.  He told his promoter that he was tempting him with power.  In today’s gospel Jesus similarly resists the flattery of the Herodians and Pharisees.

In Jerusalem to give himself as God’s servant, Jesus is approached by his enemies.  Before they ask a question meant to ensnare him in controversy, they try to flatter him with accolades about his integrity.  Jesus, however, knows their hearts, refuses to respond to the flattery, and then deftly responds to the question.  The scene ends with even his opponents amazed at Jesus’ astuteness.

Flattery plays on our pride, the basest vice because it inflates our ego.  Thinking of ourselves as important, we think less of God.  We are wise to be wary of excessive attention to us and to acknowledge the Lord behind any virtue we possess.  

Monday, June 1, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

(II Peter 1:2-7; Mark 12:1-12)

Today’s first reading resonates with the life of its patron, St. Justin Martyr.  The reading speaks of the need to fortify one’s hope with virtue.  Desiring eternal life alone will not accomplish it.  Rather, we must strive to live in accord with the classical virtues.  Christ will then crown our achievement with the courage to live and die for him.

St. Justin was such a sterling example of a virtuous life crowned with Christ that “Martyr” has become his last name.  Born of pagan parents, he studied philosophy before he became a Christian.  When he converted, he used his developed reasoning and oratory skills to defend the Church.  His legacy includes not only arguments for Christianity but also descriptions of early Christian liturgy.

The word “martyr” today is often used to chide someone who strives to live virtuously.  Some would say to such a person, “Why do want to be a martyr?” as if the person wanted harm to be done to her. However, the root meaning of “martyr” is witness -- not necessarily dying witness but living witness as well.  We all can and should strive to be martyrs.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY 

(Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9; II Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18)

Today’s readings focus on one of the deepest mysteries of our Christian faith. From almost the very beginning, the Church has proclaimed the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as God. In time, the triune God came to be called “the Most Holy Trinity.” For eight centuries there were controversies about how the three persons relate to one another. Even today there is misunderstanding of the doctrine. So we may ask: why does the Church bring the Trinity into the liturgy at all? The answer is not difficult: because the doctrine of the Trinity shapes the way we live our daily lives.

The Judeo‑Christian understanding of God differs from others. The defining characteristic of the God of the Bible is not power but love. Almost all ancient peoples believed that the world was created through battles among the gods. The culture of Babylon, where the Jewish leaders were exiled for half a century, offers a typical example. The Babylonians believed that the great goddess Tiamat represented all the forces of terror: storms, floods, famine, and invasion by foreign tribes. To defend themselves from disaster, the lesser gods asked the great god Marduk to protect them from Tiamat. Marduk agreed to save them on the condition that they become his servants. Then Marduk cut Tiamat’s body in two to form the sea and the land. Once the world was established, the gods created human beings to bear the yoke of divine service. They were in no way equal to the gods—neither their partners, nor their image-bearers, nor stewards of their lands.

The Babylonian creation story is completely different from the biblical account. In the Bible, the one God created the world with the intention of allowing human beings, made in his image, to care for it. In time, God shared with them his name so they could call upon him in their need. In the reading from Exodus, God reveals himself as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, rich in mercy and faithfulness.” In other words, God is loving.

The understanding of God as loving expanded with the coming of Christ. Today’s Gospel speaks of God’s “only Son.” There is great love between the Father and the Son. Yet the Father handed over his Son to save us from sin. If it is true that one who loves much, does much, then this gift of the Son reveals the Father’s love for us as well. As Saint Paul: “I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature will ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38‑39).

The love between the Father and the Son is identified as the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not merely a common trait of the Father and the Son like strength. Rather, the Spirit is the dynamic love that unites them forever. Their mutual love overflows and reaches us so that we may become holy like they are.

The Most Holy Trinity is utterly unique. It cannot be described easily. What distinguishes the three persons? It is not what they think for all three think alike. Nor is what they want for all three want the same. Nor is it where they are for wherever one is, the other two are present. Nor is it what they do; what one does, the others do as well. The only way they differ is in their relationships with one another. One is Father, another is Son, and another is the Spirit of love.

The doctrine of the Trinity serves to remind us of the priority of love in our behavior. Just as the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father, so we are called to love one another.

 

Friday, May 29, 2026

 

Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Peter 4:7-13; Mark 11:11-26)

If you are offended by today’s gospel, you are not alone.  Some sympathize with the money changers and the dove merchants in the Temple.  Soft hearts say, “They are only doing what others have done for centuries to earn a living for their families.”  Or you may be scandalized by Jesus’ condemnation of the fig tree.  “Is Jesus ecologically indifferent?” tree-huggers ask.

The problem lies, however, not in Jesus’ actions but in people’s inability to appreciate what is taking place. It may not be “the time for figs,” but it is the time for salvation.  The world must stop and take notice if it is to survive.  More than humankind is at stake.  With the Death, Resurrection, Ascension of Jesus and the Descent of the Holy Spirit all creation will be renewed.  This is not a business-as-usual moment, but one that cries for repentance and belief.

St. Paul will tell us in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, “Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  We must always live in this “now” by practicing every word that Jesus has taught us.  Jesus may offend at times, but his offense is given to heal us.  He calls our attention to his redemption that is taking place.

Thursday, May 28, 2026

 

Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Peter 2:2-5.9-12; Mark 10:46-52)

The other day the newspaper reported on a family with combined income of $500,000 a year.  The feature of the story was that the family considered themselves “middle class” struggling to make ends meet.  Imagine that: earning a half million dollars a year and thinking you are just like anyone else!  Some people of privilege cannot think of themselves as special.  This seems to be the state of mind of the those whom the Letter of Peter addresses in today’s first reading. 

The author of the letter reminds the people of how fortunate they are.  He tells them that they are privileged to be called by Christ and accepted into his Church.  Now their lives, cleansed from sin by Baptism, give praise to God.  They should see themselves as the building stones of a magnificent cathedral revealing the glory of Christ and the saints. 

We enjoy the same special status as the early Christians.  We too have been called to stand out as people renewed by Christ’s teachings and the Holy Spirit.  It is important to remember why we are privileged.  The Lord has gifted us not so much for our sake but for his mission.  We are chosen in order to model for others God’s justice.  The half million dollar calling must not be squandered but put to good use.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Peter 1:18-25; Mark 10:32-45)

Renaissance bishops were no less notorious than Renaissance popes for “lording it over their subjects.”  Church reform in the Council of Trent included bishops governing no more than one diocese and residing within that diocese.  In today’s gospel Jesus indicates serving the members of their diocese is essential as well for successors to the apostles.

Most bishops today render such care.  One bishop stood out among his peers for such service twenty-five years ago.  Bishop Kenneth Untener of Saginaw, Michigan, sold the bishop’s palace after his ordination.  He then stayed with pastors in rectories for extended visits to parishes.  When Untener discovered how dissatisfied parishioners were with rambling homilies, he resolved to give homiletic workshops.  Bishop Untener traveled throughout the country showing priests how to limit homilies to one point and four minutes. 

As Jesus wanted his disciples to care for the faithful, he wants all of us to serve one another.  This rule especially to those in positions of authority.  Whether we are baseball managers or baby-sitters, our principal concern should be modeling Jesus’ way of leadership.  We should be slow to criticize and quick with gratitude.  We should be patient and kind, never rude or demeaning.  Like Jesus, we should be ready to make sacrifices for the good of our charges.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, priest

(I Peter 1:10-16; Mark 10:28-31)

Novelist Ann Lamott writes of Rosie, a young tennis player who is prone to cheating.  Rosie calls balls that hit the line “out” in order not to lose a point.  A man sees her doing this and tells her so.  But more than correcting her, he befriends Rosie and admits, “I did what you did....I cheated.”  The young player eventually recognizes her fault and overcompensates.  She starts calling balls that go beyond the line “in” so as not to appear dishonest.  But then Rosie summons the courage to call all the shots as she sees them.  One day during a match her friend sees Rosie calling shots correctly and begins to leave.  Rosie’s mother asks him if he doesn’t want to see Rosie win. The man answers, “’I already have.’”

In today’s first reading Peter calls the Christian community to the integrity which the man calls Rosie.  Christians are to give up “the desires of our former ignorance.”  In turn, they are to live in accord with the holiness of God.  Honesty needs to be implicit in everything they do.  For this reason, they are to “gird up the loins of (their) mind.” That is, they are to stand ready to do what is right and not what is self-serving.

Perhaps more than ever we are inclined to lie.  Social media have multiplied the desire to exaggerate if not to fabricate.  To initiate a message or image that “goes viral” fulfills the dreams of many even if it distorts reality.  In truth, however, it is just another example of the oldest sin, pride.  In line with our Christian vocation, we should take care not to exaggerate and never to lie. 

Monday, May 25, 2026

 Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

(Genesis 3:9-15.20; John 19:25-34)

Today’s readings present two paths for life’s journey.  Like in Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken,” the journeyer must choose one of them to follow.  The first is set by Eve.  She is enticed by the serpent’s promise that eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil will bring handsome benefits.  The second path is blazed by Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She stays close to her son not only to support him but also to receive his guidance.

Eve’s path is superficially fair and well-trodden.  However, it led to her downfall and, as “mother of all the living,” to our propensity toward evil.  Taking it, we would be ruined.  Mary’s path has had fewer takers and, consequently, is less worn.  Still, it is fairer because it brings us righteousness leading to eternal life.

Mary, as Mother of the Church, now gives us guidance and support.  She has shown us how to follow her son and prays that we might do so.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

PENTECOST SUNDAY

(Acts 2:1-11; I Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23)

Pentecost is the feast of the Holy Spirit. On this day we celebrate the coming of the Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples to proclaim him as Lord. This feast has never received much attention in the United States. For most people here, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day overshadow its importance. In other countries, however, Pentecost attracts the attention of both Catholics and non-Catholics. These nations have retained the custom of observing the day afterwards as a public holiday.

Perhaps the difficulty in celebrating Pentecost lies in the mysterious figure of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, God the Father and God the Son are presented as human figures, but the Spirit is portrayed through unusual images. He appears as a dove descending upon Jesus at his Baptism. He is the wind hovering over the waters in the creation story of Genesis and restraining the waves in the salvation story of Exodus. In the gospel passage today, the Spirit is described as the breath Jesus blows on his disciples.

Another difficulty faced when considering the Holy Spirit as God is defining his role in creation. If the Father is the Creator and the Son is the Redeemer, what does the Spirit do? To answer properly, we must clarify that the Son and the Spirit also share roles in creation. Furthermore, the Father and the Spirit carry out redemption together with the Son. Because God is one, the roles of the three Persons cannot be separated. Generally, the Spirit is associated with the sanctification of humanity, although the Father and the Son also participate in this work.  We call the Spirit “the Sanctifier,” the one who fills the soul with grace.

We can examine the Scripture readings today for additional ways of understanding the Holy Spirit.  In addition to describing how the Holy Spirit moves Jesus’ disciples to proclaim him to the world, the reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents the Spirit as the New Law. To understand how we must understand the context. The feast of Pentecost is of Jewish, not Christian. origin. The Jews celebrated God’s giving their ancestors the Law on the fiftieth day of their exodus from Egypt. Here God presents to the disciples of Jesus his Spirit as a law written upon the heart. God is fulfilling His promise to the prophet Jeremiah to write a new law on human hearts. This law works within us so that the love it commands becomes our way of life. (Yes, at times it seems difficult to live it out, but we have the witness of the saints that it is possible.)

Saint Paul writes about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the First Letter to the Corinthians. They are more numerous than the seven mentioned by the prophet Isaiah.  But all are necessary because the project of the Spirit is to build up the Church, the Body of Christ, throughout the world. Additionally, the Spirit forms us into that Body which the Spirit Himself animates.  In other words, the Spirit, who is love, acts through us, the members of Christ’s body. The importance of this truth may be seen in the final biblical passage today.

The Gospel shows how the Holy Spirit renews the face of the earth.  By empowering the apostles to forgive sins, the Spirit saves people from being lost in guilt. Forgiveness grants us a new opportunity to please God through our service. Furthermore, the Spirit of forgiveness is bestowed upon all of Jesus’ disciples, whether ordained or not.  He, the Spirit, enables us to forgive offenses committed against us. Without this aid to forgiveness, the world would have no future. It would be destroyed by revenge, growing ever more violent through the centuries with technology.

In short, the Holy Spirit is God’s gift of Himself to us. We are edified as He builds us into the Body of Christ. As members of Christ’s Body, we become participants of His divine nature and heirs of His eternal happiness.

 

Friday, May 22, 2026

 Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

 (Acts 25:13b-21; John 21:15-19)

 Many evangelical Protestants openly profess their love of Jesus.  But surely love of the Lord is as much a characteristic of true Catholics.  Mother St. Teresa of Kolkata used to describe herself by saying, “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.”

 Some will scoff at the idea that one can love another who has never been physically present.  They will ask, “How can we say that you love someone who died two thousand years ago?”  And they will dismiss as fanatical one who claims to love another who has millions of professed lovers.  But these objections do not faze believers.  They know that Jesus is alive and dwells within them spiritually. 

 We too can have a personal relationship with Jesus like Peter in today’s gospel.  By meditating on the words he left us and by caring for the poor, we sense his closeness.  Because he is God, the author of all life, he will assist us who hold him as our beloved. 

Thursday, May 21, 2026

 

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 22:30.23:6-11; John 17:20-26)

From its earliest days the Church has been plagued by disunity.  In several places the New Testament tells of unauthorized preachers spreading discord.  There are thousands of sects today.  Recently two large groups have strained relations with the Bishop of Rome to the extent that both may splinter.

One group claims that the Second Vatican Council was in error.  It specifies, contrary to the Council’s teaching, that people may not follow their consciences in choosing a religion and that seeking reunion with break-off churches and communities undermines the pope’s authority.  The other group seeks to liberalize the Church’s teachings on sexual morality. 

In today’s gospel Jesus prays for unity among all who believe in him.  He realizes the difficulty of keeping human minds and hearts united endowed as they are with free will and a gamut of emotions. Accordingly, Pope Leo recognizes that true unity comes from full union with Christ.  The Church must ever strive to attain the love Jesus had for his disciples.  It does so by rooting itself in his teaching and seeking reunion based on its truths.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11b-19)

Is the world as evil as Jesus indicates in today’s gospel reading? He says, “… the world hated (his disciples) because they do not belong to the world.”  Yet we don’t experience everything in the world objectionable.  Don’t we enjoy seeing butterflies and listening to music, even find them edifying? 

Without taking away the unique brilliance of the fourth gospel, commentators have noted its tendency to categorize all things as good or bad.  The good is what belongs to God’s original creation and to what Christ has redeemed.  Some of creation’s good, however, has been corrupted by Satan’s rebellion against God’s order. These are actions stemming from pride and its derivatives: lust, greed, and thirst for power.

Followers of Christ are in the world, but they resist Satan’s evildoing.  They may use and indeed enjoy aspects of the world when those things are aligned with God’s authority.  But when the things compete with God for priority, Christ’s disciples reject them firmly.  In the gospel, Jesus prays that his Father enlightens his followers to always choose wisely.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a)

The two principal readings today present parting words.  In the first, Paul bids farewell to the leaders of the Church in Ephesus.  In the gospel, Jesus prays for his disciples as he prepares to hand himself over to redeem the world.  Both men give strong testimony to their faith, Paul in Jesus and Jesus in his Father.

Paul is not bragging when he mentions his efforts to preach the gospel.  He is saying that the gospel deserves one’s best efforts.  It brings life if accepted and death if rejected.  Jesus says something similar.  As he prays, he tells his disciples that the Father has chosen them with the implication that they go out to tell the world about Him. They must teach others about God’s ways as he taught them. 

We have had preachers and teachers tell us about God.  We continue to learn God’s ways from them.  But our responsibility does not end with knowledge.  We too have been chosen to tell others about God’s ways.  As Paul says, it is a matter of life and death.

Monday, May 18, 2026

 

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 19:1-8; John 16:19-23)

In today’s passage from the Gospel of John Jesus tells his disciples that they will leave him for their own homes.  In fact, the gospel reports this happening.  After Jesus’ resurrection appearances in the locked room, the disciples are next seen back in Galilee.  Jesus will appear to them again standing on the seashore.  He will urge them to preach the gospel when he tells them to cast their nets.  He will also commission Peter to support and guide those who believe in the disciples’ preaching.

During today’s discourse Jesus indicates the reason for their eventual leaving Jerusalem.  They will have no peace there.  They will fear the Jews who will not want them around to preach in Jesus’ name.  Depressed that Jesus’ mission is apparently lost, they will not bother to pursue it further.  Jesus here gives advanced warning so that fear and depression do not overwhelm them.  He reassures them of his presence by stating that the Father is with him.  Earlier in the discourse (14:20), he told them that as the Father is in him, he is in his disciples.

Fear and depression keep some of us from living our faith in Christ.  In parts of the world Christians are being harassed and persecuted.  In western societies we shun the loneliness and frustration of living in accord with principles of faith. It is critical that we remember Jesus’ promise to be with us.  We can turn to other members of his Body as validating what he said.  He is turning our desolation to fulfillment and our sadness to joy.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
(Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20)

There are only two accounts of the Ascension in the Bible; both were written by Luke. The first is found in his Gospel, and the second in the Acts of the Apostles. Interestingly, the accounts do not agree, at least regarding the day of the event. In the Gospel, the Ascension takes place on the night of the Resurrection. In Acts, Jesus stays with his disciples for forty days before ascending into heaven.

We may ask: which date is correct? Scholars do not offer a definitive answer to this question. They say that Luke probably wanted to conclude his Gospel on the very day of the Resurrection, the event of overwhelming importance for the Church, then and now. Meanwhile, they view the forty days of appearances as symbolic, indicating a period of instruction parallel to Jesus’ time in the desert. In any case, they consider the date of the Ascension less important than its meaning.

The Ascension affirms the lordship of Jesus Christ. When he ascends into heaven, the Father gives him all power to guide the events of the world to their fulfillment. He does this through the Holy Spirit, who forms the Church as the Body of Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Church proclaims the Gospel to the whole world. In this way, it offers all men and women the opportunity to embrace salvation. While Jesus remains in the world, the Spirit stays with him. But once he takes his place at the Father’s side, the Son asks the Father to send the Spirit upon us. The Spirit makes us members of his Body to carry out his mission in the world.

We receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism. His presence within us is strengthened through Confirmation and the Eucharist. What are we going to do with so great a gift? In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends the apostles to all nations to teach what he has commanded. We can fulfill our role in this great mission by living with the selfless love inspired by the Spirit. Or we can avoid participation in the mission until the power of the Spirit atrophies within us like muscles that are never moved.

If we pray daily, asking the Lord for our relatives and companions, for those in need, and even for our enemies, we are fulfilling our role in the great mission of Jesus Christ. If we carry out our work well, fulfill our responsibilities at home, and live faithfully as citizens, we are fulfilling our role in the great mission. If we visit the sick, share our resources with the less fortunate, or teach those who lack education, we are also fulfilling our role in the mission.

On the other hand, if we pray only when we feel like it, we are avoiding participation in the mission of Jesus. If we always seek our own comfort, the praise of others, or financial gain, we are avoiding participation in the mission. If we perform no works of mercy, whether corporal or spiritual, we are also avoiding the mission.

There is a widow in El Paso, Texas, who for more than twenty years crossed the border once a week to teach English to the women of a sewing cooperative. Now, in her old age, she can no longer travel as before. Yet she continues serving the poor by writing thank-you notes to the cooperative’s benefactors. She is a living example of a person filled with the Holy Spirit, carrying out her role in the mission of Jesus.

Next Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit. We will remember the coming of the Spirit upon the apostles and how he drove them out from the Temple to preach the Lord Jesus to the ends of the earth. The same Spirit sends us forth from this and every Mass to carry out our role in the mission of Jesus.

 

  

Friday, May 15, 2026

 

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23)

Successful poker players know when to play their hand and when to give it up.  From years of experience, they have a sense when their cards will win and when they will lose.  Similarly, in today’s reading from Acts Paul has an intuitive “vision” what the Lord Jesus wants him to do.  He has developed a firm understanding of his will through years of prayer.  He can say with confidence that the Lord wants him to stay in Corinth to preach the gospel.

Corinth is Greece’s principal port city.  From it ships traverse the Mediterranean, the center of the western world.  Based there, preachers have access to all the known nations.  The city was like a major airport hub city today.  From it preachers can easily reach the places in need of the Word of God.  Probably for this reason, the Lord wants Paul to establish a Christian base there.

In Paul’s vision the Lord assures him of both his accompaniment and his influence.  These advantages are immediately evidenced.  Gallio, the proconsul or governor of Corinth, is such a “friend” of the Lord.  He dismisses the Jews’ charge against Paul as frivolous so that Paul can continue preaching. 

The Lord is with us as well.  We need to develop a close relationship with him through prayer.  Then he will tell us when to proceed on a project and when to give it up as futile.  Paul gives the reason for his confidence in his Letter to the Romans: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Thursday, May 14, 2026

 

Feast of Saint Matthias, apostle

(Acts 1:15-17.20-26; John 15:9-17)

Today’s reading from Acts gives us hope and a warning.  Peter proclaims, “’The Scripture had to be fulfilled.’”  He is referring to Psalm 41 which says: “Even the friend who had my trust, who shared my table, has scorned me.”  His statement also rings true generally.  Scripture, the Word of God, will be fulfilled.  It includes the good news that God exonerates us from sin when we embrace His grace.  The gospel will likewise alleviate the fear deep within that our sins and shortcomings will ruin us.

Peter’s message implies that those of us who betray Jesus will be punished.  Whether because they do not follow Jesus’ teachings or because they absolutely reject Jesus as Lord, betrayers will be ousted from the community of the saved.  This judgment may sound harsh until we think of all the ways Jesus has favored us.

Do you suppose Matthias was happy to be chosen to replace Judas?  Maybe not!  The apostles were told that they would suffer the fate of Jesus, which meant a violent death. Yet he promised as well that he would accompany them until the end.  That is not death but eternal life.  This promise has become Scripture to be fulfilled.  With Jesus at our side as well, there is nothing to fear.  The bad news-good news we hear from Peter becomes our assurance of reaching our destiny in Christ.

 

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

 (Acts 7:15.22-18.1; John 16:12-15)

 No doctrine of the Church is harder to grasp than the Holy Trinity.  How the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are both three and one almost defies explanation.  They are not three individuals making up a collective like a three-person volleyball team.  The three persons have but one mind and one will.  The Son, of course, has taken on a human nature, which involves his body in his heavenly presence.  But this extrinsic quality does not explain the real difference among the three.  They differ only by their relationships – one is Father; one is Son; and one is the life or Spirit among them.  In today’s gospel Jesus reassures his disciples with reference to the unique triad and unity of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus underscores the unity of the Trinity when he says that the Spirit will teach only what it receives from him.  In turn Jesus passes on only what he has received from the Father.  One might ask whether only the Spirit would be present to Jesus’ disciples or to Christians today.  No, Jesus has said in this same discourse that all three are present to his disciples.  The Church would formulate the Trinity’s presence in this way: “The Father is present to us through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.”

Although they are one, we can develop a relationship with each of the three divine persons.  To do this daily we can make an examination of conscience with the three in mind.  We can say, “Thank you” to the Father, the source of all things, for any good that we have experienced during the day.  We can say, “Forgive me,” to the Son who died because of our sins for any sins we committed.  And we can say, “Please…” to the Holy Spirit who is sent to help us for any special need we have tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11)

Robert Duvall, the recently deceased actor, made a movie called “The Apostle.”  He played the title role, a flawed but charismatic preacher.  The movie ends with the preacher on a chain gang leading fellow prisoners in a song praising the Lord.  Much like Paul and Barnabas in today’s reading from Acts, he never stopped evangelizing.

Song lifts up hearts.  It is especially helpful when working with children, the aged and the sick.  These people have limited self-preoccupation so that they aren’t embarrassed raising their voices, even if they sing off key.  Asking them to sing praise to God not only evangelizes; it also heightens their hope.

Nevertheless, singing is usually better when done well.  Even those who are inhibited when quality is lacking may be stirred to join in good singing.  In any case, singing praise to God should be encouraged because it gives God added glory.

Monday, May 11, 2026

 

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter

(Acts 16:11-15; John 15:26-16:4a)

A most disconcerting aspect of the allegations against Cesar Chavez is that he was a representative of the Catholic Church as well as farmworker justice.  Chavez featured an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on his protest marches.  He also acknowledged Catholic social teaching as a basis for worker rights, and he consulted churchmen on his policies and practices.  He even broke a twenty-five day fast by publicly taking Holy Communion.

Now that he is being discredited, the urgency of Jesus’ statement in today’s gospel that his followers testify to him is underscored.  Like priests’ abusing children, Chavez’ actions will turn people away from Christ instead of toward him.  They will deny themselves the truth and coherency of Christ’s teaching.  They will also be hindered from the benefit of faith in death.  It may be said without pretension that the welfare of the world depends upon good Christian witness.  Chavez unfortunately gave the opposite.

In a way we are in a bind.  We know that, by-and-large, committed Christians are faithful to Christ’s moral teachings.  Yet the exceptions to this rule cause public scandal and resultant harm.  Should we hide our faith so that we do not bring disgrace to Christ?  Of course, this suggestion opposes Jesus’ desire that we give testimony to him.  Rather a much better way of life is to develop virtue by right living when seen and unseen and by asking the Lord to send his Spirit to assist us.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

 

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER(Mother's Day) 

(Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21)

Today is Mother’s Day, not only here but in many countries around the world. Because mothers have played such a vital role in our lives, it is worth reflecting on their spiritual contribution to us.  By "spiritual" we mean our orientation toward God. We want to examine how our mothers have helped us draw closer to Him?  Let’s look at the readings we have just heard for some principles of the spiritual life and apply them to the role of motherhood through examples from Scripture and the lives of the saints.

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows Peter and John praying for the converts in Samaria to receive the Holy Spirit. The Apostles want them to offer thanks and praise to God that characterize the Spirit. In the Gospel of Luke, Elizabeth is described as "filled with the Holy Spirit" when Mary visits her. The mother of John the Baptist exalts God when she declares Mary and the child in her womb "blessed." Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine, similarly praised the Lord for her son's conversion.  She told her son: "One thing only did I desire... that I might see you a Catholic Christian before I died. My God has exceeded this abundantly, so that I see you now even despising earthly happiness and consecrated to His service." Our mothers taught us how to give thanks and praise to God when they taught us the Lord's Prayer.

In his letter, the Apostle Peter counsels his readers to be "ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope." As Christians, we seek to evangelize others with truthful and solid explanations. This reminds me of the Canaanite mother who gives the Lord a compelling reason to cast the demon out of her daughter. Saint Perpetua was a mother when she was arrested for being a Christian. In her diary she wrote how she explained to her father that she preferred to suffer martyrdom rather than give up her faith. Our mothers taught us how to defend the faith when they answered our earnest questions, such as: "What happens when we die?"

Today's Gospel urges us to love Christ by keeping His commandments. His first commandment is to love God above all things. In the Second Book of Maccabees, we read about a widowed mother who watched each of her seven sons be martyred. She consoled her youngest and last to be killed: "The Creator of the universe... will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his laws" (II Mac 7:22-23). In the last century, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian physician, refused a treatment that would have saved her own life but destroyed the life of her unborn baby. It was an act of selfless love for God as much as for her daughter. For many of us, our mothers were the first to teach us to follow God's will by obeying our consciences.  They would tell us: "Let your conscience be your guide."

When the children of one family asked their mother what she would like for Mother’s Day, Christmas, or her birthday, she invariably responded: "Good children." It is true. To please our mothers, we need only develop virtue so that we live justly amidst the evil of this world. We may add that living virtuously includes observing the Fourth Commandment: "Honor your father and your mother."