Reading 1
1 Cor 1:17-25
Brothers and sisters:
Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the learning of the learned I will set aside.
Where is the wise one?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God
the world did not come to know God through wisdom,
it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation
to save those who have faith.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Gospel
Mt 25:1-13
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Meditation: Matthew 25:1-13
“Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
Why did these five “wise” virgins refuse to share their oil? Aren’t God’s people supposed to be generous? But think about the position they were in. Asked to be wedding attendants, their job was to welcome the bridegroom when he came to collect his bride. Without their lamps burning, they couldn’t even see him, let alone greet him properly! Why should they give away their oil, then, and fail in their calling?
In the Bible, oil often represents the Holy Spirit, the “oil of gladness” that fuels the “lamp,” the light of God’s word (Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 119:105). And the Holy Spirit is not something we can just give away like a flashlight. The Holy Spirit isn’t a “something” at all; he is a “someone”! We certainly can point others to God—as these women pointed their friends to the merchants where they could get their own oil—but we can’t think that we can do what only God can do in a person’s heart.
This parable is not about being selfish but about being watchful. Jesus is warning us that salvation is not automatic: If we don’t hold on to the light of his grace, we can lose it. If we grow careless, our hearts can become so darkened with sin that we no longer seek God’s mercy. In that state, we won’t recognize him when he comes to us—and in a sense, he won’t “know” us either!
So how can you keep your faith alive? The key is persistence. We don’t become saints all at once but little by little. Your prayer may consist of reading just a passage of Scripture every day and sitting in silence for ten minutes. You may go to daily Mass or Sunday Mass. Whatever you are doing now to seek God, keep it up and try to increase it a little bit at a time. A flame that burns steadily is less likely to die out than one that flickers. With the fire of the Spirit burning inside, you have nothing to fear!
“Lord, don’t let my love for you grow cold! Help me to let go of anything that dims my devotion to you. May I never stop seeking your grace, for you are the fountain of life!”
27 August 2010
26 August 2010
26 Aug 2010, Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
1 Cor 1:1-9
Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the Church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel
Mt 24:42-51
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
Meditation: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
“You are not lacking in any spiritual gift.” (1 Corinthians 1:7)
It’s tempting to feel beaten down during the day, buried under hundreds of details that cry for our attention, harried by looming deadlines, mystified by our children’s (or our own) moods, fears, or choices. But the truth is, we are heirs of an amazing life! We don’t have to feel burdened or confused. No, like the Christians in Corinth, we too can be “enriched in every way” (1 Corinthians 1:5).
God wants us to become confident in the vast resources we have inherited in Christ! Jesus is more than eager to provide us with every spiritual gift we need. Imagine: wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, faith, and fortitude are ours in abundance. And on top of that, mercy, forgiveness, comfort, compassion, and love are constantly flowing from the throne of our heavenly Father. And they’re all offered to help “enrich” our lives and the lives of everyone around us.
So how do we receive these gifts? Well, when we pray, we need to be specific—and honest—about the needs we have. Being clear with ourselves and with God about what we’re seeking and then taking time to rest quietly in God’s presence, will help open our eyes to the miracles God is pouring into us. At times, his answer will come in some unfolding event in our lives; or perhaps it will be a still, small voice in the quiet of our hearts or minds. Sometimes the understanding or fortitude or love we need will simply materialize at the right time.
However these gifts come, one thing is sure: God, who calls us to be holy, is faithful. Life doesn’t have to be too hard. Peace and hope are not beyond our grasp. They are not meant only for a chosen few. They are for every one of us, regardless of our age, natural talents, or station in life. It’s not a matter of our own efforts. Jesus is always with us to help us, to keep us constant in this life, and to make us ready to greet him when he comes again.
“Jesus, I want to receive all the gifts you have for me today. I trust in your goodness. Come, Lord, and help me to follow confidently in the way you lead me.”
1 Cor 1:1-9
Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the Church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel
Mt 24:42-51
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”
Meditation: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
“You are not lacking in any spiritual gift.” (1 Corinthians 1:7)
It’s tempting to feel beaten down during the day, buried under hundreds of details that cry for our attention, harried by looming deadlines, mystified by our children’s (or our own) moods, fears, or choices. But the truth is, we are heirs of an amazing life! We don’t have to feel burdened or confused. No, like the Christians in Corinth, we too can be “enriched in every way” (1 Corinthians 1:5).
God wants us to become confident in the vast resources we have inherited in Christ! Jesus is more than eager to provide us with every spiritual gift we need. Imagine: wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, faith, and fortitude are ours in abundance. And on top of that, mercy, forgiveness, comfort, compassion, and love are constantly flowing from the throne of our heavenly Father. And they’re all offered to help “enrich” our lives and the lives of everyone around us.
So how do we receive these gifts? Well, when we pray, we need to be specific—and honest—about the needs we have. Being clear with ourselves and with God about what we’re seeking and then taking time to rest quietly in God’s presence, will help open our eyes to the miracles God is pouring into us. At times, his answer will come in some unfolding event in our lives; or perhaps it will be a still, small voice in the quiet of our hearts or minds. Sometimes the understanding or fortitude or love we need will simply materialize at the right time.
However these gifts come, one thing is sure: God, who calls us to be holy, is faithful. Life doesn’t have to be too hard. Peace and hope are not beyond our grasp. They are not meant only for a chosen few. They are for every one of us, regardless of our age, natural talents, or station in life. It’s not a matter of our own efforts. Jesus is always with us to help us, to keep us constant in this life, and to make us ready to greet him when he comes again.
“Jesus, I want to receive all the gifts you have for me today. I trust in your goodness. Come, Lord, and help me to follow confidently in the way you lead me.”
25 August 2010
25 Aug 2010, Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18
We instruct you, brothers and sisters,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to shun any brother
who walks in a disorderly way
and not according to the tradition they received from us.
For you know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked,
so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that
if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.
May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.
This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s.
This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Gospel
Mt 23:27-32
Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
“Shun any who conduct themselves in a disorderly way.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
Many parents of younger children find it effective to handle inappropriate behavior by imposing a “time out,” having the child sit in a chair facing a corner, perhaps, with no talking or playing allowed.
St. Paul, too, is imposing a sort of “time out” when he tells the Thessalonian Christians to “shun” certain members who are sowing disorder. Apparently, this community had its share of troublemakers who refused to work and who abused the generosity of their brothers and sisters in Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:6,11-12).
These words from Paul might strike us as harsh. What about love? What about mercy? No doubt, that’s what the faithful Thessalonians had been trying to do. But like a parent who sees the big picture, Paul realized that these good intentions might backfire and do nothing more than encourage bad habits. It was time for some tough love instead. Anything else would only reinforce the slackers in their idle, busybody ways. And eventually, this would pull the church apart.
What about us? Do Paul’s words give us permission to avoid people whose behavior we find lacking? Not really. We must always look upon them as our brother or sister. Of course, there are serious situations where we might decide to pull back from a relationship. But cutting off the people whose behavior bothers us shouldn’t become our rule of thumb.
Remember, Paul also said that discipline must be exercised in love, with a view to bringing offenders back into the family circle. And so he qualifies his directive in two important ways. “Do not be remiss in doing good” means continuing to respond generously to genuine needs. And “admonish him as a brother” means relating with love, not self-righteousness (2 Thessalonians 3:13,15).
For Christians past, present, and future, the bottom line is Jesus’ command: “Love one another as I love you” (John 15:12). And none of us gets a “time out” from seeking to carry it out!
“Jesus, give me a share of your love for each and every person I know. Help me to look at them with mercy and compassion. Show me how to love them in ways that will draw them closer and closer to you.”
Meditation: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10,?16-18
2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18
We instruct you, brothers and sisters,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to shun any brother
who walks in a disorderly way
and not according to the tradition they received from us.
For you know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked,
so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that
if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.
May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.
This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s.
This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Gospel
Mt 23:27-32
Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
“Shun any who conduct themselves in a disorderly way.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
Many parents of younger children find it effective to handle inappropriate behavior by imposing a “time out,” having the child sit in a chair facing a corner, perhaps, with no talking or playing allowed.
St. Paul, too, is imposing a sort of “time out” when he tells the Thessalonian Christians to “shun” certain members who are sowing disorder. Apparently, this community had its share of troublemakers who refused to work and who abused the generosity of their brothers and sisters in Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:6,11-12).
These words from Paul might strike us as harsh. What about love? What about mercy? No doubt, that’s what the faithful Thessalonians had been trying to do. But like a parent who sees the big picture, Paul realized that these good intentions might backfire and do nothing more than encourage bad habits. It was time for some tough love instead. Anything else would only reinforce the slackers in their idle, busybody ways. And eventually, this would pull the church apart.
What about us? Do Paul’s words give us permission to avoid people whose behavior we find lacking? Not really. We must always look upon them as our brother or sister. Of course, there are serious situations where we might decide to pull back from a relationship. But cutting off the people whose behavior bothers us shouldn’t become our rule of thumb.
Remember, Paul also said that discipline must be exercised in love, with a view to bringing offenders back into the family circle. And so he qualifies his directive in two important ways. “Do not be remiss in doing good” means continuing to respond generously to genuine needs. And “admonish him as a brother” means relating with love, not self-righteousness (2 Thessalonians 3:13,15).
For Christians past, present, and future, the bottom line is Jesus’ command: “Love one another as I love you” (John 15:12). And none of us gets a “time out” from seeking to carry it out!
“Jesus, give me a share of your love for each and every person I know. Help me to look at them with mercy and compassion. Show me how to love them in ways that will draw them closer and closer to you.”
Meditation: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10,?16-18
24 August 2010
24 Aug 2010, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Reading 1
Rv 21:9b-14
The angel spoke to me, saying,
“Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
Gospel
Jn 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Meditation: Revelation 21:9-14
St. Bartholomew
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:14)
Today, we celebrate St. Bartholomew, one of the great “twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14). And while this is a day to remember one of the early heroes of the church, we should also look at it as a day to celebrate our own role in the body of Christ. After all, we too have been incorporated into that building that stands on the firm foundation of the apostles.
So just what is this foundation? Jesus’ words to Nathanael—the straight-talking disciple in today’s Gospel who tradition tells us was also called Bartholomew—can give us some insight. “You will see the sky opened,” he promised, “and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51). The foundation was divine revelation.
Ordinary tradesmen and lower-ranking public servants, the disciples weren’t necessarily the most talented men in Galilee. But Jesus didn’t call them because of their social status. Rather, he saw the “raw materials” of their personalities and chose to shape them through his teachings, his miracles, and the work of his Spirit in their hearts. This is what made them into witnesses for Christ and strong foundations for the church.
What about us? We aren’t necessarily the holiest, the smartest, or the most remarkable people. But we do have the Holy Spirit living in us, revealing Jesus to us! The heavens can open to us each day as we pray, read God’s word, or receive Jesus in the Eucharist. This is what roots us in the heavenly Jerusalem. This is what makes it possible for us to live as part of the bride of Christ! We are not worthy because of our attributes. No, it is God’s work in us, making us his workmanship, an essential part of his body!
As you remember St. Bartholomew, think about the splendor of the heavenly Jerusalem. And give thanks that God has invited you—and everyone—to be with him. He really does want you to imagine yourself rejoicing with him in heaven. You really can be a saint!
“Jesus, make me like your apostles! Open my eyes to your glory and transform me today.”
Rv 21:9b-14
The angel spoke to me, saying,
“Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
Gospel
Jn 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Meditation: Revelation 21:9-14
St. Bartholomew
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:14)
Today, we celebrate St. Bartholomew, one of the great “twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14). And while this is a day to remember one of the early heroes of the church, we should also look at it as a day to celebrate our own role in the body of Christ. After all, we too have been incorporated into that building that stands on the firm foundation of the apostles.
So just what is this foundation? Jesus’ words to Nathanael—the straight-talking disciple in today’s Gospel who tradition tells us was also called Bartholomew—can give us some insight. “You will see the sky opened,” he promised, “and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51). The foundation was divine revelation.
Ordinary tradesmen and lower-ranking public servants, the disciples weren’t necessarily the most talented men in Galilee. But Jesus didn’t call them because of their social status. Rather, he saw the “raw materials” of their personalities and chose to shape them through his teachings, his miracles, and the work of his Spirit in their hearts. This is what made them into witnesses for Christ and strong foundations for the church.
What about us? We aren’t necessarily the holiest, the smartest, or the most remarkable people. But we do have the Holy Spirit living in us, revealing Jesus to us! The heavens can open to us each day as we pray, read God’s word, or receive Jesus in the Eucharist. This is what roots us in the heavenly Jerusalem. This is what makes it possible for us to live as part of the bride of Christ! We are not worthy because of our attributes. No, it is God’s work in us, making us his workmanship, an essential part of his body!
As you remember St. Bartholomew, think about the splendor of the heavenly Jerusalem. And give thanks that God has invited you—and everyone—to be with him. He really does want you to imagine yourself rejoicing with him in heaven. You really can be a saint!
“Jesus, make me like your apostles! Open my eyes to your glory and transform me today.”
23 August 2010
23 Aug 2010, Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
2 Thes1:1-5, 11-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,
as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more,
and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.
Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God
regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions
and the afflictions you endure.
This is evidence of the just judgment of God,
so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God
for which you are suffering.
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Mt 23:13-22
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You traverse sea and land to make one convert,
and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna
twice as much as yourselves.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say,
‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?
And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,
or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
one who swears by the temple swears by it
and by him who dwells in it;
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it.”
Meditation: Psalm 96
“Sing to the Lord a new song!” (Psalm 96:1)
The Book of Psalms has been the hymnal of God’s people for thousands of years. Tradition attributes the composition of many psalms to King David, “the singer of the songs of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1 NJB) and others to Jewish guilds of musicians connected with the names Asaph and Korah.
The Israelites sang psalms as they worshipped in the Temple. After the coming of Jesus, however, the earliest Christians—all of whom were Jews—came to see the psalms not only as prayers that Jesus himself had said but also as prophecies about Christ. This is why the psalms have been incorporated into the liturgical worship of the church, forming the heart of the Liturgy of the Hours and teaching us how to respond to the word of God at Mass.
The psalms are poems set to music, and they were originally intended to be sung. They resound with joyful praise and thanksgiving, tender love and blazing anger, rejoicing and suffering, trust and desperation. Taken as a whole, the psalms reflect just about every dimension of human experience. Because they are divinely inspired, each of us can find our own stories in the psalms—and use them to help us lift our hearts to the Lord.
How often do you sing psalms or hymns on your own? Not in your mind, that is, but out loud, with a full voice, as part of your prayer? If you have done this, you know that singing not only glorifies God, it frees us up and makes us more open to his presence. There’s something unique about the way singing puts us in a better place to experience the Lord and receive his blessings. So why not try singing during your prayer time today? Choose a hymn or song or psalm whose words capture what is in your heart. Choose something that helps you to praise the Lord. Don’t worry if you can’t carry a tune—you’re singing for God’s ears, and he loves to listen to you!
“Glorious God, I rejoice in your goodness and mercy! I lift my heart and voice, joining with all the saints and angels in a chorus of praise and thanksgiving to you, my majestic Lord and King!”
2 Thes1:1-5, 11-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,
as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more,
and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.
Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God
regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions
and the afflictions you endure.
This is evidence of the just judgment of God,
so that you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God
for which you are suffering.
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Mt 23:13-22
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.
You do not enter yourselves,
nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You traverse sea and land to make one convert,
and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna
twice as much as yourselves.
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say,
‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,
or the temple that made the gold sacred?
And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,
but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,
or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
one who swears by the temple swears by it
and by him who dwells in it;
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it.”
Meditation: Psalm 96
“Sing to the Lord a new song!” (Psalm 96:1)
The Book of Psalms has been the hymnal of God’s people for thousands of years. Tradition attributes the composition of many psalms to King David, “the singer of the songs of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1 NJB) and others to Jewish guilds of musicians connected with the names Asaph and Korah.
The Israelites sang psalms as they worshipped in the Temple. After the coming of Jesus, however, the earliest Christians—all of whom were Jews—came to see the psalms not only as prayers that Jesus himself had said but also as prophecies about Christ. This is why the psalms have been incorporated into the liturgical worship of the church, forming the heart of the Liturgy of the Hours and teaching us how to respond to the word of God at Mass.
The psalms are poems set to music, and they were originally intended to be sung. They resound with joyful praise and thanksgiving, tender love and blazing anger, rejoicing and suffering, trust and desperation. Taken as a whole, the psalms reflect just about every dimension of human experience. Because they are divinely inspired, each of us can find our own stories in the psalms—and use them to help us lift our hearts to the Lord.
How often do you sing psalms or hymns on your own? Not in your mind, that is, but out loud, with a full voice, as part of your prayer? If you have done this, you know that singing not only glorifies God, it frees us up and makes us more open to his presence. There’s something unique about the way singing puts us in a better place to experience the Lord and receive his blessings. So why not try singing during your prayer time today? Choose a hymn or song or psalm whose words capture what is in your heart. Choose something that helps you to praise the Lord. Don’t worry if you can’t carry a tune—you’re singing for God’s ears, and he loves to listen to you!
“Glorious God, I rejoice in your goodness and mercy! I lift my heart and voice, joining with all the saints and angels in a chorus of praise and thanksgiving to you, my majestic Lord and King!”
21 August 2010
22 Aug 2010, Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Is 66:18-21
Thus says the LORD:
I know their works and their thoughts,
and I come to gather nations of every language;
they shall come and see my glory.
I will set a sign among them;
from them I will send fugitives to the nations:
to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan,
to the distant coastlands
that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory;
and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations.
They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations
as an offering to the LORD,
on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries,
to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD,
just as the Israelites bring their offering
to the house of the LORD in clean vessels.
Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD.
Reading 2
Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
Brothers and sisters,
You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:
“My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when reproved by him;
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
he scourges every son he acknowledges.”
Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as sons.
For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time,
all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.
Gospel
Lk 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
Meditation: Luke 13:22-30
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23)
What a direct, difficult question! And Jesus gave a direct, challenging answer: “Many … will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough” (Luke 13:24). Evidently, salvation is not a foregone conclusion! It’s something we have to take seriously, something we have to be sure we have taken hold of by faith every day.
St. Augustine said that God created us without our help but he will not save us without our help. While Jesus’ death and resurrection have brought about our redemption, we still have a role to play in letting that redemption penetrate our hearts and minds.
So how seriously do you take the promise of eternal life? Does it rank above or below the latest sale? Is it more important than spending all of Sunday watching football or baseball? Nothing is wrong with these things, of course. The question is whether we have put Jesus first in our lives and are taking the time to let him minister to us every day.
St. Paul once wrote: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The creed that we recite every Sunday at Mass is our statement of faith. So we can trust that salvation is ours as we “confess” this creed and as we place our faith and trust in the truths that this creed announces.
Taking eternal life for granted is a scary proposition. If salvation really is a foregone conclusion, then all is well and we have nothing to worry about. But if this assumption is incorrect, then the stakes are high. This is why we need to make it a point every day to make our own personal confession of faith based on the truths in the creed. It’s also why we need to ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to these truths every day so that we can place our faith in them more and more.
“Jesus, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are Lord and Savior.”
Is 66:18-21
Thus says the LORD:
I know their works and their thoughts,
and I come to gather nations of every language;
they shall come and see my glory.
I will set a sign among them;
from them I will send fugitives to the nations:
to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan,
to the distant coastlands
that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory;
and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations.
They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations
as an offering to the LORD,
on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries,
to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD,
just as the Israelites bring their offering
to the house of the LORD in clean vessels.
Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD.
Reading 2
Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
Brothers and sisters,
You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:
“My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when reproved by him;
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
he scourges every son he acknowledges.”
Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as sons.
For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time,
all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.
Gospel
Lk 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages,
teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
He will say to you in reply,
‘I do not know where you are from.
And you will say,
‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
Then he will say to you,
‘I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!’
And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
and all the prophets in the kingdom of God
and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west
and from the north and the south
and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
Meditation: Luke 13:22-30
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23)
What a direct, difficult question! And Jesus gave a direct, challenging answer: “Many … will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough” (Luke 13:24). Evidently, salvation is not a foregone conclusion! It’s something we have to take seriously, something we have to be sure we have taken hold of by faith every day.
St. Augustine said that God created us without our help but he will not save us without our help. While Jesus’ death and resurrection have brought about our redemption, we still have a role to play in letting that redemption penetrate our hearts and minds.
So how seriously do you take the promise of eternal life? Does it rank above or below the latest sale? Is it more important than spending all of Sunday watching football or baseball? Nothing is wrong with these things, of course. The question is whether we have put Jesus first in our lives and are taking the time to let him minister to us every day.
St. Paul once wrote: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The creed that we recite every Sunday at Mass is our statement of faith. So we can trust that salvation is ours as we “confess” this creed and as we place our faith and trust in the truths that this creed announces.
Taking eternal life for granted is a scary proposition. If salvation really is a foregone conclusion, then all is well and we have nothing to worry about. But if this assumption is incorrect, then the stakes are high. This is why we need to make it a point every day to make our own personal confession of faith based on the truths in the creed. It’s also why we need to ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to these truths every day so that we can place our faith in them more and more.
“Jesus, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are Lord and Savior.”
21 Aug 2010, Memorial of Pius X, pope
Reading 1
Ez 43:1-7ab
The angel led me to the gate which faces the east,
and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel
coming from the east.
I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters,
and the earth shone with his glory.
The vision was like that which I had seen
when he came to destroy the city,
and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar.
I fell prone as the glory of the LORD entered the temple
by way of the gate which faces the east,
but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court.
And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the Lord.
Then I heard someone speaking to me from the temple,
while the man stood beside me.
The voice said to me:
Son of man, this is where my throne shall be,
this is where I will set the soles of my feet;
here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.
Gospel
Mt 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Meditation: Matthew 23:1-12
“All their works are performed to be seen.” (Matthew 23:5)
Jesus didn’t mince any words in criticizing these Pharisees for their outward display of holiness. That’s because he knew that many of them weren’t living up to the standards they expected from others. We can be sure they had good intentions. They studied the Law because they wanted to follow God’s will, but their behavior contradicted it. They modified their religious clothing to make it stand out more, and they sought the respect of the people, not for who they were but for their position in society (Matthew 23:5-7).
We might wonder why the Pharisees were so concerned about other people’s opinions. It’s not that they were insecure. It’s more likely that they were trying to protect their faith against corruption by their Roman occupiers. They wanted to preserve Judaism at all costs. And so they stressed ritual and tradition to the point that they lost sight of what was supposed to be underneath it. In the process, they started looking down on those who weren’t “true believers” according to their standards.
None of us is above temptation. Though we may not carry enormous Bibles or wear huge crosses to show off, we may still want to be recognized for who we are and what we can do. Or we may hide our gifts, imagining we’re not worthy enough to share them—which can also be a subtle form of pride. But our weakness in these areas shouldn’t discourage us. On the contrary, it should make us all the more eager to seek God’s mercy!
If you want to be humble, you don’t have to look any further than Jesus for your example. He never tried to get attention. He never promoted himself, and yet he drew far more people than the Pharisees ever could. That’s because he had what they needed—a relationship with his heavenly Father. You don’t have to impress anyone if you are following Jesus. You just have to stay close to him, and people will recognize his presence within you. He will purify your heart so that you can empty yourself, take up the cross, and serve him with joy!
“Father, help me to fix my eyes on your cross. I want to walk with you on the narrow road that leads to life. Lord, I give glory to you alone!”
Ez 43:1-7ab
The angel led me to the gate which faces the east,
and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel
coming from the east.
I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters,
and the earth shone with his glory.
The vision was like that which I had seen
when he came to destroy the city,
and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar.
I fell prone as the glory of the LORD entered the temple
by way of the gate which faces the east,
but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court.
And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the Lord.
Then I heard someone speaking to me from the temple,
while the man stood beside me.
The voice said to me:
Son of man, this is where my throne shall be,
this is where I will set the soles of my feet;
here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.
Gospel
Mt 23:1-12
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Meditation: Matthew 23:1-12
“All their works are performed to be seen.” (Matthew 23:5)
Jesus didn’t mince any words in criticizing these Pharisees for their outward display of holiness. That’s because he knew that many of them weren’t living up to the standards they expected from others. We can be sure they had good intentions. They studied the Law because they wanted to follow God’s will, but their behavior contradicted it. They modified their religious clothing to make it stand out more, and they sought the respect of the people, not for who they were but for their position in society (Matthew 23:5-7).
We might wonder why the Pharisees were so concerned about other people’s opinions. It’s not that they were insecure. It’s more likely that they were trying to protect their faith against corruption by their Roman occupiers. They wanted to preserve Judaism at all costs. And so they stressed ritual and tradition to the point that they lost sight of what was supposed to be underneath it. In the process, they started looking down on those who weren’t “true believers” according to their standards.
None of us is above temptation. Though we may not carry enormous Bibles or wear huge crosses to show off, we may still want to be recognized for who we are and what we can do. Or we may hide our gifts, imagining we’re not worthy enough to share them—which can also be a subtle form of pride. But our weakness in these areas shouldn’t discourage us. On the contrary, it should make us all the more eager to seek God’s mercy!
If you want to be humble, you don’t have to look any further than Jesus for your example. He never tried to get attention. He never promoted himself, and yet he drew far more people than the Pharisees ever could. That’s because he had what they needed—a relationship with his heavenly Father. You don’t have to impress anyone if you are following Jesus. You just have to stay close to him, and people will recognize his presence within you. He will purify your heart so that you can empty yourself, take up the cross, and serve him with joy!
“Father, help me to fix my eyes on your cross. I want to walk with you on the narrow road that leads to life. Lord, I give glory to you alone!”
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