Friday, November 13, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

(II John 4-9; Luke 17:26-37)

In today’s first reading John, the presbyter, writes not to a person, but to a distant church.  She has many children, that is members.  John is warning the congregation about roving missionaries who do not hold to traditional teachings about Jesus.  He tells them not to allow “the antichrist” preach in their midst. 

We may think of the antichrist as the vilest criminal on earth – a serial child abuser and murderer.  However, the presbyter has in mind a kind of person that we meet every day.  For him the antichrist is anyone who distorts the teaching of the Church about Jesus Christ.  He gives, as an example, “those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.”

Today’s antichrists do not teach that Jesus was a pure spirit.  Rather, many contemporaries think of him as a wise man without supernatural credentials.  They see him as someone to be noted perhaps but not necessarily followed. This idea contradicts Scripture as well as Church teaching.  If Jesus is not “the Son of God,” then we may accept or reject him as we are inclined.  But if he is the Son of God, as Scripture and the Church has taught since the beginning, then we must heed what he has said.  If not, we will not experience the eternal life that he promised.

 

Thursday, November 12, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

(Philemon &-20; Luke 17:20-25)

One wonders about St. Paul’s motive in writing to Philemon.  Is he genuinely asking the slave owner to free his slave rather than forcing him by his authority as an apostle?  Or is he bluffing by projecting an authority that he does not have? Because Paul has given his life to the service of Christ without reservation, his goodwill should be assumed.  He does believe that he has the power to make Philemon free Onesimus if he wishes.

If Philemon refuses to cooperate, what could Paul do? He could tell the church at Colossus not to associate with Philemon any longer.  Then Philemon would lose the promise of eternal life.  Furthermore, he would miss the satisfaction of fellowship with the enlightened Christian community.  For a believer, this dual loss would be, at least, a disturbing prospect.

The dilemma that Philemon faces is every Christian’s dilemma.  No one forces us to do good and avoid evil.  We make sacrifices as Christians for the reward it promises and for the company it affords.  We further recognize Paul’s authority because Christ privileged him with an appearance and a commission to preach to us. 

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

(Titus 3:1-7; Luke 17:11-19)

Today’s gospel illustrates what we know from experience but sometimes have difficulty accepting.  As Jesus says in Matthew’s gospel, the sun rises on both the bad and the good.  So Jesus cleans all ten lepers.  We may not want to call the nine lepers who do not return to Jesus “bad.”  But the tenth leper who returns to give thanks has certainly acted well.

Jesus told all ten who were cleansed to show themselves to the priests.  This measure allowed them to return to their own people.  It is akin to our having our car inspected so that we might drive.  No doubt, the ten made haste to carry out the order.  But one took the time to thank Jesus, God’s agent, before proceeding with the inspection.  This man received a further, more spectacular reward albeit an intangible one in faith.  Jesus pronounces that he is saved.

We should never cease giving thanks to God for all the blessings we have received.  Family, education, work – indeed life itself – come from Him.  This is one reason that the Eucharist – which is primarily an act of thanksgiving – is central to our religion.  It renews our thanksgiving from week to week or, for us, day to day.

Tuesday, November 17, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

(Revelation 3:1-6.14-22; Luke 19:1-10)

Some of the most famous images in modern Christian art depict the scene at the end of today’s first reading.   Christ is knocking on a closed door.  The door is without a latch signifying that it must be opened from the inside.  Christ will not force his will on anyone.

Written to the wealthy church in Laodicea, the reading is meant to show the universality of Christ’s love.  He cares about even those who only pay him lip service.  The Laodiceans produced an expensive purple cloth and a celebrated eye ointment.  Christ is telling them that their purple cloth should be traded for a white baptismal robe.  Further, he is saying that their eye ointment pales in value to Christ’s. His anointing will afford them spiritual insight so that they may distinguish good and bad.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary understood Christ’s message.  She opened her door to Christ.  At fourteen she was married to a king, but her husband died within a few years.  Afterwards, Elizabeth let go of privilege.  She gave the rest of her short life to care for Christ whom she encountered in the poor. 

Monday, November 9, 2026

 

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

Bishops today seldom permit a marriage outside a church.  Couples ask to wed on beaches and mountaintops, in gardens or other sentimental places.  But their requests are systematically denied.  The reason is obvious.  A church uniquely radiates the presence of God.  Whether by their lofty structure or just because the faithful have prayed there for years, churches foster a sense of holiness.

The Lateran Basilica, whose dedication is celebrated today, is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the pope.  Because he is head of the universal Church, his cathedral represents all Catholic churches.  Today’s celebration, then, resonates throughout the world.

The readings manifest different aspects of church.  The first reading gives Ezekiel’s vision of the reconstructed temple.  As the dwelling place of God, it sources many blessings.  In the second reading St. Paul tells the Romans that they are the Church.  The Holy Spirit forms them into a community of love and goodwill.  The gospel announces Christ as locus of the sacrifice that truly pleases the Father. Clinging to him, any sacrifice we make redounds to God’s glory and our redemption.

Sunday, November 8, 2026

 

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Wisdom 6:12-16; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13)

A wise man wrote not too long ago: “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"  The words describe our time as much as any.  Internet has made available a colossal amount of information to most people in our society.  Much of the information that it provides, however, is trivial and meaningless.  More disturbing is the lack of wisdom today.  Science has shown, for example, that artificial contraceptives jeopardize women’s health.  Yet many women still use the pill.

The first reading and the gospel today focus on wisdom. The passage from the Book of Wisdom sings praise to wisdom as the secret of a worthy life.  It describes wisdom as a woman much like a proficient schoolteacher.  She assists those who want to learn as she guides their character development.

In the gospel Jesus contrasts five wise virgins with five foolish ones.  All ten await the bridegroom’s return with great anticipation.  They represent the Church waiting for the return of Christ at the end of time.  The five wise young women realize that God’s time is not our time.  What we desire immediately, God brings about slowly so that we might be fully prepared to receive it.  We can think of the millennia of waiting from the human awareness of sin until the coming of the Savior. 

Now we must wait patiently for the return of Christ.  He will bring the fullness of glory. The wise virgins of the parable have an inkling of this, not instinctively but by instruction and experience.  They make provision for a long wait by taking along flasks of oil so that their lamps will be burning when the bridegroom finally comes.  Then they will be seen and included in the wedding feast of Christ and the Church.

The foolish virgins, on the other hand, are overwhelmed by desire.  Rather than prepare themselves for a long wait by bringing extra oil, they only think of the pleasure of the feast.  However, their oil will run out and their lamps become dim before this happens.  Not noticed when the bridegroom arrives, they will be excluded from the celebration.

The oil that keeps the lamps lit is much more precious than petroleum.  Thick and oozy, the oil represents a close relationship with the Lord.  Oil protects the skin from wicked sunlight as a relationship with Jesus will keep us from giving in to temptation.  More than that, oil burns giving off light.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told his disciples, “’… your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.’” A close relationship with Jesus moves us to do good for others who, in turn, give thanks where it is most due.

Sometimes we hear people ridicule good deeds.  In one story, a woman criticizes another for raising money to help poor children.  She says that such charity only produces self-righteousness in the rich as it takes away self-determination in the poor.  Is that it?  The other woman – the “do-gooder” – responds to the criticism.  She says that it is natural to turn away from the poor, but it is also a refusal to recognize their humanity.  It is a way of excluding them from the human family. Any help that can be provided, on the other hand, recognizes that the poor are human beings like us.  They too have God as their Father.

The “poor,” of course, are not only those without money.  They are anyone who suffers.  Visiting the sick, telephoning the lonely, and helping deprived children learn to read are just a few of the thousands of ways we might keep our oil burning bright.  Some may see us doing it.  Let them give thanks to God.  More importantly, Christ will see our good deeds.  He will open the door for us to the wedding feast.

Friday, November 6, 2026

 

Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 16:1-8)

On a tour of the restored Pompeii the guide stopped in front of a house to point out an adornment.  It was a statue of a man which, when the gate of the yard opened, exposed the representation of a giant phallus.  Unfortunately, the stimulus for such crudeness did not die out with antiquity.  St. Paul’s warning in the first reading today is as valid now as two thousand years ago.

Paul urges his readers not to copy the ways of the pagan majority.  He sees the obsession with fine dining and the ubiquitous references to sex in Greek society as anti-Christ.  Disciples of Jesus, he would say, do not belong to such a realm.  According to Paul, their homeland is the kingdom of God which is still to come in fullness.  For now, he would advise that they only comply with the law like mindful immigrants.  In no way, he would say, should they accustom themselves to the mores of the time. 

Today, in part because of the success of Christianity to humanize the world, we find many positive elements in secular society.  We can actively participate in most social affairs without undue worry of contamination.  Indeed, the Second Vatican Council promoted such engagement.  It called on lay men and women to prepare the world for the coming of God’s kingdom in its fullness.

Thursday, November 5, 2026

 

Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

(Philippians 3:3-8a; Luke 15:1-10)

Today’s first reading is meant to shock its listeners. St. Paul calls the Christian community “the circumcision.”  He means that collectively Christians give witness to being the new “Chosen People” of God as circumcision marked the people of the Mosaic Covenant, Paul   sees this coming about when Christians manifest the Holy Spirit in daily life.  Their joy, peace, and love show the world that they belong to God.

A look at the context of Paul’s saying aids understanding.  Paul has just exhorted the Philippians to “beware of the dogs” preaching the necessity of circumcision.  These preachers were probably Jewish-Christians who insisted on the physical sign that marks Jewish men from non-Jewish neighbors. 

There are Christians who insist on physical signs.  They promote scapulars, medals, even rosaries.  It is not wrong to use these signs.  As Paul mentions possible gains from his being raised a Jew, so we might attribute blessings from use of what are termed “sacramentals.” However, spiritual signs of the Spirit’s presence give truer testimony and merit greater reward.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

(Philippians 2:12-18; Luke 14:25-33)

A popular song many years ago said that romantic love must be intense, inclusive, and forever. It was entitled “All the Way” and sounds much like the demand Jesus is making of the crowds following him in today’s gospel.  They must love him “all the way” – more than family, indeed more than their very lives.

Jesus uses highly rhetorical speech in his address.  He does not mean that disciples have to hate their families nor that they must renounce all possessions.  But they must realize that putting themselves in his service is a costly venture.  Following him, the human correlative of the “Kingdom of God,” means relativizing everything to him.  In other words, he must be their first priority at all times.

Today we celebrate a churchman who always put Jesus first.  St. Charles Borromeo lived in the highly troubled sixteenth century.  He spent his inheritance feeding the poor during a famine and caring for the sick during the plague.  He also championed Church reform and resisted Protestant influence in Catholic territories.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

 

(Optional) Memorial of Saint Martin de Porres (religious)

(Philippians 2:5-11; Luke  14:15-24)

As St. Paul exhorts the Philippian community to think of one another as better than themselves, he offers Jesus as a model.  Although he was the incarnate God, Jesus did not lord over anyone.  Rather, he twice humbled himself.  First, he became human to identify with sin-laden men and women.  Then, he gave himself to an excruciating death to pay back the debt of sin of all. 

St. Martin imitated Christ’s humility.  Because he thought of himself as inferior to others, Martin several times refused to profess as a religious.  He did severe penance, including repeated flagellation every night, as penance for sin.  As a result, the people of Lima and the surrounding area considered him a saint at the time of his death.

In the age of Instagram, humility has been largely abandoned.  We want to see ourselves as good as most people and better than many.  We see Christ as the one to adore, more than to imitate.  Martin has become a symbol of racial equality, more than a model of service.  Now is the time to realign these priorities.  Humility is primary because it retraces the route of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of our unsurpassable patron, Martin de Porres.

Monday, November 2, 2026

 

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

(Wisdom 3:1-9; Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40)

Friends were talking. “How could God allow someone into heaven,” one asked, “if after having committed sin all his life, he repents on his death bed?” Another friend said that this question was addressed by the prophet Ezekiel twenty-five hundred years ago.  God has created humans in His image and expects them to live be justly.  He is not only good to create but also merciful to His creation.  If humans swerve from righteousness, He is willing to receive them back into His favor. 

God’s mercy is explicated in today’s reading from Romans.  God forgives even grievous sins because of the blood sacrificed by Jesus Christ.  No matter the gravity, no matter the number, Christ’s sacrifice more than makes up for sins. Furthermore, the Church has specified the mechanism of forgiveness.  In the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance sinners renounce their sins and accept Christ as their Lord.

At this point we might want to join the conversation: what if sinners never are baptized or never confess their sins to a priest?  Can they be numbered among the “Faithful Departed” commemorated today?  Here God’s mercy reaches even lower than expected.  The Church teaches that if sinners repent in their hearts out of love for God, even mortal sins are forgiven.  This kind of repentance, called “perfect contrition, comes almost naturally.  When we consider God’s goodness in creation and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, how can we not be sorry for having offended His authority?

Sunday, November 1, 2026

 SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS, November 1, 2026

(Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12)

To almost everyone, the Book of Revelation seems strange. Perhaps we have tried to read it without much satisfaction. If we think of it as a prophecy of the final war against weird beasts, we should reconsider its purpose. The title itself provides a key to its true meaning. The word "Revelation" comes from two Latin words: re, meaning "again," and velare, meaning "to cover" or “to veil.”  Revelation aims to pull back the veil that covers the truth of Jesus Christ.

Revelation was written during the persecution of Christians at the end of the first century. Believers were martyred for not worshipping the emperor. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the book seeks to encourage believers to resist persecution and worship Jesus Christ as Lord. It reveals the liturgy of heaven in which men and women participate when they attend Mass.

The evidence for this is compelling, even if subtle. It opens on the Lord's Day, Sunday, the day we attend Mass. John, the narrator, says: “…grace and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,” as the priest greets us at the beginning of every Mass. Then John recites the sins of the seven churches of Asia Minor as the penitential act. Afterward, the priest is taken to heaven where he sees a book, written on both sides, but sealed. Only the Lamb, who is Christ, can open it. The book contains the biblical readings for Mass, which speak of the same Christ.

During the heavenly liturgy, the refrain, “Holy, holy, holy…” is heard, just as at Mass. Today's first reading describes the participants in the liturgy. We can think of the 144,000 men and women as the saints declared by the Church. We can think of the other, much larger group as the unknown saints -- perhaps our own parents and grandparents -- who lived with love for both God and neighbor.

There are various other parallels between our Mass and the liturgy revealed to John in heaven, but we will mention only one more now. Toward the end of the book, an angel declares, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” These are almost the same words the priest pronounces before Communion at Mass.

Revelation reveals the nature of the Mass. Much more than a simple gathering of believers, the Mass is our participation in the heavenly Eucharist. With the elect throughout the ages, we participate in the eternal worship of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We may not be eager to participate in an eternal liturgy, finding liturgies tedious. (It is said that the entrance procession alone at the Mass for the beatification of Archbishop Sheen took forty-five minutes!) However, the liturgy of the Lamb's Supper is guaranteed not to bore anyone blessed to attend.

First, it will take place in eternity where there is no passage of time. We can think of eternity this way: In an English song, the singer says, "I could have danced all night." Time has vanished for her. Whether it is for the love of her partner, for the dancing, or for both, she feels only joy. That is something like what eternity must feel. Second, the liturgy cannot be boring because we will be captivated by whom we will see. Today, many wait for hours to see the pope or the president; in the heavenly liturgy, we will see Jesus and his mother, Mary! We will also see our dear companions who have gone before us into the night of death. We won't be bored at all.

We would like to ask how might we be chosen for the heavenly liturgy? It is easy to point the way, although it will not be achieved without effort. To participate in God's great feast, we must live the Beatitudes of the Gospel today. We must trust in God like the humble poor, hunger and thirst to live righteously, and show compassion for those in need.

Friday, October 30, 2026

 Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Philippians 1:1-11; Luke 14:1-6)

 Passing through neighborhoods today we see signs of death.  Neighbors are not really being ghoulish although the displays of figures hanging from trees defy generosity of thought.  The lighted pumpkins and moving skeletons actually ridicule death because of widespread belief in the immortality of the soul.  Secular humanists aside, most people believe that the soul transcends death.

 But should they really be so sanguine about it? Souls may continue to exist, but bodies deteriorate in the ground if they are not incinerated beforehand.  And bodies are so integral to the human person that it is hard to imagine life without them.  Could we communicate without tongues to speak, ears to listen, or fingers to type our thoughts?  We wouldn’t enjoy a meal with friends to say nothing of the satisfaction that we derive from a glass of wine or perhaps even a Dunkin’ Donut.  Death may be one frustration after another until the last day when Christ will raise our bodies to be like his in glory.

 All Saints and All Souls Days bid us not to worry about life after death.  They assure us that the same Christ, who cures the man suffering from dropsy in today’s gospel, will not forget those who believe in him.  He will be there when they die, be it the Sabbath or not, to fulfill their needs.

Thursday, October 29, 2026

 

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 6:10-20; Luke 13:31-35)

People today think of foxes as wily.  A foxy man does not reveal his intentions.  He takes advantage of another, then slips away.  In ancient Jewish culture, however, foxes were considered more destructive than clever.  They were not to be trifled with.  For this reason in today’s gospel the Pharisees warn Jesus to get out of Dodge.  He goes but not because he is afraid of death.  Indeed, he continues his march to Jerusalem where he knows he will be martyred.

Jerusalem is where God meets humans.  God speaks there through the prophets.  Also, Jerusalem is the home of the temple.  In it sacrifices are offered to God for the forgiveness of sins.  As multiple as sacrifices were and even as devout as those offering sacrifices may have been, they could not match Jesus’.  The New Testament testifies that only Jesus’ death on the cross achieved the forgiveness of all sins. 

Different words in today’s gospel conjure up thoughts of Halloween.  Foxes and chickens make interesting costumes.  Jesus speaks of demons, and the entire reading holds the specter of death.  Halloween means “All Hallows Eve,” the eve of All Saints.  The saints were made holy by the impulse of grace achieved by Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

 

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

(Ephesians 2:19-22; Luke 6:12-16)

“Simon” and “Jude” are the last names to appear on the register of apostles in Luke’s gospel except, of course, that of Judas, the betrayer.  It is said that St. Jude is called the “patron of hopeless causes” because his name appears so low on this list.  Whatever the reason, St. Jude has been elevated in the popular mind to a kind of preeminence.  There are probably more statues and medals of him than of any other apostle.

Although the elevation may be only an accident of history, it is not unlike the gospel to have the lowly lifted up.  Mary proclaims God’s action on her behalf in this way after Elizabeth greets her as “mother of my Lord.”  Jesus also praises the poor widow who puts two small coins into the Temple treasury as contributing more than anyone else.

The lifting up of the lowly is not to say that we should strive for popularity.  Craving “thumbs up” on social media is not what the gospel calls important.  What the gospel proclaims and what Saints Simon and Jude preached is that Jesus came to save everyone from sinful folly.  The rich no less than the poor, the wicked no less than the virtuous need his redemption.  All must accept Jesus’ help to reform their lives and live as God’s children.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 5:21-33; Luke 13:18-21)

“What is the Kingdom of God like?” Jesus asks in the gospel today.  It is like a mustard seed that grows into a large bush sheltering God’s creatures.  It is also like a bit of yeast that folded into a small amount of dough produces enough bread to feed a family.  We might also say that the kingdom of God is like the inclusiveness that St. Luke shows throughout his gospel. 

In today’s passage we find the inclusiveness in a parable involving a male planter followed by one with a female householder.  At the beginning of the gospel the angel Gabriel appears first to Zachariah and then to Mary.  After Jesus is born, his parents take him to the Temple where they meet the seer Simeon and then the prophetess Anna.  Luke reminds us throughout his work that women as well as men are direct participants in and beneficiaries of the Kingdom.  They are by no means second-class Christians.

The Catholic Church is often criticized as being sexist or, more simply put, of favoring men over women.  Regrettably there is evidence to support the assertion.  However, we should not accept the charge that because the Church insists on a male clergy, it is sexist.  After investigating the issue fully, Pope St. John Paul II concluded that the Church cannot ordain women at least as priests or bishops because Jesus did not do it.  It is still possible that the Church will decide to ordain women deacons.  Studies have shown that women served in analogous roles in its initial centuries. 

Monday, October 26, 2028

 

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 4:32-5:8; Luke 13:10-17)

To draw the attention of others some act obnoxiously and speak obscenities.  They bully the weak and provoke fights they know they can win.  This kind of behavior, of course, is contrary to what the author of the Letter to the Ephesians has in mind in today’s first reading.

Instead of being “Mr. Tough Guy” or “Ms. Tough Girl” the writer tells community members to be generous and caring.  Their speech should express gratitude -- a sign of dependence -- rather than aloofness from or dominance of others. 

Some may find it difficult to act with such humility.  For cultural or personal reasons, they may tell themselves never to be vulnerable to another’s criticism.  Such people call forth our patience and prayer.  It is not just a matter of tolerance or getting along, but of love.  We show ourselves to love like Christ when we bear with the difficult as well as when we celebrate with the good.  As he bore our sins, so must we cope with the shortcomings of one another.

 

Sunday, October 25, 2026

 THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, October 25, 2026

(Exodus 22:20-26; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40)

The young nun was proud of her achievement. Her students had earned high marks on their exams. When she told the Mother Superior of her success, the superior didn't seem particularly impressed. The young sister asked why. The veteran explained that she worked with the most gifted students in the school. She said that any teacher could succeed with them. To prove her teaching ability, she would have to produce such results with less intelligent students. I would like to use this story to reflect on today's Gospel.

When Jesus answers the question about “the greatest commandment” with “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…,” he isn't saying anything particularly insightful. These words come from the famous Shema in the Book of Deuteronomy. It is one of the most frequently repeated verses in the Old Testament. In Jesus' time, the Jews recited the verse twice a day. They engraved it on their doorframes. They placed it in phylacteries so that it would be before their eyes all day long. Like the young religious woman teaching the gifted students, calling it the greatest commandment doesn't represent a great achievement on Jesus' part.

However, in the second part of his answer, Jesus reveals his brilliance and wisdom. Although "love your neighbor as yourself" is found in the Book of Leviticus, it isn't given much importance there. Nevertheless, Jesus treats it as one of the two super-keys upon which all Judeo-Christian morality hangs. Because he was asked for the one greatest commandment, his answer implies that it forms a single commandment with love of God. In effect, Jesus is saying that one cannot love God if one does not love the man or woman who bears God’s image. The First Letter of John makes almost the same assertion when it states, “for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God ⁵ whom he has not seen” (I John 4:20b).

In his commandment, Jesus uses the Greek word agape for “love.” Agape conveys the sense of self-sacrifice for the good of the beloved. It is not simply affection, which is charis in Greek, but the love that helps and supports the other with actions. It is the love of the Good Samaritan for the man left for dead. It is the love that moved a woman to donate one of her kidneys to a diocesan priest in Texas.

We are approaching year’s end. The harvest is over, and everyone is anticipating the end-of-year festivities. Before we celebrate Thanksgiving, the Immaculate Conception, and the birth of the Savior, Jesus’ commandments should move us to think of those in need. Whether they are as close as our neighbor who has been sent to live in a nursing home or as far away as the starving children in war-torn parts of Africa, we should plan now how to respond to their suffering. Our support will not only make Christmas more fulfilling for them but also for us.

Friday, October 23, 2026

 

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 12:54-59)

In today’s gospel Jesus chastises the crowds following him.  He calls them “hypocrites.”  He notes how cleverly they determine the weather that God sends their way.  Yet they pretend not to know what God expects of them in their daily lives.

God expects them to repent of their sins and believe His prophets, such as Jesus.  Through his marvelous deeds and his cogent preaching, Jesus has revealed the Kingdom of God.  Now is the time for the people to respond.  Eternal glory awaits if they overcome preoccupation with personal difficulties.

Many years later we too face the challenge of Jesus.  Now is the time to turn away from self-centeredness and to live for God.  He will not disappoint.  For now we have Christ’s body, the Church, to support our need of moral and spiritual support.  At our life’s end we will have the happiness of the Kingdom in its fullness.

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope

(Ephesians 3:14-21; Luke 12:49-53)

St. John Paul II would often tell the crowds that came out to see him that he loved them.  Although it may seem odd for a conservative Polish churchman to say, why should anyone doubt John Paul’s sincerity?  He labored as leader of the Church for over twenty-six years until he died at almost eighty-five years.  He wrote prolifically, initiated numerous programs, and visited most nations on earth.  Like Jesus in today’s gospel, he longed that the fire of love spread throughout the world.

Jesus has set his sights on Jerusalem, the great religious center.  There he will allow himself to be sacrificed for the redemption of all.  Love compels him onward despite the enormous personal suffering it will cost.  He hopes that his love, set ablaze by his cross and resurrection, will spread throughout the world.

And it has.  After twenty centuries Christianity continues to grow and give witness to Christ’s love.  Some of testimony to Christ’s love has been documented as in the life of John Paull II.  More often, however, Christ’s love is witnessed in daily acts of generosity and kindness that people like us make.