In today’s gospel we encounter the well known stories of the Daughter of Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman. In the Gospel of Mark Jesus is closely involved with women nine times. Today’s gospel captures two of those interactions. with two of Jesus’ more moving encounters with women. Both stories begin with someone seeking out Jesus, the healer. Both stories end in the cure of a person who had been hopelessly sick. Continue reading
The recent issue of the Arlington Catholic Herald, the diocesan newspaper (print and online), regularly carries a column from Mary Beth Bonacci, a syndicated Catholic columnist, who regularly writes on living out faith in everyday life. Her recent article on Forgiveness is well worth the five minute read. Enjoy.
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. It is an event which we associate with the expression “knocked off your high horse.” It is an association cemented in our consciousness by the great Italian artist, Caravaggio who created the masterpiece, The Conversion on the Way to Damascus. Continue reading
Today is the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, a priest known for his spirit of optimism, hope, freedom and confidence in God’s love both in his life and his writings. The gospel for the memorial is well chosen for its emphasis on remaining in the love of God, the joy of following Christ, and bearing the fruit of that love and joy – fruit that remains in this lifetime and the next. Continue reading
Years ago I served as a lay missionary in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. I lived and worked among some of the poorest of the urban poor in East Africa. I lived with a Pallottine priest from Ireland who was one of 18 children and the son of a working blacksmith. It is not hard to imagine that household finances were stretched very thin, yet the father had a great compassion for the “travelers” a group of Irish people with their own traditions, language, stories and more. Known as “travelers” (lucht siúil, meaning the walking people) their history is filled with stories of discrimination, mistrust, and poverty. Continue reading
The gospel today is one that was a central part of St. Francis of Assisi’s way of following Christ. Those who would follow this way of following Christ needed to understand that there was a clear demarcation between the former way of sin and that of “leaving the world.” In his writing known as the Earlier Exhortation, Francis divides the world of people into two categories: “Those Who Do Penance” and “Those Who Do Not Do Penance.” In medieval writing “penance” does not refer primarily to sacramental confession, but to a life directed to conversion to Christ. Continue reading
From the Rule for Monks by St. Basil the Great:
What words can adequately describe God’s gifts? They are so numerous that they defy enumeration. They are so great that any one of the demands our total gratitude in response. Yet even though we cannot speak of it worthily, there is one gift that no thoughtful man can pass over in silence. God fashioned man in his own image and likeness; he gave him knowledge of himself; he endowed him with the ability to think which raised him above all living creatures; he permitted him to delight in the unimaginable beauties of paradise, and gave him dominion over everything upon earth.
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Today’s liturgical possibilities include an optional memorial for St. Sebastian who is the patron saint of athletes. Relatively little is known about St. Sebastian, a Christian martyr of the 3rd century. It is believed that he was an officer in the imperial bodyguard and Christian, but not openly so. When his faith was discovered the Diocletian, the Roman emperor, sentenced him to death. Sebastian was tied to a tree, executed by archers and left for dead. However, he had not died. He was found alive and nursed back to health. When at last he was able, he publicly announced his faith, denounced Diocletian for his persecution of Christians, and for this was martyred as he was beaten to death by the emperor’s guard. It is his virtues and gifts of strength, stamina, perseverance, courage and justice in the face of adversity and a superior opponent – and yet he gave his all.
The readings from today’s Mass include optional readings in celebration of the saint. The first reading is from the first letter of St. Peter and includes the following admonition:
Always be ready to give an explanation
to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,
but do it with gentleness and reverence (1 Pt 3:15)
Are you ready?
The first reading today is the story of King Saul of Israel, jealous of David’s rising popularity and fame, is trying to hunt down the young David and kill him, lest David become the king by popular demand. In the realm of power politics, David has his chance there in the cave to resolve the conflict, become king and turn the page of this story of intrigue. His followers are telling him to make the best of the opportunity that God has clearly laid at his feet! But David reminds himself: “The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’” Clearly David is someone steeped in the Word of God and would be aware of the history of wickedness. Continue reading
Note: in today’s reflection I used the readings from the Memorial of St. Anthony the Abbot rather than the Daily Readings. The Gospel for the Memorial is taken from Matthew’s account of the rich young man asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. 27 years ago I was a missionary in Kenya, on retreat, and wrote a reflection on Mark’s version of the same story. Enjoy. Continue reading
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