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1Cycle AYear II

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 TUESDAY OF 13TH WEEK(Lec. 378) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12 (Opt. Mem. Blessed Junípero2) Matthew 8:23-27 Serra, Priest)Gospel related: CCC 2610Top of the DocumentFOCUS: We can trust God during our challenging times.

If you know much about Israel’s history from the Old Testament, you know that the Israelites didn’t always have a smooth relationship with God. Israel would disobey, turn to other gods and end up in trouble. Most of the time, Israel just didn’t have faith that God would see them through their trials. In the reading from the prophet Amos today, we hear that although Israel would experience hard times when the people disobeyed the Lord, God would always come through and save them from ultimate destruction.

In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of Jesus and the disciples in a boat upon the sea when a storm suddenly arises. It is so fierce that the disciples are fearful for their lives. While the disciples are in terror, Jesus is calmly sleeping. They awaken him and say, Lord, save us! We are perishing! Now, picture this next scene in your head – Jesus calmly gets up, looks around and asks them why they are so terrified. He questions their faith and then rebukes the winds and the sea… the storm ceases.

There is no doubt that we all go through hard times. Illness, unemployment and family trials are just the beginning of a list that could get quite lengthy. In the midst of these hard times, we usually don’t think about taking our spiritual temperatures. But maybe we should. There are many questions we might ask ourselves, but the most important one probably is, Do we trust that God is taking care of us?

Do we have enough faith in our Lord to trust that he will see us through the storms in our lives? Or do we panic, like the disciples, and become convinced God is asleep and not with us? In both readings today, we receive the assurance that although we may be experiencing tough times, God has it all under control. He promised he would never forsake us. We can hold on to that promise. Whenever we find ourselves in the midst of the storm. God will always be with us.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014 WEDNESDAY OF 13TH WEEK(Lec. 379) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Amos 5:14-15, 21-242) Matthew 8:28-34Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Hate evil and love good.

This statement has at times been taken out of context by many Christians and non-Christians alike. First of all, if anyone asks you what evils there are in our society to hate – the answers could be numerous. Many people ask the question, “Why would God ever bless this country because there so many evil things being done today?” Of course there are many kinds of evil in our society.

But today Amos tells us about another evil that we see all around us in our society and that is the evil of injustice. Amos has always been the champion of justice for the poor and disadvantaged. He has always spoken out against those who would use the poor to their own advantage. Today, the prophet is telling Israel (and us) that unless we truly worship God from our hearts and truly follow his law, we cannot ever hope to truly please God with our prayers. We need to put the teachings of Christ into effect in our lives. We cannot be Christians in name only – we must be Christians who seek justice for the poor, who follow the Great Commandment given to us in Matthew 25. (Vs 31-46)

In the Gospel, Jesus brings healing to two men who suffer from demoniac possession. The demons within them scream at Jesus when he approaches, knowing that he had power over them. He sends them into the swine of pigs which then run into the sea and drown (and presumably kill the demons). Jesus was always looking for a way to destroy the effects of sin on people and looked to heal people spiritually – even before a physical healing.

May we always appreciate God’s healing power and realize that, as children of God, we are to strive to bring about the kingdom of God for all people. May the Lord reward us for our efforts when we are called by God at the end of our days!

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Thursday, July 3, 2014 SAINT THOMAS,(Lec. 593) APOSTLE1) Ephesians 2:19-22 - FEAST2) John 20:24-29Gospel related: CCC 448, 644, 645, 659; CSDC 491Top of the DocumentFOCUS: God is always with us, even in our doubts.

Today’s Gospel reading is the only passage in Scripture that says anything of length about Saint Thomas the Apostle, whose feast day we celebrate today. In a way, it’s unfair that the Doubting Thomas story is what we remember about Thomas from the Gospels because there’s so much more that can be said about him. After the Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension, for example, Thomas became a man on fire for the Lord. He brought Christianity from Palestine to the ends of the known world, as far away as India. And like most of the other disciples, Thomas was martyred for the faith.

Thomas spent about three years in the physical company of the Lord. He witnessed Jesus perform many miracles, and heard him speak repeatedly about rising from the dead. Yet when it happened, Thomas didn’t believe it. If one of Jesus’ 12 closest companions had doubts…well, it’s understandable why faith is sometimes a challenge for us.

Doubt and uncertainty are part of our earthly journey as Christians. There are times when we wonder if God is with us, or if he really cares. Even Blessed Mother Teresa had periods in life where she felt God was absent. Many of us, if not most of us, have felt something was lacking in our Christian lives or in our relationship with God on occasion. That doesn’t feel good, of course, but we can take comfort in the fact that it even happened to many of the saints. We can take even more comfort in the fact that however absent our human senses tell us God may be, he is in fact very present. When we realize that, we can joyously exclaim my Lord and my God! as Thomas did.

So, we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves if we occasionally doubt God’s presence in our lives or don’t feel it strongly. God knows where our reset buttons are and how to press them – as Jesus did when he revealed himself to Thomas. For our part, when our faith needs to be reset, we should continue to pray, to encounter Christ in Scripture, and receive the sacraments that are true vehicles of grace. Saint Padre Pio said to always keep the bride of Christ, the Catholic Church, close to our hearts – by doing so, we keep her groom, Jesus Christ, close to our hearts, too. In this way, even in times of doubt or spiritual weakness, we’ll never forget that God is with us.

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Friday, July 4, 2014 FRIDAY OF 13TH WEEK(Lec. 381) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Amos 8:4-6, 9-122) Matthew 9:9-13Gospel related: CCC 581, 589, 2100NOTE: For Independence Day in the United States, any readings from the Lectionary for Ritual Masses, vol. IV, the Mass "For the Country," nos. 882-886, or "For Peace and Justice," nos. 887-891.Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Disciples of Jesus know that they are citizens first of the Kingdom of God.

The people of the United States are a long time away from 1776. Yet, the statement for independence and freedom that this day remembers encourages them to consider the rights and responsibilities that supersede any nation's personal history. Further, this day remembers the innate dignity of each human being, regardless of national origin or identity. As Jesus so powerfully proclaimed, first, we are all citizens of the Kingdom of God.

With such an understanding, we can hear the words of that troubling prophet of the Old Testament, Amos, in today's first reading. Amos lived during difficult times in Israel's history, but he never hesitated to speak God's truth to the political powers of his day. Several times in his prophecy, he champions God's love for the powerless. He asks all who would be citizens of God's Kingdom to strive wholeheartedly for justice for all God's people. Today's reading focuses on how God will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into dirges. Indeed, the festivity of patriotic songs is not Amos' message, but how a famine – a hunger for hear[ing] the word of the Lord – will descend upon the land.

It is interesting that the Church couples Amos' prophecy with Jesus' statement about whom he has come to call into God's Kingdom. Jesus reaches out to the tax collectors and sinners, that is, those who are far from well-connected in his society. Jesus invites a conversion of the heart marked by recognizing how each of us is dependent on God's mercy and guidance. In such hearts the Kingdom of God can most take root.

Those transformed by God's Word can claim their place as citizens in the Kingdom of God. Then, like Amos, they can boldly speak the truth of God's Kingdom to those in power. Citizens of God's Kingdom cannot accept any sin of injustice, any solution based on violence, or any condition that denies the dignity of each human being.

Let us acknowledge where personal freedom and mutual inter-dependence thrive, and value all people as children of God.

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Saturday, July 5, 2014 SATURDAY OF 13TH WEEK(Lec. 382) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Amos 9:11-15 (Opt. Mem. Saint Anthony2) Matthew 9:14-17 Zaccaria, Priest; Saint Elizabeth of Portugal; Saturday in honor of BVM)Top of the DocumentFOCUS: The restoration that God promised through his prophets is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

When John the Baptist’s disciples questioned Jesus about why he did not make his disciples fast, Jesus responded in a way that was meant to clarify his mission and purpose. Jesus, himself, was the promised Messiah who would fulfill the law and the prophets. He would do this by establishing a new covenant, based on love and forgiveness.

We, like John’s disciples, can be short-sighted and miss the bigger picture of God’s plan of salvation. When we do this, it is easy to put our emphasis, our priorities, on the wrong things. For example, if there is someone whom we have wronged or whom we feel has wronged us, we might decide to just ignore that person or cut them out of our lives, rather than say we are sorry or offer forgiveness. We can reduce our acts of sacrifice down to a science. We may try to do things to keep God from getting too mad at us, like if we sacrifice and fast enough, we will balance out our lack of attention to what Jesus is actually calling us to do.

Jesus calls us away from a legalistic understanding of our salvation, and toward a life of love, learning from him and following his example. We may choose to live out the teachings of Jesus by feeding the hungry or working to shelter the homeless. We may choose to spend quality time with those who are sick and suffering or visit those who are behind the bars of our jails and prisons. The point is not so much how we follow Jesus, but that we follow him. When we do this, following his example of service, we are likely to lose any legalistic worry we might have about our salvation.

Instead, we can recognize salvation as a gift from God, and not something we can earn. So, in gratitude for this gift, let us seek a deeper relationship with Jesus and pour out ourselves more generously in love and service to others.

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SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2014 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY(Lec. 100) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Zechariah 9:9-102) Romans 8:9, 11-133) Matthew 11:25-30Gospel related: CCC 151, 153, 240, 443, 473, 459, 544, 1615, 1658, 2603, 2701, 2779, 2785Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Jesus offers to share the burdens of life with us.

Today’s Gospel contains one of the most encouraging invitations Jesus ever issued, and at the same time it is an invitation that is too often overlooked by his preoccupied followers of today. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. What an offer! Artists and sculptors who have portrayed our Savior above our altars with arms outstretched before us have captured that invitation most vividly.

The Lord uses an unusual parable to complete the invitation: Take my yoke upon you…and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. A yoke is a double harness made of wood that is custom-made and placed on the necks of a pair of oxen to enable them to pull a plow or a wagon together.

Jesus was known throughout Galilee as the carpenter’s son. The commentaries on the Scriptures strongly suggest that the young Jesus learned a few things about woodworking from his foster-father in the shop in Nazareth. A smooth-fitting yoke to place on the shoulders of a pair of oxen is something Jesus could probably speak about from experience.

When Jesus says we should take his yoke upon us and learn from him, he is offering to share our burdens with us the way draft animals support one another by pulling together. With Jesus helping us, our burden is lighter; and the yokes made by him are a perfect fit to make our travel together through life easier.

In a society which fosters individualism and independence, even believers sometimes fail to take advantage of Jesus’ offer in the Gospel. Into every life, sooner or later, labors and burdens show themselves. They can be in the form of health problems, family disharmony or financial difficulties. They can arise from past evils that still haunt us, from the present worries that distract us or from insecurities about the future that immobilize us. In whatever form or at whatever time they appear, Jesus shares this invitation with us – Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Jesus praises God who revealed to little ones, to the meek and humble, what had been hidden from the scholars, the sophisticated and the religious experts. It was the simple and uneducated people who were most receptive to the Gospel and who grasped the significance of Jesus’ preaching. Jesus makes clear his relationship with God the Father, and the Father’s desire to be revealed to us through the Son. Yet, Jesus describes himself as meek and humble of heart and offers to share our burdens, giving us rest. Let us take to heart his words, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

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Monday, July 7, 2014 MONDAY OF 14TH WEEK(Lec. 383) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Hosea 2:16, 17b-18, 21-222) Matthew 9:18-26Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Faith can be risky.

A remarkable feature emerges in today’s accounts of Jesus bringing healing and life to those in need. Notice that Jesus does not have to touch the hemorrhaging woman to cure her. In the case of the synagogue leader’s daughter, it is at the request of her father, not the ill daughter, that the healing takes place. In both cases, Jesus simply affirms the faith of the person seeking healing. Jesus tells the woman, Your faith has saved you. The synagogue leader states, Come, lay your hand on her, and she will live, and Jesus lovingly responds to this man’s faith.

The synagogue leader and the woman demonstrate a willingness to act on their faith. It is faith in Jesus that comes into focus when health and life are at stake. They are fearless in their proclamation and actions. Their willingness to take a risk becomes an occasion for Jesus to show that he is the Son of God and that compassion for people in need is a reflection of the Father’s love.

In what aspect of your life do you need healing? Are there places in your heart that need to be restored to life? Do you need to forgive or to be forgiven, but are not quite sure how to go about making that happen? Take a lesson from the people in today’s Gospel who turned to Jesus for help. They are bold in their requests; they take action based on their faith in Jesus; they are willing to take a risk.

Our faith is that Jesus is not just a person capable of performing miracles, Jesus is God. Faith and action come together in the Gospel, where faith in Jesus opens the door for healing. You may already possess such faith. It is not a matter of enough faith or more faith, it is simply a matter of the presence of faith. Jesus affirms and draws on the faith – our faith. Our faith can lead us to the realization that Jesus is always there, willing to heal our wounds and constantly unfolding the fullness of life before our eyes.

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Tuesday, July 8, 2014 TUESDAY OF 14TH WEEK(Lec. 384) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Hosea 8:4-7, 11-132) Matthew 9:32-38Gospel related: CCC 2611; CSDC 259Top of the DocumentFOCUS: We are called to follow Jesus, who did not allow the negativity of others to sidetrack his work.

Today’s Gospel contains a superb example of Jesus teaching us by his example. As he is doing remarkable things, like curing the man who could not speak, Jesus finds himself slandered by people he might have thought would support him. And how does he react? He moves on to another place and continues his work. Jesus does not waste time arguing with the Pharisees. Unlike what some of us might be tempted to do, Jesus does not fling mud back in the faces of those who maligned him. The Gospel simply shows no response, except that he continued his work, going to all the towns and villages in the area, preaching the Gospel, teaching and healing. He did not stop doing what he was sent to do.

Jesus was clear in his own mind that he was about his Father’s business. We heard this from the time Jesus was a child, and it continued as his guiding principle throughout his entire time on earth. He was not looking for personal acclaim. He had no personal agenda. Because he knew he was obeying his Father’s will, Jesus could choose to look beyond the harsh criticisms and the obstacles, and continue to proclaim that God’s Kingdom was at hand.

What lessons Jesus provides for us! He shows us that doing the Father’s work may not be easy, comfortable or without obstacles. He shows us that the important thing is doing the work. He calls us to be dedicated, to be confident, to be high-minded, but also to be realistic. We are to have our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground, as an old saying goes. We are to keep always before us the goal of building up the Kingdom of God.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014 WEDNESDAY OF 14TH WEEK(Lec. 385) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 (Opt. Mem. Saint Augustine2) Matthew 10:1-7 Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs)Gospel related: CCC 543, 1509, 2121, 2443Top of the DocumentFOCUS: The Lord stirs his spirit within us.

When you hear the telephone ring, many questions may go through your mind as you wonder who is calling. Is it a telemarketer? A relative or friend? A crisis in the family or at work? Will this call bring joy or sorrow, anxiety or relief, exasperation or comfort? Have you debated whether even to answer your telephone at those times when you just don’t want to be bothered? Regardless of what you do, a ringing telephone is a persistent reminder that someone, some-where, is calling.

Our faith helps us to understand that not all calls are made with phones. Calls from God are delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit, and often in unusual ways. One might wonder what thoughts were going through the minds of those first disciples when Jesus called them. Were they afraid to answer the call of the Lord? Did they feel bothered and disturbed by it? Did they respond out of politeness and with little real desire? Did they secretly hope that Jesus would pick someone else? When twelve of these disciples were chosen to carry out the work of Jesus, they were given the power and authority to teach, to heal, and even to expel unclean spirits – what a job description that was!

Today, people would have many questions about a job description demanding such things of them and would ask for clarification and a further analysis of the job benefits. But there is a difference. We apply for a job; the disciples were called to a way of life. Upon reflection, we come to realize that through our baptism God calls us as well to live a life befitting our vocation as the adopted children of the Father and heirs to his kingdom – our life is to be lived for the Lord.

All who follow Christ are to serve the lost, be present to the sick, and pray to help cast out the evil spirits which permeate society. As the baptized, we cannot put our responsibilities on anyone else. These responsibilities are given to each of us who have died and risen with Christ. This means we do not hide from those who need us. Rather, we embrace the least among us in the name of the Lord. Scary? Perhaps. But as those first disciples grew in their faith with the Lord, so can we. There may be a lot of trial-and-error learning along the way, and we need to be disciplined and focused so we do not lose our perspective. But our faith calls us to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It is revealed through us who light the way for others to receive Christ in their hearts. This is not a job but a life lived with love! Accept the call.

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 THURSDAY OF 14TH WEEK(Lec. 386) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Hosea 11:1-4, 8c-92) Matthew 10:7-15Gospel related: CCC 543, 1509, 2121, 2122, 2443; CSDC 184Top of the DocumentFOCUS: We help to build up God’s Kingdom when we generously share the gifts he has given us.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. These words from today’s Gospel remind us that each of us has received gifts and talents freely from God. And it is these gifts and talents that God asks us to use for building up his Kingdom.

The works that Jesus mentions in this Gospel might make us wonder! Jesus instructs his Apostles to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. Most of us would consider these actions to be far beyond any abilities we might possess. We may think our small, humble gifts are not really needed.

While the Scripture records that Jesus did perform great miracles, it also cites many times when Jesus simply stopped to listen to someone, showed compassion for their suffering or offered a caring touch. The special thing Jesus offered was his presence, his attention and his openness to others.

These are the kinds of gifts that we can develop in ourselves and also share with others. While seemingly less noteworthy than the gifts described in today’s Gospel, we cannot know which gifts are more needed. The scale that God uses to measure the value of an act is beyond our comprehension.

Consequently, we are brought back to the teaching of Jesus about giving. Indeed, miracles come in all forms. It is up to each of us to give what genuinely dwells in our hearts. We are to use our God-given gifts, no matter what they are, to help others – to help improve the world. Draw upon your gifts to build up the Kingdom of God. For it is through the gifts that God has given you – at no cost – that you can show the love and the majesty of God to the world.

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Friday, July 11, 2014 FRIDAY OF 14TH WEEK(Lec. 387) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Hosea 14:2-10 (OBL. MEM. Saint Benedict,2) Matthew 10:16-23 Abbot)Gospel related: CCC 161, 728, 764, 1821Top of the DocumentFOCUS: With enduring faith we can hope to enter heaven.

In the first reading today we hear a call to conversion, a promise for the faithful, and a warning for the lukewarm souls who refuse to convert. Many of us make daily compromises in living our faith. We like to point fingers and blame others for what is wrong with the world. Instead, we must look within ourselves. How do we compromise what we know to be good and true? Perhaps we have become good at avoiding mortal sin, but do we habitually commit venial sins?

We are called to constant conversion. Lost in our self-sufficiency, thinking we can do all things on our own, we can be believers who lack enduring faith. The Catechism tells us no one can receive eternal life without faith that endures to the end. What does enduring faith look like? Today, the Church honors someone who can provide for us a very good example.

Saint Benedict came from a distinguished family but left that life behind to follow God's will for his life. He was drawn to the monastic life, and became a hermit. He wanted to live a hidden life, but God had other plans. Within his monastic community, there were monks who wanted him as their leader. Later, he went on to build the famous monastery, Monte Cassino. There, monks could benefit from fraternity, unity and permanent worship in one house. Benedict went on to become abbot of this monastery.

This is what enduring faith looks like. Benedict was an innovator; he was the first to set up a community and direct them with a rule of life. This was a very bold and risky step for Benedict, one that required great faith to undertake. Today, the Church recognizes Benedict as a great saint; an example for us of what it means to seek God's will above all else.

We must pray, reflect and ponder if we, as a society, and especially as individuals, are worthy of God's promises. We can hope in the reward of heaven promised by God if we remain open to his call and in our words and actions, truly love him and do his will.

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Saturday, July 12, 2014 SATURDAY OF 14TH WEEK(Lec. 388) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Isaiah 6:1-8 (Saturday in honor2) Matthew 10:24-33 of BVM)Gospel related: CCC 14, 305, 765, 363, 765, 1034, 1816, 2145Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Our Heavenly Father calls us to be his children.

The reading from Isaiah today reminds us of who we are and who God is. God is almighty. The earth is full of his glory. God is Holy, holy, holy, Isaiah tells us. I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, continues the prophet.

What good news the Scripture brings us today. Isaiah tells us that our sins are removed. Our guilt is atoned. The Gospel from Matthew assures us of our incredible value to this holy God. Even the sparrows, we hear, do not fall to the ground unnoticed. Indeed, the hairs on our heads are numbered and Jesus, himself, offers to acknowledge us before his Father in heaven.

One of the lesser-known saints we remember today is Saint John Jones (see catholic.org). In 1592, Father Jones, a Franciscan ordained in Rome, requested permission to return to England, very aware that as a Catholic priest, the risk of death was high. To help reduce the danger, he used an alias last name, Buckley, in his work as a missionary. Eventually, he was arrested and tortured for almost two years for his work with prisoners. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Saint John Jones knew he was a flawed man before God, but he lived in confidence that the God who loved the sparrows loved him too. For Saint John Jones, there was nothing to fear. Let us ask God's protection from that which would harm the soul, and then fear nothing. As children of God, let us proclaim the Good News: our sins are forgiven, and our heavenly Father loves us.

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SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2014 FIFTEENTH SUNDAY(Lec. 103) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Isaiah 55:10-112) Romans 8:18-233) Matthew 13:1-23 or 13:1-9Gospel related: CCC 29, 546, 787, 1724; CSDC 325Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Let the message of the parables lead us to a more mature faith.

It would be worthwhile for us to take time and reflect on the familiar parable of the sower from today’s Gospel. Jesus gives us this parable as he sits in a boat by the sea. Picture the large crowd that came to hear him speak. It was so large, in fact, Matthew tells us that Jesus had to get into a boat to deliver his message while the people stood on the shore to listen.

To deepen our understanding of this parable, let’s look at the big picture. The first sown seed fell on the footpath and was eaten by birds. The second fell on rocky ground and couldn’t lay down deep roots, so as soon as it came up, it was burned by the sun and died. Finally, we are happy to learn that some of the seed fell on rich soil and thrived. Now that we have the big picture, let’s take a look at ways this parable can be helpful to us.

Reflecting on this parable, oftentimes we are asked to see ourselves as being represented by the soil and how we accept the seeds of faith. But what if we should see ourselves as the scattered seed, itself?

We should ask ourselves, where did the seeds of my faith fall? Is my faith planted on solid ground so I can bear great fruit for God, or did it fall on shallow and superficial ground, unable to mature and be a blessing to God? Maybe my faith starts out strong, but as soon as any heat comes my way, it withers for lack of roots. We all hope, of course, that our faith is like the seed planted in rich soil that will produce great fruit.

Another way to look at this parable is to take ourselves out of it altogether. Perhaps Jesus is showing us that even after so many unsuccessful attempts, hope remains. After so many seeds have fallen where it is unable to produce any fruit, there is still hope. Jesus brings good news that promises hope, even when we experience darkness in our lives.

As God calls each of us to open ourselves to his Word, our response usually doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time if his message is to become rooted in our hearts. We begin by listening and resting in his Word. Inspired, we are moved to act. Our action rises from our greater understanding and awareness of our own responsibility to produce fruit under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Scripture’s messages can run very deep, but this message isn’t hidden from us. Like the seed that fell on rich soil, may our own hearts be a place for faith to take root.

Monday, July 14, 2014 MONDAY OF 15TH WEEK(Lec. 389) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Isaiah 1:10-17 (OBL. MEM. Saint Kateri2) Matthew 10:34-11:1 Tekakwitha, Virgin)Gospel related: CCC 858, 1506, 2232; CSDC 193Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Claiming to love God is not enough; we must live in a way that bears witness to that love.

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, whose life can be viewed as a flesh-and-blood example of the lessons contained in today's readings. In our Gospel, Jesus teaches that we are not to pay lip-service to our faith. We are to live it to the fullest, even when that means making sacrifices, standing up for our beliefs, and letting the world know that we will choose God over any human relationship. The message of our first reading today is that our prayers and rituals are nothing if they are not backed up by a life lived for God.

Saint Kateri was a young Native American woman who was scorned and persecuted by her family and most of her community when she decided to become a Christian. Things got even worse when she elected to remain a virgin and dedicate herself to God. She braved terrible hardships, but she never turned back. She served others without regard for her own comfort or convenience. She gave her all to God, in humility and love.

The life of Saint Kateri can be viewed as an example of a life dedicated to God. Much of her seventeenth century life would have been quite different from what our lives are like. Still, she had to deal with family and friends who did not under-stand or value those things for which she stood. She was young, and some thought foolish. She needed to look to priests and fellow-Christian lay people to help her determine how best to serve God and others. She responded to the Word of God in the daily working out of her life. In all these things she can be a teacher and model for us.

As we reflect on today's readings, we may think they are pretty strong, or even harsh. Saint Kateri, and the lives of other saints, help us see that the rewards God promises are worth the troubles we may have to endure in order to be faithful followers of Jesus, doing our part to help God's Kingdom come on earth. That is our mission, and if we only pay it lip-service, God will know.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2014 TUESDAY OF 15TH WEEK(Lec. 390) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Isaiah 7:1-9 (OBL. MEM. Saint Bonaventure,2) Matthew 11:20-24 Bishop and Doctor of the Church)Gospel related: CCC 678Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Repent now before judgment day.

Did you realize there is a website that calculates the day of your death? You type in your date of birth, sex and whether or not you smoke, drink or take drugs and it tells you when you can expect to take leave of this earth. Of course, it is all in fun. But it makes us realize that our days are numbered. Sooner or later we will have to give an account of how we have spent our time on earth. In the Gospel today, Jesus predicted doom for Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Despite his miracles and his preaching, the people in those towns stubbornly clung to their sinful ways. Time ran out for them.

But it is not too late for us. Jesus ministers in our lives as he did for the people in Israel. He speaks to us in Scripture, through our Church leaders, and through other good people. Jesus calls us to live the Gospel values, to practice virtue, and to love God and our neighbor.

Sometimes, if we are open to its power, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, nudging us to be holy. Most of us do our best to follow Jesus and live like him. Yet, we still procrastinate when it comes to changing certain habits. We intend to improve, but, as it is said, The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

In what ways may we need to repent and reform? Maybe our closets overflow with clothes we never wear, but we never get around to donating them to people who may need them more than we do. Maybe our relationship with someone is in need of repair. Can we be the one to take the first step to reconcile?

So how do find the strength we need to change? Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper. We can ask the Holy Spirit for the grace and power to be different. We can tap into the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we received at Baptism and Confirmation. People have turned their lives around completely with God's help. We can, at least, make one change. All it takes, besides grace, is determination. In other words, just do it! How can you be the great person you would like to be? Why not resurrect a resolution and this time, persevere in keeping it, before your time runs out?

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014 WEDNESDAY OF 15TH(Lec. 391) WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME1) Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16 (Opt. Mem. Our Lady2) Matthew 11:25–27 of Mount Carmel)Gospel related: CCC 151, 153, 240, 443, 473, 544, 2603, 2701, 2779, 2785Top of the DocumentFOCUS: God's ways need to become our ways.

Today's readings are challenging for people who have adopted the primary culture of the West, and they were challenging for people in the culture of Isaiah's time, too. Today we tend to see violence and fighting as strengths, and those who resort to violence can become proud of their strength. That is certainly the case with the Assyrians in the first reading, who, out of pride, do not realize that they are acting as tools for the God of Israel. They want to destroy Israel for their own glory, not realizing that they are only an axe in the hand of God, who wants his people in Israel to repent and return to him.

How often do we, too, forget that we are servants of God – tools, in effect – to help bring about the will of God in our world? As Christians, we do not like to think of ourselves as weapons in the hand of God, but we could be weapons of peace and goodness against the injustices that we see in the world around us. As humans, being used by God can make us proud and cause us to forget where our strength lies: in God rather than in ourselves.

Jesus' words of joy and exultation over the childlike to whom God reveals his divine secrets can give us motivation to be pleasing to him, too. Jesus is not rejoicing over people who perform great wonders, but in simple people who trust in God, rather than in themselves; in people whose hearts and eyes are open to the message of God in their daily lives.

Today, as we prepare for Holy Communion at the altar, let us pray that we, too, may be pleasing to Jesus, that we may be gifts from God, giving joy to Jesus' heart. Let us pray for the grace and strength that will take us beyond our human pride and make us childlike servants of God, ready to be used by God to bring goodness into the world day by day, in whatever situation we might find ourselves.

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Thursday, July 17, 2014 THURSDAY OF 15TH WEEK(Lec. 392) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-192) Matthew 11:28-30Gospel related: CCC 459, 1615, 1658Top of the DocumentFOCUS: God welcomes all to a kingdom of peace.

People have many different life stories. Some lives appear to be easy while others struggle with mental or physical problems that can seem insurmountable. But in spite of their struggles, many are at peace. In looking more closely at their lives, a predominant theme would probably be their faith in God and dependence upon God’s grace to help them through their days.

Today’s first reading from Isaiah speaks of those who live justly and seek to follow the Lord: The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. This does not mean that the just will have easy lives, but that their faith will sustain them through their life’s journey. In the Gospel, Jesus is telling the disciples, and by extension all of us, more about who the Father is – one who welcomes all, especially those who have cares and burdens in their lives. Jesus said he is meek and humble of heart and will bring peace to all who approach him in faith.

Jesus came to restore the original order of creation which was disturbed by sin. He spoke of his meek and humble Father to a world that holds power and might in high esteem. Both of today’s readings stress that the lowly and humble are God’s people. To get to the Father, we must admit that we need God and that our lives depend on God’s grace as we live each day. This calls for faith and letting go of the alleged control we think we have over our lives and destiny. It also requires that we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, our model and way to the Father.

One of the articles in the Catechism states, No one is without a family in this world; the church is a home and family for everyone, especially those who labor and are heavy laden. (CCC 1658) This statement is a natural outpouring of the Gospel message. Jesus speaks of the Father as loving and embracing all. Today’s Gospel has no conditions or specifications regarding who can come to the Father. Burdens or worries come to most of us throughout our lives. For those who are guided by faith, Jesus promises that God will relieve our burdens and give us rest. Let us give our cares over to our Creator who welcomes us into the kingdom of peace.

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Friday, July 18, 2014 FRIDAY OF 15TH WEEK(Lec. 393) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Isaiah 38:1-6, (Opt. Mem. Saint Camillus 21-22, 7-8 de Lellis, Priest)2) Matthew 12:1-8Gospel related: CCC 581, 582, 586, 590, 2100, 2173Top of the DocumentFOCUS: God listens to the pleas of his people.

We’re not told whether it was a dark and stormy night when Hezekiah was trying to make a deal with God. It was, at the very least, a dark and stormy moment in Hezekiah’s life. The prophet Isaiah had brought bad news from God. Hezekiah’s time was up; he was going to die. Hezekiah unabashedly began to beg and plead for his life. With great emotion he reminded God of the good person he had been.

For many of us, the art of making a deal begins at a very early age. We can all relate to Hezekiah’s pleadings. A child, trying to get a desired favor, may promise any number of things in return – like taking out the trash forever! Is a parent offended that the child pleads their case with great emotion knowing full well that forever may actually be only one week? When Yes is the answer, the Thank you from a child may involve a lot of jumping up and down and squealing. Oh, that we could approach God with all the anticipation and simplicity of a child.

God responded to Hezekiah’s pleading with mercy and love and extended Hezekiah’s life as a reward for his faith and trust. Just as a parent desires to fulfill the needs of a child, without asking for any great or unattainable sacrifice, God’s request of Hezekiah is that he remain faithful. God does not ask for the impossible from his children.

Immediately preceding the account in today’s Gospel, Jesus taught that being faithful to God should not be a burden, rather, it should make the burdens of life easier to bear. Yet the Law as interpreted by the Pharisees was very restrictive. Today, Jesus reminds them that the priests of the temple, and David, whom they revered, took food to eat on the Sabbath and yet, were not considered guilty of being unfaithful to God. Jesus tells them there is something greater than the temple. The needs of the people are more important than any day of the week. God’s mercy and help are not to be confined by our human rules and regulations. God desires mercy and not sacrifice. Just as in the time of Jesus, evil has been perpetuated throughout history in the name of God. We need only consider the pain of lives lost and the destruction of wars fought under the banner of religion to realize we do indeed need to plead for God’s mercy.

Let us pray to remain faithful and trust in God’s help in all things. Let us remember that God the Father rejoices when we, his children, turn to him with confidence and humility. Often a grateful child says Thank you with emotion and perhaps with a little jumping up and down. As adults we can pray with the psalmist and give thanks to the Lord whose love endures forever. (cf. Ps 118:1)

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Saturday, July 19, 2014 SATURDAY OF 15TH WEEK(Lec. 394) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Micah 2:1-5 (Saturday in honor2) Matthew 12:14-21 of BVM)Gospel related: CCC 713 GSDC, 261Top of the DocumentFOCUS: God’s mercy extends to all who ask for it.

Wealth in the Bible is not seen as bad, in and of itself. It is the misuse and pursuit of wealth in place of holiness, which is seen as evil. Such a disordered love of money and power brings harm to the greedy man himself, as well as the poor and powerless in his wake.

We see an example of this in the book of Micah today. The author talks about the destructive greed of some of his countrymen. Monopolies on land were a problem, with a small number of landowners controlling the vast majority of available land. A man without land had no source of independent income, and found himself beholden to the wealthy.

The prophet Micah does not attack wealth itself. Rather, he attacks the practice that the greedy of his day engaged in. According to Jewish law, the land a man inherited was supposed to be inviolate, almost sacred. Yet some land-owners of the day found loopholes in the law. Sometimes they even bullied men outright into giving up land that had been in their families for generations.

But the Lord, as Scripture says, hears the cries of the poor. (cf. Ps 34) For God states, through his prophet Micah, that Israel's enemies will overrun the nation because Israel was using the letter of the law to violate the spirit of the law. Enemies will take the land from the powerful as Israel had taken it from their own weaker countrymen.

Sad to say, the New Testament shows us that people really do not change. Just as the landowners in Micah's day broke the greater law through the smaller laws, Matthew in his Gospel today notes that the Pharisees were willing to violate the greater law of murdering God's own innocent Son in order to preserve their own interpretations of the smaller laws pertaining to work on the Sabbath.

In the Old Testament, the entire nation of Israel had to be judged with a painful and destructive punishment before they would return to God and change their ways. In the New Testament, Christ will not bruise a reed before justice is brought to the world.

This prophecy turned out to be true. The Kingdom of Christ is with us now, and Jesus did not need to harm a single person to bring it to fruition. Jesus has brought pure justice and truly infinite wealth to the whole world. It has been brought not as land, money, power or violence. His Kingdom has been brought to us through his sacrifice as payment for our sins, his Resurrection that conquered death, and the sacrament of his Body and Blood, which he shares with us at every Mass.

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SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2014 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY(Lec. 106) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Wisdom 12:13, 16-192) Romans 8:26-273) Matthew 13:24-43 or 13:24-30Gospel related: CCC 333, 827, 1034Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Christ came to heal us of our imperfections.

The Catholic, English historian and politician Lord Acton said many years ago that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Based on our experience of the world, this phrase rings true. We learn today, however, that a righteous power is kind and that mercy is the lifeblood of the Christian life.

In today’s Gospel reading, Saint Matthew relates Jesus’ parable of the wheat, sown by God, which grows beside weeds sown by the enemy. The sower of the seeds is asked by his servants whether they should pull out the weeds. The servants are concerned that the weeds will choke out the wheat. Out of concern for the wheat they hope to violently remove the weeds.

But the master tells his servants to allow the weeds to grow. He is afraid that if they pull out the weeds, they might harm the wheat too. So, though the master could purify the field, making it perfect, perfection is not worth hurting the innocent. The master has mercy on the innocent by allowing the imperfections to remain.

We should ponder this, because perfectionism is a symptom of our culture’s love of power. And there can be at least three temptations in the spiritual life with regard to perfectionism.

The first we see with the servants in the Gospel. There are impurities in the field. So they seek to remove all which is less than perfect. In our spiritual lives, too, we can be over-zealous in removing what we consider impure. We cut out people from our lives in the name of purity, forgetting Saint Paul’s words that love bears all things. We need not tolerate sin, but we ought to tolerate people.

The second temptation in the spiritual life is perhaps more common. We tend to ignore the weeds in our own life and pretend we are free of sin. Or we say to ourselves that God already knows we are sorry, and so we avoid the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We live a kind of spiritual perfectionism where we tell ourselves that we are just fine and don’t really need God’s help.

The third temptation is to wait to turn to God until we are perfect. We pray only when we have something eloquent to say to God. We read Scripture only when we have a degree in Scripture studies. We practice our faith more zealously only when we have our lives in order. What we forget is that Christ Jesus came to us precisely because we are broken.

We forget that Jesus loves us so dearly because we are imperfect. He wants us to bring him our imperfections. He hopes that by turning over our lives to him, we might let him heal us and make us perfect for the next life.

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Monday, July 21, 2014 MONDAY OF 16TH WEEK (Lec. 395) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 (Opt. Mem. Saint Lawrence 2) Matthew 12:38-42 of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church)Gospel related: CCC 590, 627, 635, 678, 994Top of the DocumentFOCUS: We reaffirm our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus.

Don’t confuse me with the facts! This slogan seems applicable to those whose prejudices, biases, and narrow ideology blinds them to truth. This could also describe the Pharisees of today’s Gospel, who tried to trap and trip up Jesus during his public ministry.

We are tempted to ask: Why didn’t Jesus take up the challenge to perform some great miracle before the Pharisees? Matthew’s Gospel answered this question earlier, when he healed the possessed demoniac. When witnesses to this miracle were inspired to ask among themselves if Jesus was the Son of God, the Pharisees attributed the source of Jesus’ miracle to be from the prince of demons. (Matt 12:22-24) Thus, Jesus knew that any miracle would prove nothing to these close-minded Pharisees.

Jesus told his skeptics that they would receive only the sign of Jonah. The meaning of this mysterious message would be made clear after Jesus arose from the dead. As Jonah spent three days in the belly of the great fish before he was delivered by God, so would Jesus lie in the bowels of the earth for three days before the Resurrection.

Perhaps we may take this allusion to Jonah even a step further. Although he is listed as only a minor prophet, Jonah was called upon to be an evangelist – to spread the Good News of repentance and salvation to the pagan Ninevites. We might use Jonah as a model as well, to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in our own mission in this era of the New Evangelization.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014 TUESDAY OF 16TH WEEK(Lec. 396) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 (OBL. MEM.(Lec. 603) Saint Mary Magdalene)2) John 20:1-2, 11-18*Gospel related: CCC 640, 641, 2174Top of the DocumentFOCUS: A basic Christian message is one of redemption.

Today’s readings hold a message of great hope for each of us. They proclaim God’s mercy, which is not bound by human short-sightedness. The prophet Micah speaks of God, who looks after his people. God is there to watch over and care for his people, regardless of where they may be, in exile or in safety. God not only watches over his people, but is extravagant in compassion and forgiveness. This care is not earned or merited, but is given to all, even those who seem to have forgotten their Creator. Time and again, God lavishes unconditional love upon his people.

This love showed its ultimate manifestation in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Gospel account we heard today is dramatic; it invites us to wonder, along with Mary Magdalene, Could it be? Has Jesus truly been raised from the dead? And then, with her, we realize all over again, yes, our Savior lives! The love and salvation spoken of by the prophets of the Old Testament have been fulfilled in the Resurrection of Jesus.

Drawing attention to the love the Father has shown his children is especially fitting today as we honor Saint Mary Magdalene. Her life, as we know it from the Gospels, was an example of salvation and grace. Jesus could have regarded her as an outcast, but instead he gave her the gifts of forgiveness and welcome. Jesus treated Mary Magdalene with respect and acknowledged her worth as a child of God. In return, Mary became one of the most steadfast followers of Jesus. Indeed, she was with the Mother of Jesus at the foot of the Cross, she was at his burial, and is the first recorded witness of his Resurrection.

As followers of Jesus, we can learn much from Mary Magdalene. Her repentance brought her into a unique friendship with Jesus. In addition, her life shows us the power of God’s love to change people’s lives. In her we can see that, regardless of one’s journey, there is always the possibility of redemption and rebirth through Jesus.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014 WEDNESDAY OF 16TH(Lec. 397) WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME1) Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10 (Opt. Mem. Saint Bridget,2) Matthew 13:1-9 Religious)Gospel related: CCC 546, 1724Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Trusting God in our interactions allows us to grow in service to others.

Interactions are going on all the time. They can be as simple as mixing coffee and milk, oil and vinegar, seed and soil, or people simply speaking with each other. Interaction can be defined as a reciprocal action with an effect or change taking place in people or elements. In many cases, interactions bring about something greater and more appealing than when the two elements are isolated. Our lives would be very bland if it weren’t for interactions among elements and people.

From the beginning of creation, God has interacted with our world and with us. In today’s first reading, we hear how God interacted with Jeremiah before his birth. God gave Jeremiah the gift of prophecy, but when the time came for Jeremiah to use his gift, he expressed his fear to God. The role of the prophet was not one of glamour or popularity. Rather, it frequently brought rejection from family and friends. Jeremiah’s fear was transformed into trust when God interacted with him again and touched his mouth to strengthen him in his work. Jeremiah was inspired to speak God’s Word in defense of those who were poor and oppressed.

In today’s Gospel parable, Jesus talks about interactions, or the lack of them. When the seed falls on the footpath or the rocks, or among the thorns, it cannot take root. Consequently, the seed has little effect. When the seed finally interacts with the intended good soil, there are great results and productivity. The Word of God can flourish in us when we are grounded in a Christian community.

Our trust in God enables us to risk interacting with people or events that might at first seem fearful to us. In Church ministry, there are many areas of need and plentiful opportunities to serve others. God will interact with us and help us to imitate the words and actions of Jesus Christ if we trust in him. Then the Word of God in us will produce thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. As with Jeremiah and the seed, great things can take place when we interact with God.

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Thursday, July 24, 2014 THURSDAY OF 16TH WEEK(Lec. 398) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 (Opt. Mem. Saint Sharbel2) Matthew 13:10-17 Makhluf, Priest)Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Our goal is to overcome spiritual blindness, and fully live a life of faith.

The readings today conjure two parallel images that seem to illustrate God’s disappointment with his people. The first reading from the Book of Jeremiah shows God’s profound displeasure at how far the Israelites had strayed. God’s perspective seems almost nostalgic as he looks back on his relationship with the Israelites at earlier periods in their history.

At the same time, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives his reasoning as to why he speaks to the people in parables, and explains that it is because many are unable and unwilling to understand the more profound mysteries of God. He cites the prophecy of Isaiah in his explanation about a willful blindness and deafness on the part of the people.

If we take a look at the state of modern spirituality, the doleful words of Jeremiah and the observations of Christ from Isaiah ring true all these centuries later. How many friends or family members say they are spiritual but not religious? How many claim to be seekers of something by their own acknowledgement they will never comprehend? The words of Jeremiah come hauntingly back considering such individuals: They have forsaken me, the source of living waters. They have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

While these individuals can be very disconcerting or frustrating for us, it is more important for us, as people of faith, to examine our own lives and consciences, and ask ourselves how often we are willfully blind and deaf, and digging our own cracked and arid cisterns.

Consider what we will witness in just a few short moments as simple bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. In the past have we blinded our-selves to this miracle? Have we relegated the Holy Eucharist to mere symbolism? For it is so much more than that.

It would seem that the readings challenge us to make today the beginning of a new chapter in our lives where we will proceed with our eyes and ears open to the wonders God places before us every day. Make this Eucharist the start of a real communion with Christ that renews itself with every subsequent encounter with the sacrament. Bring this forward into your prayer life – where a true lifting of the heart and mind toward God will occur.

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Friday, July 25, 2014 SAINT JAMES,(Lec. 605) APOSTLE1) 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 - FEAST2) Matthew 20:20-28Gospel related: CCC 440, 601, 605, 622, 786, 2235; CSDC 379Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Living like the Apostles means going beyond oneself to serve others.

For more than 1,000 years, pilgrims have made their way across Europe to the tip of northwestern Spain – the very western edge of the European continent – to venerate the remains of the saint whom we honor today, Saint James.

For years, the shrine of Santiago de Compostela has been the sacred destination of countless pilgrims. Even today, people walk hundreds of miles across mountains and through all kinds of weather, experiencing physical and spiritual hardships along the way so that they can venerate a saint who proclaimed the Gospel and gave his life for it some 2,000 years ago.

This pilgrimage path is called, in Spanish, the Camino, which in English means the Way. It has received greater attention in recent years as it was the setting for a movie about it called The Way, starring Martin Sheen. There also is a documentary about the pilgrimage called Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago.

The experience of the pilgrims on the Camino is, in many ways, emblematic of the life of the Apostles and the life of all those who are called to live as disciples of Christ.

In todays’ first reading, we hear that Saint Paul, much like the other Apostles, was afflicted in every way possible, but…not crushed. That’s true of the wear and tear on the bodies, as well as the minds, of the pilgrims on the Camino. But they are not, nor were the Apostles, crushed because they experience the surpassing power that comes from God.

And that power is often channeled through the selfless giving that pilgrims practice amongst each other.

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Saturday, July 26, 2014 SATURDAY OF 16TH WEEK(Lec. 400) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Jeremiah 7:1-11 (OBL. MEM. Saints Joachim2) Matthew 13:24-30 and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary)Gospel related: CCC 827Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Those who live lives of justice and mercy shall dwell with God for eternity.

Today is the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents to Jesus. Today could be a Catholic celebration of Grandparents’ Day! Grandparents can be sources of wisdom and help to the next generations.

Our first reading reveals God’s expectations for his people:

1. Deal justly with your neighbor2. Do not oppress the resident alien (or immigrant), the orphan or widow3. Do not shed innocent blood4. Do not follow strange gods5. Do not steal or murder, commit adultery or perjury

Throughout the Old Testament we find God’s expectations repeated to his people through prophets and leaders. Jeremiah’s words to God’s people echo the same themes as the Ten Commandments given to Moses centuries earlier. Even within the creation stories at the beginning of Genesis we find the Lord’s condemnation of Cain over his jealous murder of his brother Abel.

As Jesus teaches in the Gospel of Matthew, the whole of God’s message to his people from the beginning of creation, from the Ten Commandments, from the words of the prophets, is summed up in the Golden Rule: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:37-39) In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the weeds among the wheat. The parable tells of the Lord’s patience with the slow growth of his people. We could acknowledge that within each of our lives, we bear both good fruit in holy living and allow weeds to grow as we struggle with sin.

In addition to the gift of his patience, God gives us the gifts of wisdom and right judgment to help us make fruitful choices. These gifts are often refined by experience and time. As we remember Saints Joachim and Anne, and all of our grandparents, we give thanks for God’s patience and pray for length of days to help us refine our own lives in preparation for God’s final harvest.

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SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2014 SEVENTEENTH(Lec. 109) SUNDAY1) 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 IN ORDINARY TIME2) Romans 8:28-303) Matthew 13:44-52 or 13:44-46Gospel related: CCC 546, 1034, 1117; CSDC 12Top of the DocumentFOCUS: With God’s love and mercy, we have all we need.

The more you have, the happier you will be, defines the values of many people in our modern world. For them, the pursuit of wealth is too often associated with the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, many find out too late that a lifestyle of rampant materialism and individualism fueled by greed is full of nothing more than empty promises and dead ends.

Today’s readings provide us with some insights into real treasures and real values. Our reading from the first Book of Kings gives us the example of Solomon, famed throughout history for his wisdom. God promises Solomon that he will fulfill any request. Rather than asking for more wealth, power or glory, however, Solomon asks for the one thing which puts all else into perspective – wisdom! Herein is the gift which helps one to discover the true and lasting treasure.

This theme is echoed in today’s Gospel, as Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God as something valuable to pursue at all cost. The value about which Jesus speaks is not material, but spiritual; not earthly, but heavenly. Yes, God’s Kingdom is the greatest treasure, and with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit we come to recognize this and become part of it.

Too often people spend their whole lives searching for all the wrong things. For the Christian, we wait in anticipation for the coming of the Lord. In the Catechism, we learn that Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. (CCC 763) We have no need to seek any other place. We have it all the moment we emerge from the baptismal font. We have it all: now washed clean from sin, justified and saved in Jesus Christ; now a child of God born anew through baptism. We have it all: now a member of the People of God – a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart; now a citizen of the Church with all its privileges, and an inheritor of the kingdom of God. Yes, it is at that moment and at this moment when we have it all.

Rather than spending the rest of our lives forgetting the dignity and privileges of our Baptism by pursuing false goals, let us remember what we have received and appreciate it. Herein lies the wisdom which we were given in Baptism and which we share in faith.

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Monday, July 28, 2014 MONDAY OF 17TH WEEK(Lec. 401) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Jeremiah 13:1-112) Matthew 13:31-35Top of the DocumentFOCUS: The cumulative effect of our acts of virtue is our eternal life in Christ.

Jesus often taught people by parables. These stories, which featured familiar, everyday situations, helped the people to understand deeper truths. Most of the people in Jesus’ day were educated only in the ways that would allow them to provide for themselves and their families. Jesus told these down-to-earth stories, rather than highly intellectual dissertations, so his listeners could easily remember them and relate to them. Since bread was a staple in their diets, the people were familiar with the effect of yeast in bread dough – an effect out of proportion to the amount used. The small amount of yeast had the effect of making the dough larger and greater than what it had started out to be. So, too, the mustard seed. From that little seed, a great tree grows. Little things can produce results out of proportion to their original size.

In the Kingdom, little things can have an effect way beyond their size. The charity and compassion of one person can inspire many to practice the same virtues, sometimes referred to paying it forward. The faithfulness of one person, their prayerfulness and spiritual life, can make others want to embrace the faith and the way of life that brings that person such contentment.

The positive attitude and disposition of Christians can rub off on others in ways that far exceed the acts of one person. We are the ones called upon in the littleness of our lives to know that our smallness is not an obstacle to being a productive disciple of the Lord. Through the workings of the Holy Spirit, the seed we sow in whatever good we do as Christians can yield a harvest far surpassing our acts.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014 TUESDAY OF 17TH WEEK(Lec. 402) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Jeremiah 14:17-22 (OBL. MEM. Saint Martha)(Lec. 607)2) John 11:19-27* or Luke 10:38-42*Gospel related: CCC John: 439, 993, 994, 1001; Luke: 579, 2447Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Let God into your life and he will lead you to whole-ness and peace.

Busy schedules, worries, money concerns and personal problems are all part and parcel of life. These daily demands of living can distract us from that which is necessary for maintaining a healthy relationship with God. While we know that we cannot make these things go away, we can make a conscious choice to invite God to share in our daily struggles. If we choose to go it alone, thinking that God does not want to be bothered, then we risk missing out on God’s grace that can help us through the stuff of life. How can we do this? We can take our joys and our sufferings to God in prayer every day, assured that God will lovingly welcome us.

God wants us to live in his holiness, but he does not want us to wait until we get our house in order before we respond to his invitation. God wants us to respond right now, weak-nesses and all, and turn to him with open hearts, ready to let his mercy and compassion transform our imperfect lives.

The Israelites, as seen in today’s reading from the prophet Jeremiah, had locked God out of their lives by rejecting and forgetting him. Their tendency toward idolatry, corruption, death threats and other crimes had completely consumed them. Jeremiah struggles to get them to see the error of their ways and to begin listening to God’s message, remembering God’s faithfulness and mercy, even to those who had rejected him. However, their stubbornness remained an obstacle.

In contrast to this very human hard-headedness, we have Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus. She is the Martha in the Gospel of John who believed that Jesus was the Resurrection and the Life. Martha is not without her faults. Like us, she tended to get anxious and worried about many things that distracted her from focusing on Jesus, as we see in the Gospel of Luke. By not pretending to hide her weakness from Jesus, she allowed herself to be receptive to his healing words. The account of Martha reminds us that we, too, should not wait until we have our house in order before we invite Jesus into our lives. Jesus is at the door, he will not mind the mess if we let him in, and he may even help us clear away the clutter!

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Wednesday, July 30, 2014 WEDNESDAY OF 17TH(Lec. 403) WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME1) Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21 (Opt. Mem. Saint Peter2) Matthew 13:44-46 Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)Gospel related: CCC 546Top of the DocumentFOCUS: God's gift to us, the Kingdom of God, cannot be bought for a price.

Sometimes when we hear the parables of Jesus, as we did today in Matthew’s Gospel, we feel guilty because it seems we are being called to give up our material possessions and walk away from the comforts of life as we know it. Too often, we think these parables mean that our lives must make a dramatic turn in order to be true followers of the Gospel. Being unable or unwilling to do something for God may make us feel we are not faithful disciples, that we have somehow ignored God’s Word.

In order to understand these parables, it is helpful to look at them collectively and consider the overall message being revealed to us. In this passage we are given a description of the Kingdom of Heaven – it is like buried treasure, or a pearl of great price. The Kingdom of Heaven is so rich and beautiful that it is greater than we can imagine. In this Kingdom of God, there is such joy and peace, unlike anything we have experienced here on earth.

The Kingdom of Heaven cannot be purchased, nor can we obtain it by selling our earthly possessions. While it is worth giving up all that we have, in actuality, it is pure gift. If we are tempted to conclude that the merchant who sold everything to buy the field is an example of how we must respond, we are missing the point. God is the one who meets all of our needs, beyond all our expectations. It is our Father in heaven who offers his Kingdom to us. Our natural response would be to do all we can to accept this beautiful gift, which is accessible only through Jesus. If giving up our material possessions is a part of that, then we do it.

But rather than thinking that God is telling us to walk away from our family, or our work, in order to follow him, we might be better able to experience the Kingdom of God if we turn over the entirety of our lives to him, which includes our will, our desires, our talents, and all of our struggles.

In doing this, which may be even harder than giving up our material possessions, we will find joy similar to that of the person who sold everything to buy the field that contained the buried treasure. Remember, it was out of joy that he sold everything. Not out of guilt. Not begrudgingly. Not to try to make a deal with God. Simply out of joy.

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Thursday, July 31, 2014 THURSDAY OF 17TH WEEK(Lec. 404) IN ORDINARY TIME1) Jeremiah 18:1-6 (OBL. MEM. Saint Ignatius2) Matthew 13:47-53 of Loyola, Priest)Gospel related: CCC 1034, 1117; CSDC 12, 259Top of the DocumentFOCUS: Spiritual exercises can help us reshape, renew and improve ourselves.

It is probably safe to say that we know someone who has tried an exercise program. Such programs are often prescribed by doctors as an aid to healing an injury or strengthening muscles. Others commit to an exercise program for their own well-being – to trim down, or simply to look and feel better. Shaping and reshaping is a process with which we are familiar.

Today, the prophet Jeremiah speaks to us about being shaped and reshaped by God, the Potter. We are like soft clay that God is shaping into something beautiful. Potters treat their clay with great care and sensitivity because the clay moves in whichever direction the potter chooses. The clay trusts itself to the hand of the potter, allowing it to be stretched, thinned, shaped, molded and even reshaped and remolded until the potter is pleased with the final shape. We are called to be like clay in the hands of the Master Potter – God.

The process of reshaping and renewing ourselves is a commitment we can make, both physically and spiritually. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, whose memory we honor today, knew the importance of being renewed spiritually. He recognized the close relationship among body, mind, heart and soul. He even wrote a work called Spiritual Exercises, containing a month-long program of meditations, prayers and practices that offer spiritual renewal in the image of Christ. The spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius are used by the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, which he founded, and by many religious orders and lay people who want to live more fully as servants of God.

Whether we follow the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius or some other plan, having a practice of spiritual discipline can assist us in strengthening our good qualities and the virtues God has given to us. It can also help to diminish negative habits that slow our progress to holiness. In this way, we can nurture our relationship with God and strengthen our faith lives.

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