O Lord Jesus, true Gardener, effect in us what you demand of us. For without you we cannot do anything. You are the true Gardener, the same Creator who cultivates and protects your garden. You plant by your word, water with your Spirit, give growth by your power. You were mistaken, Mary, when you thought […]
Reflection for the Monday of the Thirtieth Week
Readings: Ephesians 4:32-5:8; Luke 13:10-17 After this weekend’s latest violent tragedy in Pittsburgh, it’s appropriate that today’s gospel is set in a synagogue. Appropriate, as a reminder that Jesus was not a white man but a swarthy near-eastern Jew, that he didn’t worship in a Christian church but a synagogue; and that he was unarmed […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Thirtieth Sunday, Year B, 28 October, 2018
Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52 I would draw your attention to one detail in today’s Gospel: Bartimaeus throws off his cloak and runs to Jesus. A poor man’s cloak may be his only possession. If he has to pawn it, the Jewish pawn-broker had to return it to him at sundown, so he […]
1 November, All Saints and 2 November, All Souls
This week we celebrate the solemnity of All Saints on Thursday, 1 November. It is a non-work day for us and we follow the Sunday schedule, so Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament will follow Vespers (5:30 PM). Friday is the annual Commemoration of All Souls. We […]
Reflection for Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week
Readings: Ephesians 3:14-21; Luke 212:49-53 I have come to set the earth on fire…Do you think I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. The divisiveness described in today’s Gospel seems a very apt description of the current state of affairs. I look at the contradictory ways […]
Reflection for the Wednesday of the 28th Week
Readings: Galatians 5:18-25; Luke 11:42-46 Dante called St. Luke’s the “Gospel of mercy.” However, were I one of the Pharisees or Scribes in today’s Gospel, I probably wouldn’t register “mercy” as Jesus levelled with me. It can be a relief to see Jesus express his anger, though that’s no justification for my own outbursts. What […]
Reflection for Monday of the 27th Week
Readings: Galatians 1:6-12; Luke 10:25-37 I recognize three strong emotions behind today’s parable, known as “the Good Samaritan.” The first is operative before the narrative begins: anger. There must have been anger–resentment against the system or family, frustration of being unable to get ahead–motivating the robbers who stripped and beat up this traveler to Jericho. […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday, Year B
Readings: Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16 Today we begin Chapter Ten of Mark’s Gospel, when Jesus begins to travel to Jerusalem. For Mark, the holy city represents the unwillingness to believe Jesus; to the religious leaders of this city, Jesus is the hick from Galilee. Acknowledging the opposition, Jesus initiates an extensive teaching on […]
Monthly Eucharistic Adoration, now and hour earlier, an hour longer
Today is the First Sunday of October and from today the monthly Eucharistic Adoration will begin an hour earlier at 3:00 PM. As always, it will continue through Vespers (5:30 PM), followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. All are invited to join us.
Reflection for Thursday of the 26th Week, Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, 4 October, 2018
Readings: Job 19:21-27; Luke 10:1-12 On one hand, Jesus’ instructions to the seventy-two disciples he is sending out ahead of him are very freeing. On the other hand, he does not pretend that they’ll evade rejection by following his directives. That’s part and parcel of being a disciple of Jesus; the Gospel is hardly a […]