Wednesday, October 14, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 5:18-25; Luke 11:42-46)

Children used to be told not to walk over graves in cemeteries.  It was considered an insult to the dead person. Those who violated the custom were taken to be careless and disrespectful.  Evidently the prohibition went back thousands of years.  It is understood in Jesus’ calling the Pharisees “unseen graves” in today’s gospel.  The Lord is telling the Pharisees that they unwittingly make anyone who comes close to them seem crass and uncaring.

Jesus’ basic criticism of the Pharisees and the legal scholars is that they are blind to what is truly important.  He is trying to open their eyes to see how their concern over the niceties of customs offends not only innocent people but also God.  His remarks are strong but necessary.  As Flannery O’Connor wrote, “… to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures".

Religiously inclined persons should check themselves regularly to see if they are like the Pharisees.  We may like to be seen as sinless and much better than average human beings.  It would be wrong, of course, to heedlessly violate manners and customs.  But we should openly recognize that we too struggle at times to do what is right.

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 2:12-22; Luke 12:35-38)

An article in the newspaper caught Sr. Gerard Fernandes’ eye.  The report told of a criminal court assigning the death penalty to three Satanists who kidnapped and killed two children.  Sr. Gerard recognized one of the three as a former student, Tan Mooy Choo.  She went to the prison to meet with Mooy Choo, but the criminal refused to meet with her, not just once but many times.  Finally, after six months the prisoner consented to a meeting.  The first question Mooy Choo asked her visitor was, “How can you still love me after I have done such a cruel thing?” Sr. Gerard responded by saying how Jesus has mercy toward all sinners.  Gradually Mooy Choo repented and received the sacraments.  The night before her execution, she told Sr. Gerard: “Tomorrow morning I will see the face of my God.  When I get there, the first thing I will talk about will be you, Sister.”

As the Letter to the Ephesians tells us today, Christ is our peace.  He brings together those who are far off and those who are near.  As we face those who are distant from us through an offense or through prejudice, we can turn to him for help.  He is the olive branch, the white flag of truce, and the sacrament of reconciliation who brings us peace with the Father and with one another.