Monday, July 13, 2026

Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

A man tells the story of his daughter.  When she was a teenager, she became pregnant outside marriage.  She wanted to have her baby, but her mother encouraged her to have an abortion.  For the mother, the girl was not only too young to be a mother but also needed to finish her education.  The girl desperately turned to her father who was divorced from his wife.  The man believed in his daughter and promised to help her keep her baby.  Relieved, the girl said that she had bought a bus ticket to another town in case no one would support her at home.  Whether she knows it or not, this girl is following Jesus’ instructions to his apostles in today’s gospel.

It is not that Jesus has abortion in mind as he lectures his apostles.  Rather, he knows that his righteousness will always unleash opposition.  His insistence that divorce opposes the Creator’s intention will cause a furor among those who favor a more lenient standard.  His reaching out to the grubby poor will scandalize those with a high sense of propriety.  In these ways Jesus forces people to choose.  Will they stand with him or conform to the prejudices of their families?

We may not have to choose between family and Jesus.  Our choice may be between Jesus and the urgings of our corrupted hearts.  Will we follow our impulses to illicit sex, or will we resist sinful sexual desires?  Will we continue to impose our will upon others, or will we work out a mutually acceptable agreement? Will we continue to seek others’ approval, or will we daily acknowledge our sinfulness and ask the Lord’s mercy? Facing issues like these, we realize that Jesus does not bring the peace of mind that we desire but a deeper peace that we cannot even imagine.

Monday, July 14, 2025

 

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

(Exodus 1:8-14.22; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

Today North Americans are celebrating Kateri Tekakwitha, its first Native American saint.  Her story exemplifies Jesus’ saying in today’s gospel that he has come to make “one's enemies (will be) those of his household”. 

Kateri was an orphan staying with her uncle when she met Jesuit missionaries.  She began practicing their teachings, but her uncle and others in her tribe opposed her being baptized.  Nevertheless, she persisted in following Catholic customs which caused conflicts in her tribe’s longhouse.  Kateri was baptized at nineteen years old in 1676.  She lived five more years as a dedicated Christian virgin.

No one should regard Jesus as a hostile revolutionary for saying that he came “to bring not peace but the sword.” His teachings cause unrest because they conflict with our selfish desires.  His mission has always been to bring the peace of God’s Kingdom to a world too much consumed by desire and hatred.

Monday, July 11, 2022

 Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Isaiah 1:1—17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

Christians - Protestants as well as Catholics - have found new interest in St. Benedict.  They see hope for the future in his founding communities where the gospel may be lived.  As a young man, Benedict went to Rome for higher education.  There he became disillusioned with the way fellow students pursued knowledge.  Rather than as a way to truth, many were more interested in finding pleasure.  He retreated from the city, became a hermit, and eventually founded monastic communities.  Today faith-filled, young families find in the Benedictine retreat from cities a model.  Rather than trying to raise children amid secularization, they live in rural communities without severe corrupting influences.

Today’s gospel should be read in a way that supports separation from the corruption of the world.  Jesus speaks of bringing a sword to the earth.  In no way is he speaking literally.  He means that following him will separate one from ungodly influences.  His followers will live the truth of the gospel – that they are saved in God’s love through faith in him.

Is it necessary for people to separate themselves from the world?  In some ways, yes.  We should resist worldly temptations of excessive pleasure, power, or prestige.  But this does not mean that we must isolate ourselves from others.  Freedom from corruptive influences, however, does entail reflection, development of virtue, and prayer.  In these ways we can follow Christ who leads us to eternal life.

Monday, July 15, 2019

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church

(Exodus 1: 8-14.22; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

A man tells the story of his daughter.  When she was a teenager, she became pregnant outside marriage.  She wanted to have her baby, but her mother encouraged her to have an abortion.  For the elder, the girl was not only too young to be a mother but also needed to finish her education.  The girl desperately turned to her father who was divorced from his wife.  The man believed in his daughter and promised to help her keep her baby.  Relieved, the girl said that she had bought a bus ticket to another town in case no one would support her at home.  Whether she knows it or not, this girl is following Jesus’ instructions to his apostles in today’s gospel.

It is not that Jesus has abortion in mind as he lectures his apostles.  Rather, he knows that his righteousness will always unleash opposition.  His insistence that divorce opposes the Creator’s original intention will cause a furor among those who favor a more lenient standard.  His reaching out to the grubby poor will scandalize those with a high sense of propriety.  In these ways Jesus forces people to choose.  Will they stand with him or conform to the defective ways of their family.

We may not have to choose between family and Jesus.  We may not have to choose between family and Jesus.  Our choice may be between Jesus and the urgings of the heart.  Will we follow our sexual impulses or will we resist sinful sexual desires?  Will we support organizations that assist the homeless or perhaps help them ourselves?  Or will we totally ignore those who roam the streets?  Facing issues like these, we realize that Jesus does not bring the peace of mind that we may desire.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

St. Benedict lived in the sixth century.  Although he obviously had a charismatic personality, few historical records exist attesting to his life.  His legacy is largely his “Rule” which was written as a blueprint not for an order of monks but for a way of life that any group can follow.  A famous tenet of Benedict’s rule recommends welcoming the stranger.  It reads, “All who arrive as guests are to be welcomed like Christ.”  In today’s gospel, Jesus assures his apostles that those who treat them with such deference will be duly compensated.

Jesus recognizes that his preaching will not be easily accepted.  Forbidding divorce, for example, will create many resisters.  He foresees his followers having similar trouble.  They will have to convince their hearers of the majesty of one who was executed by the state!  Yet he knows that people seeking truth will find his words and deeds of divine origin.  He tells his disciples that these people will provide for their needs.

Much of Benedict’s “Rule” can be applied to the lives of all Christians.  We should balance prayer and work.  We should comfort strangers of good will.  We should be humble in our demeanor as Christ was.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

(Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s life mirrors today’s gospel.  As a young woman her conversion to Christianity caused resentment and persecution among her relatives and tribespeople. Forced to flee her native village in New York, she was accepted by Native American Christians near Montreal.  There she lived for the remainder of her short life dedicated to holiness and concern for others.

Jesus predicts persecution for those who follow him.  His mention of a sword is not meant to justify Christians using arms to convert others but the sad fact that they might have to suffer martyrdom for his sake.  But they should rejoice at the fact because having suffered for him, they will rise with him to eternal life.  They will not even be a burden to those who should help them but rather represent a blessing for their benefactors. 

Martyrdom of Christians is still an everyday reality in different parts of the world.  We must pray for Christians in Asia and Africa who are called to suffer on behalf of Christ.  We also should not be timid about professing our faith in Christ.  Why not mention to others how he is the reason we always tell the truth and treat everyone with kindness?

Monday, July 11, 2011

Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

(Exodus 1: 8-14.22; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

A man tells the story of his daughter. When she was a teenager, she became pregnant outside marriage. She wanted to have her baby, but her mother encouraged her to have an abortion. For the elder woman, the girl was too young to take on the responsibilities of motherhood and needed to finish her education. The girl desperately turned to her father who was divorced from his wife. The man believed in his daughter and promised to help her keep her baby. Relieved, the girl said that she had bought a bus ticket to another town in case no one would support her at home. Whether she knows it or not, this girl is following Jesus’ instructions to his Apostles in today’s gospel.

It is not that Jesus has abortion in mind as he lectures his Apostles. Rather, he foresees that his way of life will bring opposition to his followers just as the Pharisees oppose him. When Jewish-Christians are ejected from synagogues in the late first century, some at least will be opposed by their strict Jewish parents. They will have to choose between Jesus and their families; between the eternal life he offers and the relative peace life of following family customs. It is not a desirable choice, but one whose selection is obvious.

Fortunately, most of us today do not have to choose between family and Christ. More often, the choice must be made between Christ and the desires of our own hearts. Will we follow common sexual impulses or will we refrain from pornography and contraception as the Church, Christ’s body and the keeper of his ways, ordains? Confronting these issues, we realize that Jesus does not bring the perpetual peace of mind that we may desire.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 10:34-11:1)

In the Middle East where Christians still live among Muslims, it is not unusual for Muslims to challenge Christians about our belief that God is both one and three. “This is contradictory,” the Muslims would say. We Christians, of course, are not without answers. Our responses generally restate the great theological declarations of the fourth century that the Father, the Son, and Spirit share the same divinity with distinct, although not individual, personhoods. In the gospel proclamation today we find Scriptural basis for our stand that Jesus is one with the Father.

First and foremost, Jesus speaks with divine authority. Who but God would dare to say that anyone who “loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me”? Even a fool would allow some slack for family before claiming personal allegiance. Jesus, however, knowing himself to be divine can demand utmost loyalty. Second, Jesus states that anyone who accepts one of his apostles, accepts him just as anyone who accepts him, accepts the Father who sent him. It is not strange to say that to accept an ambassador with credentials from an earthly leader, accepts the leader. But it is brazen to make the same equation between oneself and God without divine testimony. It may be that Jesus is simply deluded, but the gospels show him to be very much in touch with reality. We conclude then that Jesus is as he indicates, God.

Acknowledging Jesus as God implies compliance with his teaching. We take up our cross and follow him without grumbling, much less rebellion. Likewise, we assist the “little ones,” the poor, whom Mother Teresa recognized as “Jesus in disguise.”

Homilette for Monday, July 14, 2008

Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

(Matthew 10:34-11:1)

Last year, a publically funded Spanish radio program broadcasted an essay by a fifteen year-old girl. The girl told how she was in a controversy with her mother because she no longer wanted to be a Catholic. She said that she would like to become a Buddhist because Buddhism is a religion of peace and contemplation. She also commented that she her mother does not practice the Catholicism she preaches. She said that her mother does not go to church but only keeps little altars to saints in the house. The essay concluded with the teen saying that she will remain a Catholic for three more years to keep peace in her house. When she becomes eighteen, however, she promised to join the religion of her choice.

Of course, the saga of the youngster should sadden us. Christianity does not have any vitality for the young girl. She is not moved by the story of Jesus whose compassion, joy, and story-telling will draw the heart of anyone who objectively hears about him. But her mother does not show her Christ by making him a priority of receiving his body and blood in the Eucharist. However, the blame probably does not rest solely with this woman. Surely others – perhaps a crabby priest or maybe sanctimonious relatives – keep the girl from interiorizing the story of Jesus.

Today’s gospel both predicts such conflicts between children and their parents and indicates how the children may be influenced to follow Jesus. When youth hear about Jesus’ love, be it through preachers or apostles or through righteous men and women, they cannot but rebel against their parents when those parents do not live the faith they profess. On the other hand, when parents practice the Christianity they preach, their children come to know Jesus in all his wonder and become grateful to their parents with all their hearts.