Tuesday, July 14, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

(Isaiah 7:1-9; Matthew 11:20-24)

Today’s reading gives a classic description of faith. With the Israel-Aram alliance threatening the Kingdom of Judah, God sends Isaiah on mission.  The prophet tells the king of Judah not to worry, but to trust that God will defend His people.  The prophecy becomes reality.  The super-power Assyria smashes the alliance.  But Israel will abandon trust in God as its protector and allies itself with pagan Assyria.

In the gospel Jesus laments the lack of faith in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum.  These cities have witnessed his mighty deeds and yet refuse to heed his message of repentance and belief.  They cannot abide by his preferential attention to the poor and to sinners.  They refuse to repent of hypocrisy and continue their self-affirming ways.

The lessons of Isaiah and Jesus should affect all of us.  It is tempting to put more trust in medicine and savings for our welfare than in God.  We should always look to God first for salvation by diligent prayer and careful carrying out his will.  It is our faithfulness to Him, not our status in society, that will save us from ruin.

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Amos 3:1-8.4:11-12; Matthew 8:23-27)

At this point in the Gospel of Matthew the disciples have heard Jesus preach with authority and heal the sick.  But they haven’t as yet considered his divinity.  In today’s reading they are made to wonder about him in this way.

It is said that the passage reflects the condition of the early Church.  Troubles arise in the newly formed communities like violent storms.  The Church, still small, struggles as a tiny ship on a violent sea.  Jesus, ascended to heaven, seems incommunicable as if he were asleep.  The men and women who have accepted the faith petition the Lord like the disciples in the sinking boat, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  Jesus’ demonstration of saving power makes them ask with the disciples, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

Instead of worrying over troubles, we should call on Jesus early and often.  Perhaps at such moments we begin to think that he is not there.  But he is always ready to help us.  There is another occasion when we begin to lose faith in Jesus.  When we are being tempted, we may think, “Who cares if what I do is wrong? God? He doesn’t exist.” We are kidding ourselves.  God knows what we are doing.  Because He loves us, He does not want us to leave the way to eternal life with him.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 4:22-24.26-27.31-5:1; Luke 11:29-32)

The point of today’s gospel may be complicated by the memory of Elias’ sign that the Lord is the God of gods.  He called down fire from heaven that consumed the offering of a bull after the prophets of Baal failed to do so.  People may wonder why Jesus calls his generation “evil” because it seeks such a sign.

One reason is that signs are never conclusive for faith.  Given one sign one day, some invariably want another sign tomorrow to keep on believing.  This is not faith.  Faith trusts in the word of another even when evidence points in another direction.  For the hearers of Jesus, faith is the turning over of heart and mind to God on his word that God is near.  He shows more wisdom than Solomon and more power of speech than Jonah.

We may be as reluctant as the crowd in today’s gospel to surrender to the Lord.  It is troublesome to give to the poor until it hurts and scary to have three, four, or five children.  But faith often requires sacrifices such as these.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 1:1-8; Luke 9:7-9)

From all that Herod has heard of Jesus, he wants to see him.  When he finally does, during Jesus’ hearing before Pilate, Herod’s purpose is revealed.  He wants to see Jesus perform some sign.  Unfortunately, such a desire is not counted as a sufficient reason to inherit salvation.

Many today, like Herod, want to see some sign or miracle that warrants their following Jesus.  They are not satisfied with hearing of Jesus’ resurrection from first-hand witnesses.  They want to see the sick healed with the Sacrament of anointing or cranky people turned friendly with the reception of Holy Communion.  This, however, is not how faith works.  People first must believe in Christ.  That will open their eyes to plenty of instances of his saving help.

We should recognize Christ’s daily help.  He has put good people around us.  He constantly blesses us, for many with health for others with medical care or friends’ support.  We have every reason to expect that at the end when we are called Jesus will direct us to his Father’s house.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Numbers 13:1-2.25-14:1.26a-19a.34-35; Matthew 15:21-28)

Today’s readings contain a definite contrast that has significance for churchgoers.  The Book of Numbers describes the Israelites’ fear as they contemplate an invasion of Canaan, the “Promised Land.”  God's people see themselves as decidedly helpless in comparison to the nations there.  They overlook, however, the presence of the Lord among them. 

In the gospel the Canaanite woman recognizes the Lord’s anointed in her midst.  She expresses faith in Jesus as she begs him to drive away the demon tormenting her daughter.  Even when Jesus tests her mettle, her trust remains undeterred.

As much as God appears to have little patience with the Israelites, Jesus shows compassion on the woman and her daughter.  The readings tell us that it is not enough for us to be identified as God’s people to be afforded His mercy.  Rather we must believe with all our heart that He will help us.

Monday, October 3, 2022

Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Galatians 1:6-12; Luke 10:25-37)

In today’s first reading from the beginning of his Letter to the Galatians, St. Paul is obviously irritated.  He has been informed that the Galatians have begun accepting the practice of circumcision and other works of piety as the way of salvation.  Paul had taught them that these customs are inconsequential as ways to sanctity.  More likely, he indicates, they lead to arrogance.

Paul will stress in the letter that humans are saved through faith in Christ.  He will stress that pious practices count little.  It is faith in Christ’s death that brings about forgiveness of sins and belief in his resurrection that finds eternal favor with God.  By “faith” Paul does not mean lip service.  He will say toward the end of the letter that faith must be manifest through love.

We may sometimes think like the Galatians.  We wonder if it is really necessary to cultivate holiness through discipline of soul and body.  Some adopt the position that going to church when it is convenient and donating to charity when it is opportune is sufficient for salvation.  No, sporadic church attendance and marginal charity hardly constitute a following of Christ who gave himself completely to God, His Father.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

 Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Isaiah 7:1-9; Matthew 11:20-24)

 Is faith possible today?  There will be exceptions, but it may be said that believing is increasingly difficult.  Biblical faith is, first and foremost, a relationship of trust with God.  For a Christian it is the gift of self to Christ.  Throughout the world the movement is in the other direction.  Especially young adults find the building up of self as the purpose of life.  This phenomenon can be easily demonstrated by the glorification of the self in social media.  Yet there is also evidence accumulated through the ages that faith produces favorable outcomes.  This can be seen in today’s first reading.

 King Ahaz of Judah is in a desperate situation.  Two rival kingdoms have conspired against him.  He wants to seek help by allying Judah with powerful nations.  But Isaiah warns him that only by clinging to the Lord will he survive.  Thus, Ahaz learns the meaning of faith – standing steadfast in the Lord.  As a matter of fact, the situation turns out well.  Ahaz’s enemies are throttled; Judah survives because it trusts in God.

 We may find difficulty going against the grain.  Like many others we are drawn to pursue wealth and pleasure.  Perhaps more than that, we would like to brag about ourselves.  We need to remember that Christ is our reward.  Following him, we will be saved from vain pursuits and will come to know deep, endurable happiness. 

Monday, May 16, 2022

 Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:5-18; John 14:21-26)

The reading from Acts today is rather comic.  The people take Paul and Barnabas to be gods.  The apostles have to tear their garments as a sign that they are mortal. The miracle story that provokes their identification as gods deserves our attention as well.

Luke, the author of Acts, writes that Paul saw that the crippled man “had the faith to be healed.”  What kind of faith is this?  How does it differ from other kinds of faith?  One is reminded of the men who lowered a paralytic through the roof so that Jesus might heal him.  The Lucan version of the story also notes how Jesus observes the men’s faith.  Faith in these cases is trust in Jesus.  It does not worry about the future or doubt Jesus’ care.  It knows that Jesus will resolve their problems because he loves them. 

For many, faith is adherence to a tradition of beliefs and customs.  It continually questions and is reluctant to accept all that Jesus teaches.  It does not  allow fervent personal prayer.  We should endeavor to transcend this rational faith in order to nurture trusting faith.  We must put aside anti-religious arguments as well as lesser gratification of desires.  We should also ask Jesus directly and sincerely for assistance.  When we do, we will find our situation improving.

Friday, January 14, 2022

 Friday of the First Week in Lent

(I Samuel 8:4-7.10-22a; Mark 2:1-12)

It is easier for one to say, “Your sins are forgiven?” because forgiveness is impossible to verify.  This is not the case with saying to a paralytic, “Arise…”  Onlookers will know straightaway whether the speaker is bluffing.  Verification is especially important in the modern world

Many today look for verification before they will assent to the truths of faith.  Of course, if there were proof of religious truth, then there could not be faith.  Faith presumes a certain opaqueness in front of which one takes a stand for a loving God.  Although they do not amount to proof, good things happen when one takes the stand.  Faith opens one to abundant blessings.

Let’s not hedge on our faith.  Let’s not say we believe, then live like everyone else.  Rather let our faith in God result in living as God dictates in the teaching of the Church.  Let’s open ourselves to God’s abundant blessings.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr

(II Samuel 24:2.9-17; Mark 6:1-6)

It is said that in during the first few centuries the churches of Rome and Sicily bragged about their saints.  The Romans would claim St. Agnes as the worthiest virgin-martyr.  The Sicilians would counter that the distinction belongs to Agatha, today’s celebrated saint.  The friendly rivalry indicates how faith penetrated the everyday life of the people.  Today, in contrast, people brag about their city’s professional basketball team.  Both readings that we just heard concern the lack of faith.

David’s census indicates his belief that numbers of soldiers and not trust in God are his priority.  In the gospel the people refuse to believe in Jesus as God’s emissary despite his cures and his wisdom. 

With science making life so comfortable we have a hard time trusting in God.  We rationalize that God works through human ingenuity, but we forget to pray.  God seems hard to fit in our everyday lives.  But we abandon God to our peril.  Faith in God provides a blueprint for stability in life.  We will go far if we keep God’s commandments.  It also assures us of bliss beyond the travail of death.  Also important, faith promises fulfilment.  We know that the world does not center around us.  Still, by faith in God we are drawn into its true center where we find purpose, meaning, and peace.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Wednesday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 26:14-25)

Unfortunately our gospel translation omits a word that is in the original Greek manuscripts.  The passage should begin with the word Then.  “Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot…”  This time notation indicates a critical moment in the lives of both Jesus and Judas. 

Jesus has just been anointed by an unknown woman with expensive ointment.  His disciples complain about the waste of money that might have been given to the poor.  But Jesus tells them that there are times when significant outlays of money are justified.  Such a time is burial of the dead for which the woman anointed Jesus.  At the same moment then Judas goes seeking money from the chief priests.  For thirty pieces of silver he will deliver Jesus into their hands.  Actually it is a small amount – the equivalent of paying a hitman approximately $50 for committing murder.  For some other reason Judas must want Jesus out of the way.  Unlike Jesus he does not know the value of things.

A recent statement by Pope emeritus Benedict indicates the value of something that is frequently overlooked today.  The statement was issued to show how the sexual revolution and the deterioration of moral theology gave rise to sexual abuse of children.  In the statement Benedict emphasizes the value of faith.  He says that our Christian faith must be protected.  In the context of sexual abuse this means that the rights of an accused priest must not be exaggerated to the extent that faith in Christ and his Church is jeopardized.  In a larger context it means that we proclaim the priority of faith when contemporaries treat it as superstition or personal preference.  Faith in Jesus gives human life a solid meaning.  It assures the presence of love among persons and nations.  It gives everyone – from the poorest beggar to the wealthiest king – hope for eternal life.

Friday, December 21, 2018

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

(Song of Songs 2:8-14; Luke 1:39-45)

Faith may be defined as the jumping to a conclusion under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  The faithful person has inconclusive evidence from the senses of God’s presence.  She may attribute the good that is before her as an illusion summoned by her desire to know the depth of reality.  But the Holy Spirit moves her to an acceptance of the divine love undergirding creation.  We see faith at work two and a half times in today’s gospel.

“Filled with the Holy Spirit” Elizabeth recognizes Mary as “blessed among women” and “mother of my Lord.”  The same Spirit has already prompted the baby in Elizabeth’s womb to leap in recognition of the Messiah in Mary’s womb.  The “half” exhibition of faith comes from Elizabeth’s allusion to Mary’s response to the angel of God.  The latter said in faith, “’…Be it done to me according to your word.’”

Even with the Spirit faith challenges us at times.  God’s will may seem opposed to what we deem as desirable.  Perhaps a loved one has become terminally sick.  Or perhaps we want something we know is wrong for us.  We must hold on to faith.  That is, we must continue believing in divine love undergirding our very existence.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 14:5-18; Matthew 12:28-32)

When I was a young man discerning a vocation to the priesthood, someone advised me to look for a sign.  It sounded like a good idea, but I never found one.  I entered the Dominican Order with questions that were resolved only years later.  Signs are problematic.  They are difficult to read and the demand for them may attest to a faulty faith.

The Pharisees and scribes want a sign from Jesus.  He has already given them indications that he is God’s messenger.  But they insist on a sign on demand which amounts to testing God.  Jesus spurns the request.  In time – he tells his inquisitors – they will have their sign, but even then they will not believe.

We should not blame others for not believing in Jesus.  Full acceptance of his teaching requires the gift of faith.  But we continue to believe that he is the Son of God who has won for us eternal life because of the signs that surround us.  Everyday we see selfless acts of love performed by people who have committed themselves to him.  We also perform such acts so that those around us may believe in Jesus as well.

Tueday, July 12, 2016

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 7:1-9; Matthew 11:20-24)

Is faith possible today?  There will always be exceptions, but having faith is increasingly hard.  Faith is, first and foremost, a relationship of trust with God.  For a Christian it is the gift of self to Christ.  Throughout the world the movement is in the other direction.  People find the building up of self as the purpose of life.  As much as any contemporary phenomenon, the ubiquity of the selfie demonstrates this reality.  In today’s first reading Isaiah tells the King of Judah not only that faith has meaning but that it is the only way he and his nation can survive.

King Ahaz is in a desperate situation.  Two rival kingdoms have conspired against him.  He wants to seek help by allying Judah with more powerful nations.  But he is told by Isaiah not to.  Isaiah warns him that only by clinging to the Lord in faith will he survive.  Thus Ahaz learns the meaning of faith – standing fast in the Lord.  As a matter of fact, the situation turns out well.  Ahaz’s enemies are throttled; Judah survives with faith.

We may find difficulty going against the grain.  Like everyone else (or so it seems) we would like to pursue wealth and pleasure.  Perhaps more than that, we would like to brag about ourselves.  But we have faith in Christ’s word.  He saves us if we band with him – giving of ourselves to bring his love to the world.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, priest

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

Faith has been called another way of seeing.  It looks beyond the physical to the spiritual realities that surround us.  It recognizes that our true goals in life are not comfort and pleasure but the joy and peace of God’s kingdom.  It also sees the Church as our help in attaining these goals.  Both readings today convey this message.

When Bartimaeus asks Jesus for sight, he no doubt wants to see colors and shapes like his companions.  Jesus grants him this ability but adds the gift of faith.  With that addition Bartimaeus does not go his own way but joins the community of disciples on the way to eternal life.

In the first reading the presbyter Peter calls the people to look beyond the attractions of the world.  He wants them to forego worldly desires so that they may enjoy the peace of living close to God.  His message serves us well today.  We are to set as our goals not luxury but friendship with both God and neighbor.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Maccabees 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-63; Luke 18:35-43)

The language of faith is often undercut by popular thinking.  When a person says that she “believes” something, most people hear a modicum of doubt in her voice.  They understand her to mean that she does not know for sure but only thinks that what she says is true.  This kind of qualified assertion is hardly what the Church understands by faith.  Faith is a way of knowing with more certainty, not less, that what is said is true.  The reason for such conviction is that the tenets of faith have been revealed by the Lord.

In the gospel the unnamed blind man, called Bartimaeus in Mark’s version, demonstrates real faith.  Not wavering a bit, he acts on his belief that Jesus is the Messiah by making a scene.  Because such faith is always rewarded, the man receives the sight which he requests.  The gospel adds that he wastes no time to follow Jesus.  True faith in Jesus can do no less.

In a way it is understandable why many people possess faith that is tainted by doubt.  Some Catholics put at the heart of faith things of lesser importance.  A woman, for example, worried that there is one way and no other to pray the rosary.  But the rosary is not part of the liturgy and may be prayed in any dignified way as the Divine Chaplet movement has demonstrated.  Truths at the heart of faith –the Trinity, the Incarnation, the resurrection from the dead, etc. -- are non-negotiable.  We should accept these truths with all our mind and, more importantly, live then with all our heart.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(James 1:19-27; Mark 8:22-26)

Faith is said to be a new way of seeing.  One sees through the empty promises of sin to the care which Jesus exemplifies.  Today’s gospel demonstrates faith taking shape in two stages.  In the first, preliminary stage Jesus rubs spittle on a blind man’s eyes.   He sees, but weirdly.  Then Jesus touches the man’s eyes again causing him to distinguish clearly.  The first stage of the cure represents the insufficient way Jesus’ disciples accept him as Messiah.  They see him as a warrior who will somehow ignite a revolution to liberate Israel from foreign rule.  In the second stage the disciples see Jesus for whom he really is – the suffering servant who will sacrifice himself to free humanity from enslavement to sin.

The coming to a deeper, truer faith in Jesus is replicated in many persons’ lives.  One woman lived what today is a rather common life.  She had sexual relations with her boyfriend, whom she eventually married, and submitted herself to the man’s whims.  Then, taking her baptismal faith seriously, she repented of the reckless life she had and became an exemplary Christian, wife, and mother. 

We too want to move to a deeper relation of faith in Jesus.  Our avenue is prayer – speaking to Jesus from the heart and listening to him in the gospel.  Such faith allows us to put everything in proper perspective.  It enables us, like the man Jesus cures in the gospel, to see clearly. 

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(I Kings 11:4-13; Mark 7:24-30)

Inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere are beginning to think about their summer vacation.  Spending two to three of recreation in another locale has become so much part of the contemporary way of life that months of planning and sizeable resources are given to the project.  In the gospel Jesus seems to be taking a vacation which explains part of his reluctance to assist the Greek woman.

Mark writes that Jesus hopes to escape notice when he enters a house in in the foreign city of Tyre.  He is probably worn out from intensive preaching and the never ending stream of sick persons seeking his cures.  Although he is not inclined to see more people now, he has a better reason for not going to the woman’s bedeviled daughter. He can honestly tell the woman that his mission is to Israel, not for the moment to the world.  But the woman refuses rejection.  She calls Jesus “Lord” and indicates that she would accept any assistance that he might give.  Ever merciful, Jesus acknowledges her faith by granting her daughter deliverance.

Faith proves to be a critical element in experiencing the Kingdom of God.  Faith tells us not to dictate completely what Jesus is to do for us although there is nothing wrong with some specificity regarding our needs.  More importantly, we are to trust implicitly in his love for us.  Almost certainly then we will experience wonders. 

Friday, May 31, 2013

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-56)

Some parents say that they do not wish to baptize their children because Baptism would prejudice the way their children look at the world.  Echoing the thought, young people claim to suspend their belief so that they might experience the world in new ways.  The serious believer, however, knows that these stratagems actually put one at a definite disadvantage, like not getting eyeglasses when one is noticeably near-sighted.  The gospel portrays Mary as eminently believing and therefore able to foresee the blessings that God will accomplish in Jesus.

Mary visits Elizabeth not to test what the angel told her but because she believes that it is true.  Elizabeth herself recognizes this faith when she exclaims to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed what was spoken to you by the Lord…”  Then Mary voices her famous song praising God for what will be accomplished in Jesus – remembering His promise of mercy and filling the hungry with good things.

Dazzled by the products of science and technology, some see faith as increasingly heavier baggage.  They want it all – the surety of faith and the autonomy of not committing themselves to any worldview.  Some even try to rationalize the question positing that they do not have the gift of faith.  But they likely do have faith.  God has offered it to most of us if not through our parents then through blessed companions all the way.  Rather than try to put it on hold, we would rationally allow it, as Mary does in the gospel, to bring us unmerited rewards.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

(Song of Songs 2:8-14; Luke 1:39-45)

In many ways human beings are like all the other kinds of animals. They are born, they live, and they die. But there are differences. Unlike other animals humans think, represent their thoughts in symbols, and use the symbols to communicate with one another. These capacities leave humans with questions: Where do they come from? What happens to their spirits at death? How does their universal understanding of good and evil come about? Faith gives a perspective to address these questions. It is like a telescope which enables a human to see the universe more clearly. Today’s gospel makes a ringing endorsement of faith.

When Mary visits Elizabeth, the latter greets her with a string of blessings. “Most blessed,” she says, “are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Then Elizabeth names the cause of Mary’s blessedness. It is not that she is a virgin who is about to give birth. Nor even that she will me “the mother of my Lord.” No, Mary is blessed for believing “what was spoken to you by the Lord…”

We too have the faith that Elizabeth praises. We too believe what the Lord tells us: that Jesus is His Son; that he died on the cross to redeem our sins and then rose from the dead; and that we await his coming in glory to judge the world. The beginning of the realization of these truths, and not reindeer and snowmen, is what Christmas is all about.