they took no oil with

Monday, August 31, 2009 Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 11-13 Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 25:3  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;

This is an interesting notion.  Why would you bring a lamp with no oil?  If you don’t have any oil you can’t light the lamp.  So, what good is the lamp?

The question when it comes to doing right, or being righteous, is do we really believe in God?  If we did, then we should always be willing to do what he asks.  The ten virgins didn’t really expect that the bride groom was coming.  When we don’t really expect Christ to be present, we too may be lax in our righteousness.  Do we really believe?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to truly believe and to do what is right in your sight.

Amen

the city had twelve foundations

Monday, August 24, 2009 St. Bartholomew, Apostle (Feast)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Revelation 21:9-14 Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18 John 1:45-51

Revelation 21:14  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The city here is Jerusalem that comes down from Heaven.  That is not the physical Jerusalem.  It is referred to as the Bride of Christ, that is the Church.  And the foundation for this city, the Church, is the 12 Apostles.  I don’t see any mention of scripture here, though we have the word and witness of the Apostles through the scriptures.  But it it the men that Jesus chose and taught and sent out with power that are the foundation of the church.  I think in some sense that is true to day as well.  It isn’t the one who can expound scripture, but the one that is called by Jesus and sent out with his power.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to not get hung up on interpretations but to hear your call and answer.

Amen

On these two commandments

Friday, August 21, 2009 St. Pius X, Pope (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22 Psalm 146:5-10 Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 22:40  On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

This is most likely something that we forget too often.  We get very interested in the law and the prophets.  It is interesting and challenging to read and talk about what we should and shouldn’t do, but if we do not have complete love for God and for our neighbor, then all the should and should not’s are meaningless. God must be at the center of everything we do and we must remember that we are not alone, but we share this life with others who are also God’s creation.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to be able to love you completely and to love others as myself.

Amen

a custom in Israel

Thursday, August 20, 2009 St. Bernard, Abbot, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Judges 11:29-39 Psalm 40:5, 7-10 Matthew 22:1-14

Judges 11:39  And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had made. She had never known a man. And it became a custom in Israel

This at first glance is a very troubling story.  The tendency is to do one of two things.  Either we look at this with our value system and misinterpret the significance of what is going on here, or we misread it and do not understand what is being said in the first place.

Scholars think that Jephthah’s daughter was not killed, but it is really about her remaining a virgin that is the issue.  Being the only child means that the family line stops there.  This is a much bigger deal then than we would think it is now.   But even if she was killed, didn’t Abraham attempt to kill his only son?  Didn’t God give his only son?  Would this be inconsistent with Gods modality?  Would we be willing to give something so dear for our salvation?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to value what you give for me and to have a heart that would give anything in return.

Amen

first will be last

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Judges 6:11-24 Psalm 85:9, 11-14 Matthew 19:23-30

Matthew 19:30  But many that are first will be last, and the last first

Even today we make judgments according to earthly success.  Whether it is peace or justice or whatever, we assume that results is the measure of what we do.  God seems to think that why we do what we do is more important though.  Are our motives pure?  Do we truly trust that God is there and will lead us and protect us?  I think many of our social political issues today aren’t so much ideology as they are selfish ambition.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to truly trust that you are with me and keep me from having impure motives.

Amen

they mingled with the nations

Monday, August 17, 2009 Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Judges 2:11-19 Psalm 106:34-37, 39-40, 43-44 Matthew 19:16-22

Psalms 106:35  but they mingled with the nations and learned to do as they did.

Today we have this notion that we have to be like other countries.  Why can’t we here in America be more like European countries?  We fail to recognize the blessings that God has given us, that we have known and celebrated in the past.  Today we have a sense of entitlement that leads us to turn away from what God has done for us.  We are becomong more and more like the culture that Jesus came to save us from.  This is true in the churches as well.  As we try to attract more people we think that we have to do the things that those people do to get them to come.  But if we do what they do, then what are we saving them to?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to hear your words and see your gifts and know that you love me and that I can take comfort in that without looking to others.

Amen

I command you

Friday, August 14, 2009 St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest, Martyr (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: 1 John 3:13-18 Psalm 116:10-13, 16-17 John 15:12-17

John 15:17  This I command you, to love one another

It is popular today to say that works or deeds are not necessary for salvation, but only that we ask Jesus into our hearts.  Well, I am not sure how you do that without works.  But here Jesus clearly gives a command.  And if I am not mistaken to disobey Jesus’ command would be sin and that would lead to death.  So at the bare minimum we must at least desire to do good works and make our best effort.  This is what we are supposed to do. If we don’t do this then I don’t think we can say we are saved.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to love my brother and do good works.  This is what you have given me to do, help me do it.

Amen

as I had mercy on you

Thursday, August 13, 2009 Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Joshua 3:7-11, 13-17 Psalm 114:1-6 Matthew 18:21 -- 19:1

Matthew 18:33  and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

This sounds like an easy one.  Of course the man should have had mercy on his fellow servant.  But do we?  It sounds easy, but I would dare to say that most of us, though we have been shown great mercy and grace, are not willing to give that same mercy to our brothers.  Rather we tend to hang on to what we got and look out for ourselves. 

Father, help  me by your Holy Spirit to show mercy on my brother and to always remember what you have done for me.

Amen

tell it to the church

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Psalm 66:1-3, 5, 8, 16-17 Matthew 18:15-20

Matthew 18:17  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

There is a lot going on in this verse.  First, there seems to be a definite hierarchy described in the path of accountability, the Church being the highest.  Second, Jesus is talking specifically to “his” disciples.  That means when he talks about them agreeing or two or three gathered in his name, it is not clear that this is intended to be for the general public.  When you couple this with the story of Moses in the Old Testament reading we see that Joshua was given authority through Moses.

The question for us is are we willing to accept others as authorities in our lives?  Yes, I know we do, but we accept those whom we choose.  Are we willing to accept someone that God chooses?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to be willing to follow your commands and those whom you send to be ministers of your Word.

Amen

treasure in earthen vessels

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 St. Clare of Assisi, Virgin, Foundress of II Order (Feast)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22 or 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, 16-18 Psalm 45:11-12, 14-16 John 15:4-10

2 Corinthians 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.

I happen to think this is a reference to the Eucharist, the cup of wine.  It is the Body of Christ that we carry in our mortal bodies. This is not a scientific question, but a question of commitment.  When we partake in Communion we are vowing to follow Jesus and obey him even to death.  We are sharing in his death and therefore in his resurrection.  It is our hope and our life.  It is unseen and therefore foolishness to those who are perishing.  But to us it is the power of God for salvation.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to obey and follow Jesus no matter what comes my way.

Amen

not reluctantly or under compulsion

Monday, August 10, 2009 St. Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr (Feast)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9 John 12:24-26

2 Corinthians 9:7  Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Not giving under compulsion is not just referring to rules, but also to guilt.  Also to giving for personal gain or security.  We give a lot, but how much of it is actually something we really believe in and care for?  This is not are tithe.   We are to give that regardless of what it is for or how we feel about it, but this is how we spend out time and money on the rest of life.  Where the treasure is there is the heart also.  That is what Jesus said.

Father, help me to be able to care enough to give for that cause or person.  Help me to see the needs and feel compassion for them.

Amen

but we were eyewitnesses

Thursday, August 6, 2009 The Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast)

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9 2 Peter 1:16-19 Mark 9:2-10

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

There are many different beliefs in this world, and I don’t claim to know them, but I have a hunch that most of them are not told by eye witnesses.  This is quite different than other beliefs.  The men were invited to share the experience and then be able to tell about it later.  And what an experience!  They say Moses and Elijah and they heard God speak, and they saw Jesus transfigured.  That would be enough to settle any doubt right there.  Does it settle it for us?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to trust in your word as it is shared by your eye witnesses and help me to be a witness for the faith.

Amen

great is your faith!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome (Optional Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Numbers 13:1-2, 25 -- 14:1, 26-29, 34-35 Psalm 106:6-7, 13-14, 21-23 Matthew 15:21-28

Matthew 15:28  Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

What was it that made the woman’s faith great in the eyes of Jesus?  Was it her persistence?  Perhaps, but in context it seems to be the line before when she said even dogs eat the crumbs.  What a difference from the attitude of Israel wandering in the wilderness.  They were never satisfied, or at least not for very long.  And they had the miracle of crossing the red sea.  Maybe faith is more than just being persistent and believing, but maybe it has to do with accepting who we are and what God has given us.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to be willing to accept what you have given me and to have the faith to follow no matter what the cost.

Amen

Has he not spoken through us also?

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 St. John Mary Vianney, Priest (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Numbers 12:1-13 Psalm 51:3-7, 12-13 Matthew 14:22-36

Numbers 12:2  and they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.

Here is a familiar cry.  Has God spoken only through Christ, or only through the church.  Can’t everybody know the will of God? Doesn’t God love everybody equally?

Well, yes, he does, but that doesn’t mean that He chooses to speak through everybody equally.  That would be chaos since we are all different with different opinions and aptitudes. How would we ever know what is right and what is wrong if everybody has a say in it?  God has spoken through those whom He has chosen so that we would know it is from Him.  It is clear that Moses was chosen by God because God had Moses do something that needed God’s power.  What have we done that needed God’s power?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to trust in those that you have spoken through and to follow your words faithfully.

Amen

We remember

Monday, August 3, 2009 Weekday

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Numbers 11:4-15 Psalm 81:12-17 Matthew 14:13-21

Numbers 11:5  We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;

Did they really remember what it  was like being slaves?  They seem to think the food was free and good.  Is that the way they felt about it when they were in Egypt?

We often forget how things really are and we just want to be fed here and now.  And the condition of our stomachs seems to effect our perception of reality.  God was feeding them every night (except one). How cool is that?  Yet they were complaining they were better off as slaves.  Do we do that too?  Now that we have been set free, do we thing we were better off as slaves?  I hope not, but I fear we do too often.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always appreciate what you do for me. Help me to not complain but to give thanks.

Amen