"…What are you afraid of, failure?
So am I.
"(Has Been. Has Been.)
"'Has Been' implies failure. Not so!
"(Has Been. Has Been.)
"Has Been's history,
Has Been was,
Has Been—might again!"
St. Ignatius of Loyola grew from being inflamed by the ideals of courtly love & knighthood to become an expert in spiritual direction & founder of the Jesuits.'Tis also the festival of Saint Neot, Priest (died circa 877, the "Pygmy Saint"): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Friends, today Jesus offers two parables about the kingdom of heaven. Let's focus on the first one: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again.”Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Sometimes God’s love is found that way. There’s a saying: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Sometimes in the course of our everyday lives, something happens that vividly and surprisingly summons us to union with God. We realize, in a flash, what it’s all about. We weren’t particularly looking for it, but it found us.
That's what Jesus is getting at today. As you walk through the fields of life, be open to the inrushing of grace when you least expect it. And when it comes, give up anything that holds it back.
"Do not make concessions as regards truth & goodness. Do not stoop to compromise on the Gospel values that must be the basis of your life. For they are the foundation of your new life inaugurated by Christ."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, & that He certainly intends to make you a saint. And if you wish to become a great saint, entreat Him yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for His Own great sacrifice of boundless charity."
—St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556, feast day: 31 July)
"I'm gonna get my shit together (together),
'Cause I can't live like this forever (forever),
You know I've come too far and I don't wanna fail,
I got a new computer and a bright future in sales…"
"I wrote it with a golf pencil I pulled out of my blazer,
A crest sewn on the chest read, 'Old Gold Rugby Football Club,'
Worn at one time by a man that at one time went to Yale,
Then he worked a while on Wall Street 'til the market collapsed.
"I was at a barroom that was someone on the southern shore of Boston,
The tender of the bar poured me a whiskey on the house,
I have a love for whiskey, I chased it with a beer,
I have a love for Boston and I loved writing it there.
"I wrote it in a notebook that somebody let me borrow,
'Don't use all the paper please and if you could bring it back to me tomorrow,'
It was a fair request and I was grateful for the loan,
I had to jot a thought down I came up with on my own.
"I wrote it in October and I mention that because
Out of all the months there are I've always liked that one the best,
I don't know why I bring this up, but there are times I wonder what
Had ever happened to that man, I wonder, after the collapse.
"I wrote it in a notebook that somebody let me borrow,
'Don't use all the paper please and if you could bring it back to me tomorrow,'
It was a fair request and I was grateful for the loan,
I had to jot a thought down I came up with on my own.
"I wrote, I wrote it for you.
I wrote, I wrote it for you.
I wrote, I wrote it for you.
I wrote, I wrote it for you.
"I wrote it and hour or so, so really not much longer,
I put the pencil in the shot glass and I buttoned up my blazer,
I stepped out of the bar into the cold October sun,
I must return the notebook, it's not important what I wrote."
Peter Chrysologus was Bishop of Ravenna from about 433 until his death. he is known as the :Doctor of Homilies" for the concise but theologically rich reflections he delivered during his time as the bishop.'Tis also the festival of Saint Tatwine of Canterbury, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 670-734), tenth (X) Archbishop of Canterbury: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Canterbury, Wikipedia-link Canterbury, & Wikipedia-link Bishops.
Friends, in our Gospel today Jesus explains the parable of the weeds among the wheat. God’s word creates the Church, the community of those who strive to build up the kingdom. But this Church is never absolutely pure and untrammeled, for God’s ways are opposed by a spiritual power, an enemy. His task is to sow weeds among the wheat—clandestinely, quietly, unobtrusively.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
This sort of coming together of good and evil is to be expected. The Church will always be a place of saints and sinners, and the sinners will often look like saints. The enemy of the Church, who never rests, ensures it.
Vigilance in regards to evil is necessary in a fallen world, yet we must be wary of a zeal that, in its passion for setting things right, comes to believe that evil can be dealt with by destroying what is good.
In the midst of a fallen world, what is expected of us is that we live in hope that at the end, at harvest time, the Master will separate the good from the bad.
"If humanity 'groans & travails in pain,' it does so to the extent that people's minds & hearts are not lifted up with Christ to God. Their consciences are not conformed through Christ to the wisdom that comes from God."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil cannot rejoice with Christ."
—St. Peter Chrysologus, Doctor of the Church (380-450, feast day: 30 July)
Martha of Bethany is a biblical figure described in the Gospels of Luke & John. Together with her siblings [Ss.] Lazarus & Mary of Bethany [29 July], she is described as living in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem. She was witness to Jesus resurrecting her brother, Lazarus.Wikipedia-link Bethany
Lord Jesus, You taught St. Martha a lesson in the true meaning of love. Help me to realize that You have called me to be Your friend & enable me to respond to that call with all my heart, soul, & strength.'Tis also the festival of Saints Lazarus & Mary of Bethany (first century; A.K.A. Lazarus of the Four Days, the Resurrected): Saint-link Lima & Wikipedia-link Lima, & Wikipedia-link Mike.
Friends, today’s Gospel is the story of Martha and Mary. I’d like to offer a fresh take on this famous little story. One of the principal marks of Jesus’ teaching and ministry is the overturning of social conventions. And one of the most striking and surprising of Jesus’ moves was a radical inclusion of women.Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
While this typically women’s work was going on, men would sit out in the main room of the residence and talk. If a prominent rabbi or Pharisee were present, the men would sit at his feet and listen to his words.
Now we can see why Mary’s attitude was so offensive to Martha and probably to everyone else in the room. Martha wasn’t simply mad that Mary was giving her more work to do; she was mad that Mary had the gall to assume the stance of a man, to take up her position in the men’s space.
In his response to Martha’s complaint, Jesus signals more than a preference for listening over acting; he invites a woman into full participation in the life of discipleship. “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
"Lord Jesus, grant that those You have called Your friends may come to know in fullness the joy You have promised. May they know the joy of praising You, the joy of serving their brothers & sisters, the joy of abiding in Your love."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"When does the soul die? Whenever there is the domination of the lower order over the higher order, whenever there is the domination of the individual over the community, of flesh over the spirit, of time over eternity, of the body over the soul, then there is death and that death we call sin. That is why scripture equates death in the biological order and sin in the moral order: “The wages of sin is death.” If you buy an electric coffee pot, you will find instructions. The instructions may read, “Do not plug this coffee pot in when the pot is empty.” Well, suppose you say, “Why should anybody tell me what to do? He's violating my constitutional rights.” When you say that, you forget that the manufacturer of that coffee pot gave you instructions in order that you might get perfect coffee out of it. Sin is a deliberate violation of the law of God. When God made us he gave us certain laws, not in order to destroy our freedom, but in order that we might perfect ourselves. When we violate those laws, we break a relationship, and we hurt ourselves. That is why in the parable of the prodigal son the father said of the prodigal, “He was dead. Now he is alive.”"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
"And so I sit and wait and wonder,
Does anyone else feel like me?
Someone so tired of their routines
And disappearing self-esteems…
"And so I sit and wait and wonder
Does anyone else feel like me?
I'm so overdosed on apathy
And burnt out on sympathy…
"Let the meaning slip away,
Lost my faith in another day,
Self-deprecation seems O.K.,
I never thought I'd make it anyway.
"(I'll sing along)
Yeah, with every emergency,
(Just sing along)
I'm the king of catastrophes,
(I'm so far gone)
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
That I'm my own worst enemy,
That I'm my own worst enemy,
'Cause I'm my own worst enemy,
And I'm my own worst enemy,
'Cause I'm my own worst enemy,
'Cause I'm my own worst enemy."
Friends, our Gospel for today gives us an opportunity to reflect on the great prayer that Jesus taught us. Think how this prayer links us to all of the great figures in Christian history, from Peter and Paul to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, John Paul II, and right up to the present day.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
A desire to pray is planted deep within us. It just means the desire to speak to God and to listen to him. Keep in mind that prayer is not designed to change God’s mind or to tell God something he doesn’t know. God isn’t like a big city boss or a reluctant pasha whom we have to persuade. He is rather the one who wants nothing other than to give us good things—though they might not always be what we want.
Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? We must put God’s holy name first; we must strive to do his will in all things and at all times; we must be strengthened by spiritual food or we will fall; we must be agents of forgiveness; we must be able to withstand the dark powers.
The saints were remarkable men & women, but surprisingly what made them remarkable was rarely anything too spectacular. What made them extraordinary was the ordinary. They strove to grow in virtue through the ordinary things of everyday life. If they were caring for the sick they were growing in humility. When they were educating children they were growing in patience. As Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said, "Do the little things with great love." There is nothing more attractive than holiness. Throughout history, whatever men & women of holiness have lived, the Church has blossomed. This is the answer to all of our problems: holiness of life.†
What are you willing to live for? Just before her death, [Saint] Joan of Arc wrote, "I know this now. Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, & yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, & we live it as we believe living it & then it's gone. But to surrender what you are & to live without belief is more terrible than dying—even more terrible than dying young." What are you willing to give your life for?
"The Eucharist is the privileged summit of the meeting of Christ's love for us; a love that is made available for each of us, a love that is made to be sacrificial lamb & food for our hunger for life. As the Apostle says, 'He loved me & gave Himself up for me.'"Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)
"You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him."
—St. Teresa of Ávila, Doctor of the Church (1515-1582, feast day: 15 October)
Iron sharpens iron,The use of the symbol Fe, including iron's atomic number twenty-six, makes this not just a funny Christian T-shirt, but also a funny science T-shirt.
and one man sharpens another.
Friends, our Gospel today is the parable of the wheat and the weeds. God sows his good seed, his word, his love and compassion, but his project is met with opposition. And the evil is such that it insinuates itself right into the very fabric of the good.privatio boni, a privation of the good, meaning that evil is always and everywhere parasitic on the good. Just as a parasite is living off of the healthy body (and thereby weakening it), so moral evil lives off of the good soul, the good society, the good Church (and thereby weakens them).
In classical theology, we speak of evil as a
"If the Church is able to enter a preparation for the perennial coming of the Holy Spirit, He, the "Light of hearts," will not hesitate to come. He will give Himself for the joy, the light, the fortitude, the apostolic virtue, & the unitive charity that the Church needs today."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)
"Private prayer is like straw scattered here & there: If you set it on fire it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle & light them, & you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that."
—St. Jean Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)
"…He's forgotten and not yet gone.
"And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones,
And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones,
And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, it's time."
Joachim is described as a rich & pious man, who regularly gave to the poor. At the temple, Joachim's sacrifice was rejected, as the couple's childlessness was interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure. Joachim consequently withdrew to the desert, where he fasted & did penance for forty days. Angels then appeared to both Joachim & Anne to promise them a child. Joachim later returned to Jerusalem & embraced Anne at the city gate, located in the Walls of Jerusalem. An ancient belief held that a child born of an elderly mother who had given up hope of having offspring was destined for great things.'Tis also the festival of Blessed John Ingram, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1565-1594), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the one hundred fifty-eight Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus explains the parable of the sower. Let’s study each part of his explanation.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The seed sown on the path is “the one who hears the word without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown.” This means we might end up blocked from God because we lack education in the ways of the Spirit.
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who “receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time.” When difficulties and persecutions arrive, he loses confidence.
“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.” Some people hear the word, but then they are unable to maintain their focus and sense of prioritization.
So from these sad cases we can construe the nature of good soil. When we understand the faith, when we take the time to read theology, to study the Scriptures; when we persevere, discipline ourselves, and practice the faith; when we have our priorities straight; then the seed will take root in us. And it will bear fruit thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.
"Heat & food are not enough; there is also the heart; we must think of the heart of our old people. The Lord said that parents must be respected & loved, even when they are old."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Ven. John Paul I (1912-1978)
"The Lord is more anxious to forgive our sins than a woman is to carry her baby out of a burning building."
—St. Jean Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)
"When I was a little man,Star Wars' biggest fan,
Playdough came in a little can,
I was
"I remember when I used to be so young and so carefree,Richie Rich and Scooby-Doo
Now my life is full of problems and responsibility,
Getting home by four to watch
James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that Jesus & John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow Him. James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to bear witness to His Transfiguration.Wikipedia-link Synoptic Gospels
Friends, today in our Gospel the mother of James and John asks Jesus on their behalf for high places of authority in his kingdom. Ah, there is the voice of ambition. Some people don’t care at all about money or power or pleasure—but they care passionately about honor. A lot of people can identify with James and John. They want to go places; they want to be movers and shakers in society. Perhaps a number of people reading this reflection are filled with these emotions.Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But Jesus turns the tables on them: "You do not know what you are asking." He is indeed a King, and he will indeed rule Israel, but his crown will be made of thorns, and his throne will be a Roman instrument of torture.
And so he tries to clarify: "Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" The key to honor in the kingdom of God is to drink the cup of suffering, to be willing to suffer out of love, to give one’s life away as a gift. Look at the lives of the saints. It is not about aggrandizing the ego, but emptying it out.
"The coming of the Holy Spirit does not take the Cross away from human reality. It is not a talisman that immunizes human life from sufferings & misfortunes."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)
"Learn to love humility, for it will cover all your sins."
—St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church (1195-1231, feast day: 13 June)
He was a Lebanese monk, born in a small mountain village & ordained in 1858. Devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he spent the last twenty-three years of his life as a hermit. Despite temptations to wealth & comfort, Saint Sharbel taught the value of poverty, self-sacrifice, & prayer by the way he lived.I visited the local Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church this past Sunday, 21 July, for their annual Mid-east Festival (great eats). In the Maronite Church, 21 July is St. Sharbel Makhlūf's feast day & I was fortunate enough to venerate the saint's relics on the altar.
Friends, our Gospel for today is the parable of the sower and the seed. It has to do with the growth and development of the kingdom of God. We hear that Jesus "went out of the house and sat down by the sea" and that large crowds gathered around him. This is Jesus speaking to the whole world.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Sitting down, he is, again, in the attitude of the ancient teacher and judge, and he speaks the parable of the sower. The sower sows far and wide, some of the seed landing on the path, where the birds eat it up; some falling on rocky ground, where it is scorched in the sun; some sown among thorns, where the life is choked off; and some sown on rich soil, where it bears thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.
Keep in mind that Jesus himself, in person, is the seed sown. Jesus is the Logos that wants to take root in us. This seed is sown far and wide, through all sorts of means, but in you, let the seed be sown deep, where it can’t be stolen, scorched, or choked.
"Strong in faith,put upa good fight; the future belongs to the believers & not to the skeptics & doubters. The future belongs to those who love, not to those who hate. The Church's mission in the world, far from having ended or outmoded, goes out to meet new trials & fresh enterprises."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Ven. Pius XII (1876-1958)
"The poor & the sick are the heart of God. In serving them, we serve Jesus Christ."
—St. Camillus de Lellis (1551-1614, feast day: 14 July)
All her life, Bridget had marvelous visions & received special messages from God. In obedience to them, she visited many rulers & important people* in the Church. She explained humbly what God expected of them.*Methinks "important people in the Church" is poor diction. Are only high ranking clerics important in the Church? The Apostle Paul makes clear that every part of the Body of Christ plays its unique & vital part. "Prominent persons in the Church" would have been better.
Friends, in today’s Gospel someone tells Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you." Jesus stretches his hand toward his disciples and says, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Family is wonderful. There is nothing in the world wrong with fostering the flourishing of your family. But over and again, the Bible places the goods of the world into question—even something as good as family relationships.
Why? Because family isn’t God. It is not that which you should serve with your whole heart; it doesn’t belong in the center of your life.
Is family the point around which most of your energies revolve? Is it your primary focus as you make your way through the day? Are there times when you feel your family obligations competing with the will of God?
Then remember Jesus’ words: "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?… Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father.
"We put pride into everything like salt. We like to see that our good works are known. If our virtues are seen, we are pleased; if our faults are perceived,we are sad. I remark that in a great many people; if one says anything to them, it disturbs them, it annoys them. The saints were not like that—they were vexed if their virtues were known, & pleased that their imperfections should be seen."Papal Quote o' the Day
—St. Jean Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)
"Wisdom is a sharing in God's way of seeing reality."
—Pope Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)
Mary Magdalene was a Jewish woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of His followers & was a witness to His Crucifixion, burial, & Resurrection.Quoth St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus & the Holy Face, O.C.D., Virgin & Doctor of the Church:
"Most of all I imitate the behavior of Mary Magdalene, for her amazing—or, rather, loving—audacity which delighted the heart of Jesus, has cast its spell upon mine."Scripture of the Day
Friends, today we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Our Gospel says that Mary came to the Lord’s tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week.had indeed been at work.
Let’s place ourselves there: it is still dark—just the way it was at the beginning of time, before God said, "Let there be light." But a light is about to shine, and a new creation is about to appear.
The stone had been rolled away. The stone, blocking entrance to the tomb of Jesus, stands for the finality of death. When someone that we love dies, it is as though a great stone is rolled across them, permanently blocking our access to them. And this is why we weep at death—not just in grief but in a kind of existential frustration.
Undoubtedly, Mary Magdalene thought that a grave robber had been at work. The wonderful Johannine irony is that the greatest of grave robbers
"Someone would have a poor idea of human & marital love by thinking that affection & joy vanish when difficulties come. This is when we really see what motivates people. Here also is where gift & tenderness are consolidated, because true love does not think about itself, but about how to increase the good of the beloved."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St.John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the break of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; & for drink I desire His Blood, which is love incorruptible."
—St. Ignatius of Antioch (50-108, feast day: 17 October)