Daily Archives: September 4, 2023

A Necessary Tuneup

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In our gospel from today’s readings, we find a powerful and transformative moment in the life of Jesus. He has returned to his hometown of Nazareth, and on the Sabbath day, he enters the synagogue. As was custom, someone was asked to read. Jesus is handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolls it and begins to read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Continue reading →

Labor Day

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Each year I am surprised that the Lectionary does not have specific, special readings for Labor Day. I know it is a secular holiday, but the Catholic Church has a long history of social teachings that emphasize the dignity of labor and the rights of workers. Those topics came up this week. There was a proposal this week from the Department of Labor that would require overtime pay for salaried positions whose earnings are under a certain threshold. Think of the shift manager at your favorite fast food restaurant. They manage the crew, are expected to work longer hours but since they are salaried, there is no additional pay. Why do it? The hope of increased wages and promotion. Meanwhile it is not uncommon for hourly workers to earn more than their managers. Continue reading →

Instruction for the Community

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This coming Sunday is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The previous two Sundays have focused on the gospel narrative that is set at the site of Peter’s great confession of faith: Caesarea Philippi.  This is also the place where Jesus’ first passion prediction occurs which leads to Peter’s exclamation: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you” (16:22) – in effect denying the revealed nature and role of the messiah. Jesus corrects Peter in v.24: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Despite his confession of faith and the blessing in response to it, Peter initially rejects the possibility that Jesus’ messiahship could involve suffering.  This leads to Jesus’ instruction to the disciples about the true nature of the cross and the willingness to carry it in accordance with the will of God. Continue reading →

Liturgical Choices and Narrative Continuity

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This coming Sunday is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Lectionary Cycle A. Choosing readings for liturgy while taking into account the ebb and flow of liturgical seasons is an incredible undertaking that requires study and the blessing of Wisdom. The choices made sometimes leave unusual gaps in the narrative intended by the sacred author. The move from the 22nd to the 23rd Sunday is such a move. Consider the following flow: Continue reading →