The Catholic Calendar for Friday, June 30, 2006
The Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
The First Martyrs of the Roman Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 25:1-12
Psalm 137:1-6
Matthew 8:1-4

A reflection on the Scripture....

"By the river of Babylon we sat mourning and weeping when we remembered Zion." (Psalm 137:1)

Often our newscasts report a variety of tragedies, sometimes natural and at other times man made; these cause people to abandon the security of their homes and possessions, and so endure many hardships. Today's first reading reveals the Israelites' great suffering when an enemy destroyed their holy city, Jerusalem, and exiled all but a few to Babylon. Through faithlessness, disobedience to His Word, they had willfully separated themselves from God's protective love. There is a lesson that we can learn from this in our day. God has no need to punish transgressors; for those who insist on exercising their "free will" to become their own "little gods," He leaves to experience its self-destructive consequences.

The latter statement leads us to today's Gospel. Though man mires himself in sin, still God's grace abounds for those who have the humility to see their need and seek healing from the fatal effects of this condition affecting all humanity. In Christ's time, the Pharisees held the greater religious power. Unfortunately, they interpreted God's law in a purely legalistic manner that emphasized "practices" that often overlooked the "spirit" of the law -- the love that allows man to live in peace and justice.

Leprosy was then an incurable, contagious illness causing gross and painful disfigurement. Christ's healing of a man so afflicted was a work of mercy not only toward the man, but in hastening him to show himself to the priest and make the proper offering of thanksgiving, He sought also to awaken religious leaders that God was indeed visiting them in the Person of Jesus, their awaited Messiah. Stubborn disbelief in the proof Christ provided "for" them actually became a proof "against" them. Jerusalem would again be destroyed.

Loving Christ, strengthen Your faithful followers to persist in planting and nurturing Your words and deeds, knowing that their growth and fruitfulness remain in Your hands. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, June 29, 2006
Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, apostles

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 12:1-11
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Matthew 16:13-19

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today the liturgy celebrates the lives of two great pillars of the early Church, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The core themes throughout the readings are FAITH and PERSEVERANCE made possible through the gifts of God.

"Cradle Catholics,” or those born into the Church, have been raised with the lessons about our being the body of the Church, and Christ is the “Head.” As children, that example aroused some pretty interesting images. As we all mature in our faith, we come to appreciate the awesome responsibility that has been entrusted to us to cooperate with God in the building up of His Kingdom on earth! Each of us has a special role in that big picture that only we can do. Herod, in the first reading, had no conception of all of this.

Aside from hearing about the violence committed by Herod, it is almost humorous to realize that he thought he could damage or end the Church. Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, is the head of the Church, and the death of a few, or even many, of its members will not stop the Church from growing and coming to fruition. Each year the Church suffers the loss of many martyrs, and that has been true throughout time.

Let us today turn to these two great role models, Sts. Peter and Paul and ask that they intercede for us, that we might be strong in our faith and persevere despite the many obstacles in our present-day culture.

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3
Psalm 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40
Matthew 7:15-20

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I grew up in the Western United States where the Great Plains end and the Rocky Mountains begin. As a young boy, my buddies and I spent countless hours roaming the foothills outside of town. Many summer days were spent hiking, chasing lizards, finding strange rocks and losing ourselves in the wide-open spaces. We journeyed into the hills with no provisions, but that was all right since we were young adventurers.

It would not take long before the summer heat would get to us and a terrible thirst would set in. No worry, however, as the hills were covered with prickly pear cactus and, with the help of a Boy Scout pocket knife we would work our way around the spines, skin the cactus and quench our thirst with the ample juice the cactus kept well protected.

But it really was not very good. In fact, the cactus juice was sour and bitter and everything bad in between. We should not have been surprised that this spiny plant, which somehow stayed alive in the hills with little water and terrible winters, would provide anything like cold, pure water.

Jesus reminds us that thorny bushes do not produce grapes and rotten trees bear rotten fruit. Just like it was wrong for us to expect lemonade from cactus, it is wrong for us to expect good from false prophets. "So by their fruits you will know them," is the guidance our Lord gives us and He never steers us wrong.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36
Psalm 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11
Matthew 7:6, 12-14

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today’s First Reading demonstrates the kind of doubt that is planted by opponents of the One True God. In this story however there are not just subtle threats against the sovereignty of God, but ones that make even a believer take pause.

Our enemy is always at work sowing the seeds of confusion, nipping us at our own personal Achilles Heel. Our response must be like that of Hezekiah. We must turn to the Lord in prayer, confessing our weakness, expressing our doubts and concerns. In return we will receive the help we desire. We will possess what is required to persevere in holiness and faithfulness.

“Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, June 26, 2006
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18
Psalm 60:3, 4-5, 12-13
Matthew 7:1-5

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

It is evident that both of today's readings can be directed toward the people of our times. Our cultures and nations have turned away from God, lost sight of His Son Jesus, and have become obsessed with chasing after wealth and vanity for our own sakes. Worshipping gods of other religions, meddling in spiritism and new age practices, not to mention those idols of materialism, and conveniently forgetting to tend to the needs of our own neighbor have become our passions. In doing all of these empty things, we are bound to experience personal and global destruction on the part of our own condemnation.

God gave us freedom to choose and do good to advance mankind's relationship with Himself. Instead, we have taken "license" to turn away from God in our own personal individualistic endeavors. In our rejection of God, we condemn ourselves and fasten our very salvation to darkness.

Matthew's account of Jesus' teachings appears to take this Old Testament reading further. If we are to come back to God and change the lives of sinful men into witnesses of love, we must tackle our own faults and shortcomings first. We are not to judge others before taking a look at our own thoughts and actions. Before attempting to spread the messages of Christ to others, we should focus on changing ourselves from within. A change will reflect on the outside when we begin to transform interiorly. Without even verbally evangelizing, our Christian way of life will begin to preach the Gospel through action.

- Alicia

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, June 25, 2006
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Job 38:1, 8-11
Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Mark 4:35-41

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Our readings this week are all about storms. Storms can be very frightening. Hurricanes are much worse. People in New Orleans and Mississippi are still recovering from Katrina, and already we’re beginning another hurricane season. The awesome forces of nature unleashing its power caused fear in many hearts, very like the fear the apostles felt in that boat on the Sea of Galilee in today’s Gospel. They knew very well the dangers when Jesus suggested that they embark from the Jewish side of the lake over to pagan territory. Then Jesus went sound asleep on a cushion in the stern of the ship. The danger was real, and they were terror-stricken. Quickly they awoke Jesus. “Teacher,” they cried, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” And at a short command from the Lord of the sea, the waves were calmed! They must have been a bit exasperated when Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith. “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” they questioned one another.

How do we react when the storms of life overwhelm us? If the storms are far away, and the thunder a distant rumble, do we at least pray for those in danger? And if the storms are quite close, threatening our spiritual well-being, do we take God’s hand and trust? How about physical harm? A threat to our health or to our very life? No matter what kind of storm we face, there is nothing that a rocklike faith cannot get us through! Even if we think God is sleeping or unconcerned, He’s very aware of our need.

Above all, let’s remember that even Job in today’s first reading was tempted to think God unfair, and decided to take him to court! God will never try us beyond our endurance, but will take issue with danger and rescue us from harm. We have another intercessor as well. When storms threaten, look to Mary, star of the sea. Try her! She will not fail to hear our prayer.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, June 24, 2006
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
Luke 1:57-66, 80

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"What then will this child be?"

Herald of the Lord,
Prophet of the Truth,
Madman in the desert
eating locusts and wild honey.

He was the first to know
the good news after the sweet
Mother herself. And by his leaping
told his own mother.

A voice crying, in the wilderness
make a pathway for the Lord.
And when he faced Herodias,
the harlot wife of Herod,
a voice crying in the wilderness
of the big city, "Make straight
a pathway for God."

This day we celebrate the last of the Prophets and the cousin of the Lord. His mother Elizabeth was the recipient of the first act of charity that sprang from the conception of Jesus. He knew his cousin and knew God even while in the womb. He announced the coming of the savior with all that was in Him. And if we listen today, His voice can still be heard, echoing through the ages in the heart of the Church -- the Holy Mother whose voice springs from Jesus, from Mary, and from this, the last of the Prophets and the first of the true Martyrs of the Lord. Prophet and seer, he spoke the truth and thus gave witness to the Truth.

Most Holy Prophet,
Cousin and loyal friend of our Savior,
you saw the light before you could see,
and you told the world before you could speak.
Inspire us to speak without words and to tell of the
Glory you yourself saw.
May we too inherit a share of your prophetic spirit
and inspire the world to change, to grow
toward our Lord and God.

Amen

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, June 23, 2006
The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9
Isaiah 12:2-6
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
John 19:31-37

A reflection on today's Scripture....

“Know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)

Today's readings review our heavenly Father's plan for the salvation of His fallen, yet deeply beloved children. He created us to share in His glory by learning to live in His love and truth. The prophet Hosea speaks of the One Who would be His people's healer, though they would not recognize Him. Isaiah tells us that from our Savior we would draw from the springs of salvation. St. Paul prays that the Ephesians, through faith, would be imbued with God's life to see that Christ's love for us, in its depth, strength and unconditional steadfastness surpasses all knowledge.

Upon reflection, we see that these preliminary readings achieve fruition when the dead Christ's side is pierced by a soldier's lance. This final violence punctured His heart, creating a visible sign that God's love is still being poured out upon us, despite our great sin. Jesus is the channel through Whom we can receive God's genuine, self-giving love. The water may be thought to signify the cleansing action of Baptism, and His life's blood as the spiritual nourishment we receive in the Eucharist. Together these may be related to the "spring . . . welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14) that suggests the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit transforming us in the image of Christ.

Humanity becomes fully human only when imprinted anew with the image of our all holy God in which we were originally created. Our task is to cooperate with our Lord by being emptied of self and receiving within us the outpouring of His new life. And, filled to capacity, we must then allow the overflow of His love from us to draw others into His kingdom.

O Blessed Redeemer, help us see that apart from you we are but empty shells lying in the sand, devoid of life. Give us new life as we drink deeply from Your eternal spring. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, June 22, 2006
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. John Fisher, bishop and martyr
St. Thomas More, martyr
St. Paulinus, bishop

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 48:1-14
Psalm 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7
Matthew 6:7-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

What a gentle, loving teacher we have in Christ . . . that He guides us in our prayer life!

In the gospel of today, He teaches us how to enter into that awesome relationship that He shares with His Father (see Matthew 6:7-15). He gently directs us on how to speak with His, and our, Father in heaven in the beautiful prayer that we know as "The Our Father.” It is not just that He is teaching us the words of the prayer, as we learned as a child; no, He is moving us toward a more intimate level within the Trinity.

Through our baptism we became the adopted sons and daughters of God and we can actually turn to God and call Him "Father" or "Abba." The prayer, "The Our Father," turns our minds and hearts toward that relationship that we can rightfully claim.

It is not necessary that we “rattle off” ALL the words of The Our Father at once. We can just say one, or a few, of the words at a time and sincerely meditate on their meaning -- for instance the first word "OUR.” He is Father to my brothers and sisters also, so what does that mean in how I relate to others?

What a gift we have been given by Christ in teaching us this prayer, as an example for our prayer life. The rest is up to us, in how we accept and use this gift!

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Aloysius, religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 2:1, 6-14
Psalm 31:20, 21, 24
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Jesus continuously warned His disciples against striving for personal gain. His message was always this: the last will be first and the least is the greatest. His warning to us is that we should always check our motivation for what we do to make certain that our intentions are pure and set on the right goal.

In today’s gospel, our Lord gives further warning, addressing specifically the acts of prayer, fasting and alms giving. At first it seems that one’s motivation in these three acts would be pure, but as we know that was not the case with the Pharisees of the time. Just because these three things may be righteous in nature does not mean they are always done for righteous purposes.

Do we attend mass regularly to truly worship and receive His holy body and blood, or do we attend to be seen by others in the community that we do business with, or to look good to the pastor? Do we make a spectacle of our donations to charity, or do we do it in private to aid God’s poor? Do we announce our fasting in an effort to gain pity, or to strengthen our prayer lives and grow closer to the Lord?

It seems hard to believe that these three holy acts can be used for wrong purposes, but they can. We must be constantly vigilant to assure our intentions are pure and our goal is in sight – to grow ever closer to Him.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 21:17-29
Psalm 51:3-6, 11, 16
Matthew 5:43-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's First Reading we hear how the Lord rightfully planned to punish Ahab for his personal sinfulness and for leading others into sin. When Ahab learned what the Lord intended to do to him, he demonstrated great contrition and humility and was granted, so to speak, a "stay of execution."

Until the consequences of our sinfulness stares us in the face, we often stubbornly refuse to even acknowledge that there are consequences for transgressing God's commands and instead blindly prefer our own will and pleasure to the will of and pleasure of God.

It is always interesting to recognize that throughout history and perhaps even in our own personal circumstances, people have heard the wondrous Word of the Lord and have willfully chosen not to do as He commands. It's not as though we don't know what the Lord expects of us -- we just refuse to do it.

When that frightening moment of reckoning occurs -- and it always will, how quickly past pleasure fades and only the palpably justifiable wrath of the Lord will remain.

Remembering that I don't like to be scared, I caution myself not to be foolish and "pretend" as if it sometimes seems that God isn't paying any attention to our behavior. There will be, after all, that moment when we’ll have to answer for all our actions, be they good or evil. Pray let us not miss the opportunity for good; for even as we see in today's reading how the Lord is mindful of our guilt, He is also mindful of our good deeds and of His mercy.

Let's not waste any more time. Holy Scripture (Book of Deuteronomy) tells us that the Lord has set before us life or death, a choice. Let us choose the way of life.

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, June 19, 2006
Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Romuald, abbot

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 21:1-16
Psalm 5:2-3, 5-7
Matthew 5:38-42

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The first reading from 1 Kings reminds us always to stay steadfast to the commandments of the Lord. For it is not to humans that we are called to be faithful, but to the Lord. When Naboth was asked by King Ahab to give up his ancestral land which had been a gift from God, he refused the king. Because of the greed and deceitfulness of Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, and at the cost of Naboth's life, Ahab was able to claim Naboth's vineyard for himself.

The gospel too, continues this theme with Jesus calling all of us to stand firm in His commandments. We are called to love our neighbour as ourselves. Therefore it is not within the law to go out and seek revenge but to live one's life through love. The English saint, Thomas More, did just this. He was one of King Henry the 8th's trusted advisors, his chancellor, to be exact. He had a very high position and was respected by most in the king's court. When King Henry asked St. Thomas More to validate his divorce and marriage to another woman, St. Thomas refused because the pope stated that this was not within the laws of the Catholic Church. He was then subjected to many different trials and hardships before being executed for not going along with the king's actions.

In this scene, St. Thomas did turn the other cheek, and he did so with purpose, standing firm and defending the teachings of the Catholic Church until his death. He did this knowing that the teachings of the Catholic Church are there for our salvation and by standing firm for them, even at the cost of his life, he obeyed God's commandments and received his just reward in Heaven.

- Danielle

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, June 18, 2006
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
Hebrews 9:11-15
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ) was established by Pope Urban IV in 1264. He was probably influenced by a miracle which had occurred in Boslena, Italy. A German priest, Father Peter of Prague, stopped there to celebrate Mass. At the Elevation of the Host, blood poured down on his hands, and onto the altar linens. The blood on the corporal scientifically proved to be human blood is still intact at Orvieto to this day. There are many other authenticated miracles concerning the Real Presence which are supportive, but not necessary for our faith. Jesus, after all, is sacramentally present right in the tabernacle of our own hometown church. The ancient practice of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is gradually being restored. In support of this, our present Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, quotes St. Augustine as saying, “No one should eat this flesh without first adoring it … we should sin were we not to adore it” (on the Psalms 98:9).

Feasts are established by the Church to strengthen faith. This feast is no exception. The readings for today’s Mass describe the ritual actions of Moses’ pouring blood on the people. Why? To help them remember God’s commands. The second reading speaks of Jesus pouring out his blood on all people. This priestly act effectively redeemed the world from the Father’s displeasure. Then, in the gospel, Jesus established the sacrament of Eucharist as the means of continuing His saving death.

There is tremendous meaning in the word “communion” which describes our reception of the Body and Blood of Jesus. Just as Jesus at the Last Supper passed around the one cup, so too we share the one bread and the one cup at every Mass. First, we adore, then we receive, then we become the food we have received. We are truly one body in Christ. Strengthened and transformed in love, truth, and joy through the Spirit, we are ready to share the fruits of love, compassion, forgiveness, service, and all the rest of the great fruits of the Spirit with our brothers and sisters.

No wonder the apostles and early followers were so insistent on joy as the mark of a Christian! If anyone confronts you today with that common remark, “What are you so happy about?” we just might set them on their heels with the reply, “I received Jesus into my heart through Communion today!” If we’re not that brave, we must settle for “Wouldn’t you like to know!"

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, June 17, 2006
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 19:19-21
Psalm 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10
Matthew 5:33-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Let your 'yes' mean 'yes'. . . ."

Let your yes mean yes. Simple. Like many of the sayings of Jesus, a simple way to a profound thing. A straight path to the heart of the truth. And as Christians we believe that Truth is a person – the person of Jesus Christ.

When anyone means to say yes, that's all that need be said. And indeed, it need not be said at all, but lived. If what a person says is falsehood, no amount of swearing will make it true. If a person cannot abide by their word, swearing to do something will make them no more inclined.

Simple – say the truth and live the truth and become the Truth. This is the straight gate and the narrow way. This is the light of heaven brought to Earth in the way we live. Apart from the truth there is no meaning at all and swearing does not make a new meaning. So, it is better to say what is meant and to live out what is said. It is a way of peace of mind and tranquility of soul.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, June 16, 2006
The Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

1Kings 19:9, 11-16
Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14
Matthew 5:27-32

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"It is better . . . to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna." (Matthew 5:29)

Our first reading prepares us to receive the gift Christ gives us beyond His sacrificial death for the remission of our sin, since inherent in this gift is the need to amend our behavior by the grace given to us through faith in Him. In 1 Kings, Elijah's encounter with God takes place on the same Mt. Horeb (Sinai) where Moses received the Commandments, the basic conditions of living in God's covenant of love. Elijah's mission, along with the other prophets, was to exhort the Israelites to return to the true faith, intimacy with God, so that they would be enabled to recognize their coming Messiah.

Today's Gospel is mocked by secular minds, those circumventing marriage, freeing themselves from spousal faithfulness and responsibility through cohabitation. Marriage is no longer seen as a sacred covenant between a man and woman entered into before God; hence, divorce and remarriage (serial adultery) is now commonplace. In such unstable and amoral situations children suffer from abuse, neglect or abandonment while society is burdened financially and the disorder resulting from fragmented families. Selfishness that seeks immediate and perfect physical and emotional satisfaction is the motivating force behind such precipitous, mindless and casual unions.

Jesus is surely not advocating physical self-mutilation but strongly reminds us that we cannot "divorce" ourselves from the "Word of life" and survive spiritually. Any sacrifice is worth escaping the fires of Gehenna reserved for those who worship and gratify self regardless of the cost to others.

Blessed Savior, cleanse us of selfishness and imbue our hearts with the same sacrificial love for one another as that which You revealed for us upon the cross. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, June 15, 2006
Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 18:41-46
Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13
Matthew 5:20-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

One thing about the teachings of Christ, He was always pretty direct in His messages. Through stories or parables and examples we understand the concepts quite clearly.

Today in the gospel of Matthew, we learn that Christ expects us to have great integrity, to be sincere about our faith. He clearly points out that we cannot be “two-faced” with Him. If we approach the altar with our gifts and recall that we have had a disagreement with our brother that is unresolved, we had better do our "homework" first. We are to leave our gift and first reconcile; then come back to the altar with our gift. (see Matthew 5:23-24)

It is interesting that Christ speaks of "leaving your gifts at the altar" and then go reconcile. Perhaps it refers to the fact that Christ is always there waiting for our return, as opposed to saying, "Get out of here!" The message also implies that we had better do a frequent examination of our own behavior, because yes, Christ loves us, but He also loves my brother, and He expects that we act in a loving manner towards one another. We might ask ourselves these questions: "Am I consistent in my behavior?" and "Is my behavior the same in regards to my relationship with Christ, with my friends at the church, as it is with my family and co-workers?"

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 18:20-39
Psalm 16:1b-2ab, 4, 5ab and 8, 11
Mark 12:18-27

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)

At first glance at today’s gospel, things can seem to be a bit contradictory. However, as it always is when our Lord speaks, this is not the case. As the law was applied to the Jews 2000 years ago, it was a burden with added-on restrictions that were never intended in the law as given by Moses. The religious leaders, especially the Pharisees who Jesus so often criticized, made the law so cumbersome that many had difficulty abiding by it.

When Jesus gave His ministry, He told us that loving God with all our beings and our neighbors as ourselves was the core of the law and all the teachings of the prophets. When He tells us He came to fulfill it, He speaks in complete truth. Jesus’ love for the Father was complete, with His entire being doing the Father’s will. His love for others was above all other love as He healed the sick, forgave sin and set people on the right path. His entire time on earth was in fulfillment of the law, loving God with everything and others as Himself.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Anthony of Padua, priest, religious, doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 17:7-16
Psalm 4:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8
Matthew 5:13-16

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The story's widow of Zarephath recalls how miraculously the Lord provided her with an ongoing and sufficient supply of flour and oil. Just when she thought she was at the very end of any options for providing for herself and her son, the Lord intervened. Not only was there enough for their needs, but enough to extend hospitality to Elijah.

The story tells something about how the Lord provides for us. Sometimes it seems as if it comes at a time when all seems hopeless. Perhaps this is to remind us of the fact that we are always and everywhere dependent on the Lord for our life and sustenance. It is all too easy to think that somehow we provide for ourselves when in truth we have nothing that we haven't received because of God's providential goodness.

Being grateful and aware of how indebted we are for all we enjoy is fundamentally necessary; it keeps us grounded in the truth of who we are and much more importantly who God is. It also curbs any tendencies in us toward stinginess and provides us the opportunity to share with others as God has so kindly shared with us.

"When I call answer me. O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress." (see Psalm 4)

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, June 12, 2006
Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 17:1-6
Psalm 121:1-8
Matthew 5:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

We are all familiar with the thousands of self-help books that top bestseller lists each year, promising everything from wealth, to health and to happiness in a prescribed number of easy steps. When trying to achieve a formidable goal, it is beneficial to have a well-defined, simple step-by-step approach to help guide us in the right direction. And that is what the Beatitudes in today's Gospel do for the followers of Christ. They basically define the core values of what it means to be Christians and reflect on motivations behind our mission. For Jesus did not merely speak the Beatitudes but lived them while He was on earth as an example for all of us to follow.

What does it mean to be "blessed"? Many dictionaries give the definition of "having the favor of God." And how can we achieve this? The Beatitudes tell us that we should not seek to eliminate every kind of hardship in life, but should instead center our efforts around our duties to God and our neighbour first. The Beatitudes also remind us that it is through life's struggles that we often encounter the grace of God. The Beatitudes also call for our continual conversion in order to bring about God's Kingdom of truth, life, holiness, grace, justice, love and peace into our world. But in addition to incorporating all the challenging characteristics of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus, the Beatitudes also include the promise of hope and an invitation to "rejoice and be glad." For if the reign of God is to be ours we must have faith in God's complete and undying love for us, and place our complete trust in Him.

"[The] Beatitudes . . . mark the path of the following of Christ and the royal road to spiritual maturity and freedom." - Pope John Paul II

- Anne
(anne97 at gmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, June 11, 2006
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22
Romans 8:14-17
Matthew 28:16-20

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It celebrates the most awesome of all mysteries. The Scriptures for the Mass guide us through the story of its revelation to God’s people.

The first reading from Deuteronomy is all about Moses’ reminding the Israelites of just how great this One God has been to them ever since He revealed Himself to Abraham many years before. More recently, He has performed incredible miracles in delivering the people from Egypt’s Ruler. The number One, as in “God,” has been indelibly branded in their minds and hearts! (This accounts for some later confusion and reluctance on their part to accept the teaching of Jesus about the Trinity).

The final passages of Matthew’s Gospel are read this Sunday. In them, we find Jesus revealing the great Mystery which has left us speechless for two thousand years — and the mystery is this: He, Himself, is the Son of God, and He is equal to God the Father! How can this be? Two separate “Persons” in the One God?

Today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians casts much light on the mystery (but not enough to solve it completely). Paul talks about the Holy Spirit as the love connection between Father and Son. In fact, it connects the very distant idea of a Creator God, with the still very awesome idea of the Word of God taking on human flesh. He has been given the divine-human name of Jesus, the Anointed One (Christ).

So the Third Person of the Trinity is really the Holy Connection between Father and Son. St. Basil called this Spirit of God the Divine Being who is totally contained in every baptized and confirmed Christian. Now the catch: He gives his Power to the whole universe, and to those individuals “who are worthy, acting in each according to the measure of his faith.” If we think God is far away, we are wrong! This Third Person makes holy all those persons who will allow Him to do so. We ourselves share in the connection between “Father” and “Son.”

We need not be disturbed by the fact that we’ll never solve the mystery of three Persons in one God — all we have to do is to live by the Spirit who is the Great Connector, and realize that we have been given the immense privilege of being a living temple of the Holy Trinity, sharing in its Power, its Truth, and the incredible delights of its love, life, joy, and everlasting happiness!

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, June 10, 2006
Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Timothy 4:1-8
Psalm 71:8-9, 14-17, 22
Mark 12:38-44

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"But she, from her poverty, has contributed all that she had . . ."

St. Therese commented on this in a way. She said that she wanted to return to the Father with absolutely nothing so that He would have to take her in her poverty seeing as she had given away all.

Poverty here refers to the woman's financial affairs, but for us, it often refers to our spiritual affairs. We are very, very poor indeed. We strain to get out a single prayer without distraction or interruption. We think we do well when we manage to make it to Mass, although our worship cannot possibly hold a candle to the wealth we receive at each Mass.

But the point is, no matter how poor we are, so long as we recognize that poverty and give God our two pence, everything we can scrape together, we are blessed. God blesses us in our poverty with His abundance. We decrease and He increases in us. Our two-pence is turned into wealth beyond imagining -- but not for us. The wealth we receive is to be poured out on others until we can return to God in our poverty and offer once again our little bit.

And so the cycle of grace and love continues.

- JuandelaCruz

The Catholic Calendar for Friday, June 9, 2006
Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Ephrem, deacon and doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Timothy 3:10-17
Psalm 119:157, 160-161, 165-166, 168
Mark 12:35-37

A reflection on today's Scripture . . . .

All who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted
(see 2 Timothy. 3:12)

Today's readings reveal the importance of correctly interpreting Scripture. Jesus humiliates the scribes but delights the people by revealing their error. These prideful men relied on their intellects alone rather than also seeking God's mind and heart through sincere prayer. They taught that the Messiah would descend from David's royal line but they did not see that David's own words called the Messiah, "Lord," a name transcending mere human lineage. Jesus implies that the scribes' spiritual ignorance blinds them to His true identity.

Paul's letter exhorts Timothy not to be intimidated, to faithfully teach Christian dogma despite people's objections and persecution. He reminds the young and perhaps timid preacher that he should expect to always encounter such problems but must strenuously deny false teachings. He refers to his own toil to keep the Faith pure in the knowledge that God will deliver him through all conflicts. Timothy is to steadfastly guide his flock in righteous living.

Problems regarding truth and love are multiplied in our day by a fragmented Christianity with each new sect insisting that they alone have the only correct interpretation of Scripture. Equally insidious is the mass media's influence through music, art, entertainment and news, each advertising pleasure, sex, self-indulgence, affluence, comfort and materialism while covertly or openly ridiculing the spiritual aspect of life. So we have come to worship "self," to greedily embrace a sugarcoated Gospel rather than the naked truth that God's genuine love places demands on us. Our heavenly Father sent Christ to embody -- make visible to us -- the sacrificial, self-giving love that leads humanity to peace, justice and salvation.

God of love and truth, pour Your Spirit upon our selfish, self-seeking hearts. Draw us to Yourself, prompt us to pray and so learn to know and follow Christ, your Son. Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, June 8, 2006
Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
Mark 12:28-34

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Sometimes we can make the practice of our religion too complicated. We get bogged down with rules and rituals and miss the main points. This was true to a greater degree in the time of Christ, and so the question put to Him was, in a way, a "trick" question. Christ was asked, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" (see Mark 12:28)

The response of Christ set the goal for Christians for all time. He responded: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
(Mark 12:30-31)

These two commandments are familiar to most practicing Christians, and are used at least as a guideline. The point we might pick up on today is that of "loving with all our strength," the last part of the first commandment.

In the first reading we hear St. Paul suffering "Even to the point of chains" in his effort to spread the Good News. In that reading we also hear "Be EAGER" to present yourself as acceptable to God.
(2 Timothy 2:15)

In conclusion today, we might ask ourselves the question, "How much energy do I put into the practice of my faith? Am I EAGER to present myself as acceptable to God?"

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12
Psalm 123:1b-2ab, 2cdef
Mark 12:18-27

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today’s gospel, our Lord gives us a wonderful glimpse into heaven and what it is like in that glorious place. The image He gives us is completely opposite from what we have here on earth.

The Sadducees were trying to apply the laws that Moses wrote to the heavenly setting, where they really do not apply. These laws were set down for God’s chosen people as they were on earth, a lost people, tempted by sin, subject to the social and cultural structures of the times. As a result, the Sadducees were gravely mistaken about heaven and eternity.

As Jesus pointed out to them, those in heaven are like the angels. The heavenly environment is one that is enveloped with the love of God and His total presence. There is no sin, no temptation and no culture or social structures to deal with. It is where all are fully alive, with the gift of eternal life our Savior gave us. The laws of Moses and the laws of our earth will have no place there – all are totally free.

This is what we seek – to be surrounded by total and complete love, only as the one Heavenly Father can give.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Norbert, bishop

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18
Psalm 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 and 16
Mark 12:13-17

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's first Reading from Peter, we hear many important things about how we should behave, and interestingly how God behaves. The Letter reminds us that this earth will pass away and will be replaced by a new heaven and earth where God’s justice will reside.

It is a wonderful thought that there will be a time when all creation will behave in the way God intended. It will, of necessity, come in God’s time and we are instructed after a period of great trial. Peter tells us that while waiting we must be careful not to be misled and fall into error.

It is a serious warning for the day of the coming of the Lord is described as both terrible and wonderful. Terrible I would imagine, for those who are not one with the Lord and wonderful for those who are.

I for one, like the thought of “wonderful vs terrible.” How is it though that we might not be misled and instead be found "without stain or defilement?”

The only answer comes from God Himself who gave us Jesus and the Church He founded. It is only through habitual obedience to all that the Church teaches, that we’ll have the wherewithal to endure the tremendous forces of evil.

Follow Jesus, therefore, and the instructions that He so carefully bequeathed to His Bride, our beloved Church, and remember what Peter said about God’s behavior, "Consider that God’s patience is directed toward salvation."

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, June 5, 2006
Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Boniface, bishop and martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Peter 1:2-7
Psalms 91:1-2, 14-15b, 15c-16
Mark 12:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In the second letter of Peter, he exhorts the people to live a good and virtuous Christian life of love and sacrifice. To do so, one must seek to be open to the love and life of Christ, not only in action but also in knowledge of His very teachings. The people are to continuously seek to know and understand Christ's words, but also to apply them to everyday life. In doing so, one gains in grace from prayer and devotion while contemplating the love and life of Jesus. We are called to purify ourselves of the evils and corruption of this world in order to fulfill His Divine Will.

As described through a parable story in Mark, it is difficult to do the above mentioned. Christians will be persecuted and ridiculed, however, we will gain in virtue and grace in the favor of God. Our reward will be great in Heaven.

So, to apply these readings to the people of today, we must seek to correct our ways and come to know Jesus through both devotion and action. Our measures will be scorned by the spiritually blind; but our strength and courage secures our salvation in Heaven. Be authentic in your love of Jesus; do not put on a false face in front of others. Show mercy toward others, as Jesus is in all people.

- Alicia

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, June 4, 2006
Pentecost Sunday (a Solemnity)

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

For two thousand years, the Holy Spirit has entered in fullness into men, women, and children through priestly and diaconal ordination, solemn and simple vows to religious life, and the conferring of the sacrament of Confirmation on those baptized into Christ.

Today we live again the experience of that first Pentecost when the Upper Room in Jerusalem shook with hurricane force as the wind of God’s Spirit and the fire of His love descended on twelve apostles, changing them forever. As thousands more were baptized that day, the Church was born in the presence of Christ’s own mother and countless of other witnesses. Today, through the Eucharist we celebrate, the Holy Spirit comes again to give a “booster shot” to countless modern-day Christians who have been born of water and the Holy Spirit.

Again, we are consecrated in the Truth that God is love and lives in us as in a fleshly Temple, that in the renewal of our lifetime commitment, our faith is rekindled that our light will more effectively destroy the indifference and violence that threaten to engulf the world.

Only a groundless fear can prevent the Holy Spirit from empowering us, for He is our “Advocate,” our silent supporter, who will help us to boldly proclaim the Gospel to a people living in fear and confusion.

Today, the Church is reborn in the power of the Spirit’s gifts. He comes to make us free through the daily practice of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Through the fruits of the Holy Spirit, those hungry for love will see the face of Christ.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at frontiernet dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, June 3, 2006
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
St. Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
Psalm 11:4-5, 7
John 21:20-25

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"What Concern Is It of Yours; You Follow Me."

How often do we look upon another as, say, something like, "What has he or she done to earn such favors from God?” Or, “Why can't I have things like that?"

Jesus says to us today, "What concern is it of yours? You follow me." That is, these things we allow to trouble us are temptations against His grace. We need not concern ourselves with the hows and the whys of who is beloved of God. In fact, in one way or another, we are all resting our heads on Christ, some at different times, some in different ways. People look at us too and say, "Why does he or she have that special gift?"

God graces us with what we need and what we can use. For some it is a gift of hospitality, for some a gift of prayer, for still others a gift for expressing love. It is not our concern to worry about the distribution of gifts, but rather to follow Jesus every step of the way.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, June 2, 2006
The Seventh Week of Easter
St. Marcellinus and St. Peter, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 25:13-21
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
John 21:15-19

A reflection on today's Scripture"

"Do you love me? . . . Feed my lambs . . . Feed my sheep." (John 21:15,16)

Today's readings describe two very different men; their only similarity was their passionate love for God, yet both denied Christ. Paul was educated as a Pharisee, strictly following Judaic laws. Angered at Jews believing in Christ, he pursued "heretics" to be beaten and jailed. Mercifully, Christ intervened, took drastic action to redirect Paul's energy by revealing to him that He, Himself, is the awaited Savior described by the prophets. Paul's subsequent physical and spiritual healing turned him into a powerful Christian evangelist who wrote numerous letters to inform and strengthen the faith of newly formed churches.

Peter, a fisherman with an impulsive streak, expressed his love for Christ by saying he was prepared to die for Him. Jesus predicted correctly that Peter would deny knowing Him three times. After Christ's arrest Peter feared admitting to any connection with Him. In today's Gospel Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to examine his heart and reaffirm the sincerity of his love. This act of mercy released Peter from his guilt and helped prepare him to bear "the keys of the kingdom" as our first Pope, appointed guardian of God's living Word.

God's mercy employs both the learned and the ordinary, the strong and the weak to further His kingdom. His workers need only to be receptive to His grace, humble enough to know that of themselves they can do nothing and that whatever they are called on to do in Christ's name is never to be considered too menial. In consequence, all of our life's work will be considered "holy" by God if we perform it in keeping with His loving will, certain that all "good," personal, familial and communal, comes from Him. We are to be His ready tools, not dull nor rusty, but eager to work in full cooperation with His Spirit's prompting.

Almighty God, as Pentecost approaches, we fervently pray that we may be deeply imbued with Your Spirit to develop faithful, loving and obedient hearts Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, June 1, 2006
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
St. Justin, martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
John 17:20-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

There are times in life when we wonder who we really are. This is especially true in the late teen years, and for many again in mid-life. In fact we sometimes refer to it as a “mid-life crisis.” But for most of us, the question only surfaces from time to time. It is a healthy question to ask and to think through as best we can.

In the beautiful gospel for today, Christ answers that question for us for all time. He states, "Father, they are your gift to me." (see John 17:20-26)

Have you ever thought of yourself as a gift for Christ, presented by the Father to Him? What a difference it would make in peoples' lives if they knew that, in the ways they respect themselves in all ways. How would they speak, dress, choose their leisure, spend their very lives?

If that wasn't enough of an awesome statement, Christ went on in His prayer to say, “I wish that where I am they also may be with me.” (see John 17:20-26) What reassuring words for us to hear in the gospel! This is no distant, cold, figure in history. Christ loves each of us as His special gift from the Father, and He wants us with Him.

Do we consider Christ our special gift to us from the Father?

Do our lives reflect that same love that He has for each of us?

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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