The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 31, 2006
Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Matthew 24:42-51

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The first reading and gospel for today are quite direct. In the reading from Paul, he is reminding the Corinthians, but one could say us also, that we have been very blessed with the numerous spiritual gifts given us by God. In fact Paul said we are not lacking in any spiritual gift. For us, that would presuppose that we had taken the wonderful opportunities to receive the sacraments as taught and made available by the Church.

On a personal note, years ago at a workshop our group was asked to take magic markers and make individual roadmaps of our lives and note on the map the people and places that made changes in our spiritual lives. When asked to do so it seemed quite an elementary exercise, but actually was quite enlightening and reassuring for all of us. It showed us the consistent, gentle hand of God constantly enriching our lives.

The gospel reminds us that those gifts are not for us to wallow in, but rather to use in the service of all. We do not know the time and place when we will be called to be accountable to the God who gave us these gifts. This is one “report card” that we want to look good! Now, to continue our "homework," or should we say the work of building up the Kingdom of God.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Readings from the Liturgy of the Word:
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18
Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5
Matthew 23:27-32

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

You have certainly heard the old cliché, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” That is the message we receive from our Lord today. His very stern message to the Pharisees concerned their outward appearance; they took great care to keep up the appearance of righteousness and piety. While inside they were corrupt and far from resembling their righteous exteriors. We can easily fall into the same trap today if we are not careful.

But there is another trap that we seem to fall into a lot in our modern society that also has to do with judging a book by its cover. That is turning away from those whose outward appearance may not be up to our standards of righteousness, or even cleanliness. The poor in our society, those with substance abuse problems that live on our streets, those who have become disfigured in some way and those who just don’t seem to "measure up" are often cast away by those of us who claim to be Christian. This, too, is a grave wrong and not up to the expectations our Lord has for us. Remember that we all should strive to see our Lord in everyone we meet even those we find do not meet our arbitrary standards.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Thessalonian 2:1-3a, 14-17
Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13
Mark 6:17-29

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial Feast of the beheading of John the Baptist, a grisly story about how far evil forces will go in an attempt to silence the Truth. It is a story that has been repeated over and over even to this day, these times.

What we need to remember when faced with horrific violence is that whenever sin is rampant and "hell bent" on the destruction of goodness, so too are there present the opposite forces of holiness and heroic virtue. God always provides a sufficient antidote for the poisonous effects of sin.

Remembrance of Christ's promised victory over sin and death is something we must nurture, lest we lose hope and become paralyzed by worry and fear. Daily reading of Holy Scripture can help us maintain mental stability in an unstable world, by illustrating for us how God is ever-present in all mankind's difficulties and ultimately victorious by merit of His glorious Resurrection.

So don't lose heart, but instead do your part by being properly oriented toward heaven and heavenly things and then by assisting others to do the same. That's what John the Baptist did; may we in our own way and time do the same.

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hughes dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 28, 2006
Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
St. Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5
Matthew 23:13-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In both readings we ponder upon today, we come to realize that our love for God and His people must be authentic and true in our hearts. It is one thing to praise and honor God in our churches and holy places, but to carry this love in our hearts beyond these borders is another challenge. To love and pray not only for our friends and family, but to respect and love our enemies is where Christianity truly shines forth. In giving of ourselves to another through prayer to God, allows us to know who we ought to be in Christ.

Matthew extends this notion by quoting Jesus' scrutiny toward the scribes and Pharisees; that is, by loving only your friends and praying for them--well, anyone can do that! By loving and praying for those who despise you, your reward will be great in Heaven. Jesus also warns us not to judge others in their attempt to speak and come close to God, for the simple man that gives praise and thanksgiving through a smile heavenward is greater than a self-proclaiming holy man who recites prayers seven times a day. The simple man smiles to Jesus from his heart. Oftentimes simplicity of heart is forever triumphed in Heaven.

- Alicia

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 27, 2006
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32
John 6:60-69

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Life is made up of “rituals,” whether it’s a handshake, a birthday party, or a renewal of marriage vows. Rituals strengthen relationships, show respect for one another’s “milestones” along life’s journey, and help us to be faithful to promises made long ago.

In today’s first reading from Joshua, the great leader assembles all the people he has brought into the promised land of Canaan. The place is Shechem, a shrine sacred to the foreigners they have conquered. Joshua gives a speech, reminding the people of all that God did for them in their desert journey with Moses. Then, he gives them a choice: either to be faithful to the God of Israel, or to adopt the Canaanite gods in whose land they now live. He then utters a great line, As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord! Fortunately, the people agree, and even invite some of their pagan neighbors to make a similar commitment. After that, Joshua draws up a new Covenant with the Lord.

The second reading describes how a Christian must act within the marriage covenant. Now, this reading can make women angry (wives, be subordinate to your husbands). But look at the verse just before that one! Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ! In other words, both husband and wife must serve each other. A later admonition to the husband requires him to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. Recall that Christ said that He came “to serve and not be served” (Mark 10:45). Marriage is all about loving service of husband and wife to one another, and both to the service of Christ.

Very much like the Israelites at Shechem, the Apostles in today’s Gospel pledge total commitment to the Holy One of God. When others refuse to believe the teaching about Jesus as the Bread of Life, Peter, speaking for his brothers, said very simply, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.”

So, let’s get in the spirit of God’s Word today--to renew our commitment to our baptismal covenant, our marriage covenant, and to Jesus, present in Word and Eucharist.

Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(pwhitmore29 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, August 26, 2006
Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 43:1-7ab
Psalm 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
Matthew 23:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Do and observe whatsoever they tell you . . . .”

There are hard words in the Bible. Jesus tells us some very difficult things--very difficult. And this may be chief among them. Those who are in legitimate authority over us are to be obeyed, assuming that what they ask for is not a direct transgression of God's law. Our own preferences are to be put to the side.

It seems that Jesus asks for surrender after surrender. Our hearts are weary with what we have to surrender, and here He asks us to surrender our autonomy, our very being to people who preach but don't practice. Why would He do this?

The Christian life is one of self-emptying. Every opportunity must be taken to give up what I want, what I need, what I think. The I must always take the back seat to what God wants. St. Teresa of Avila advised her sisters and all who would listen to obey their spiritual advisors despite their misgivings; if God wanted things changed, He would change them.

So it is for us. If it is not sinful and it is asked of us, we should do it, not because we think it right, but because God has placed these people in legitimate authority over us to train us in obedience and humility. When it becomes too much for us, we will turn naturally to Him and embrace His way rather than our own.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, August 25, 2006
Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Louis, St. Joseph Calasanz

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 107:2-9
Matthew 22:34-40

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"The whole law and prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:40)

Ezekiel's prophetic vision of the "dry bones" being brought back to life should erase any despair we may feel over our present day moral decline. God's everlasting love for His fallen creatures remains His motive force. He created humanity to share in His very life and His glory. Though we may separate ourselves from Him through sin, He is ever eager to restore us, to imbue us with new life through His Spirit. Christ is the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophetic vision, for, if we live in loving obedience to Him, God's Word of Life, we will be born anew to share in His eternal blessings. Psalm 107 expresses this same hope, shows God gathering His people out of the desert wilderness of sin into the new Jerusalem where their starving souls will be perfectly nourished with His love and truth.

Conflicts will continue to arise on two fronts; man's free will, perverted by sin, will insist on satisfying the desires of the flesh, seize upon worldly things that only temporarily appease desires for physical beauty, longevity, money, property, fame, pleasure and sex. God's Spirit, however, tries to steer us toward seeking eternal and imperishable riches; He works to fill us with a sincere love for God and one another and instill in us those virtues that make it possible for humanity to live in a world pervaded by justice and peace.

The first Commandment cited by Christ in today's Gospel is the heart of all God's law because it expresses the very Essence of His Being which is Love. Unless we draw close to Him in prayer, love's Source, we can never come to know how to love Him and one another purely, genuinely and unconditionally. Neither will we be enabled to discern truth, for all truth actually is inherent in and springs forth from the Love Who is God. Willful rejection of God, a deliberate separation from Him Who is both love and truth, inevitably results in self-imposed spiritual death.

Bountiful God, may we love You above all else, and being filled to overflowing with Your precious life, may we help to make this world of one mind and heart in You. Amen.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 24, 2006
Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Bartholomew, apostle

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Revelation 21:9b-14
Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18
John 1:45-51

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

The gospel of today reminds us that Jesus knows us inside and out, at all times. We hear again the intriguing overview of Philip finding Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew) and taking him to meet Jesus. Jesus related that he knew Nathanael had been sitting under a certain tree. That must have impressed him! The statement that might catch our attention today, however, is that Christ said of Nathanael, "There is no duplicity in him.” Could Christ say that of each of us?

Needless to say, these are difficult and trying times in which we live. Though God created the world, and all that is in it, and saw that it was good, humans have had much time to demonstrate our stewardship on the earth. We know much of the world and the people in it are still "good,” but that there are many temptations, much evil. Do we lead a “double life” in that we let ourselves be swayed by some of these temptations, or are we a strong, constant follower of Christ and all His teachings? Again, would Christ say of each of us, "There is no duplicity in him”? (John 1:47)

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Rose of Lima

Readings from the Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 34:1-11
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Matthew 20:1-16

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

When you hear today’s gospel, do you get the feeling that what happened in the story was unfair? Does it seem that those who worked only one hour should get the same total pay as those who worked all day? Does it seem that those who worked all day had a legitimate complaint and issue with the landlord? Well, based on the standards of our culture, the answer is that it was unfair and that those who worked all day had a real reason to complain. In fact, in today’s society, this case may have ended up before a judge!

But that is just the point of the parable: the kingdom of God is different and God is no landlord, but a loving Father who gives freely to all. Whether one leads a good Christian life for 50 years or whether they have a dramatic conversion on their deathbed is of no concern to God. He gives His gift of the kingdom and eternal life to all that come to him, no matter when they show up. His giving is infinite and does not fit the standards of this world and that is why the Lord says, “The kingdom of heaven is like. . .” –so we may understand.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 28:1-10
Deuteronomy 32:26-28, 30, 35-36
Matthew 19:23-30

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today we hear a difficult teaching about how riches hinder a person seeking heaven. Jesus didn’t just say that riches might be a hindrance, but are a hindrance, and He didn’t say it just once, but twice!

Now most of us who have an abundant share of the riches of this earth and think they are generous may think material things don’t impede their progress, but we just got told they do--our possessions are an impediment!

I have heard it countless times that being rich is in itself not bad, but it’s how we use our possessions that is most important. Now that may be altogether true, but if we distort what Jesus said and turn it into a statement about how we use our possessions we not only err, but dangerously err. Riches are a hindrance. “Only with great difficulty will a rich man enter into the kingdom.”

Does that mean we should all be poor? I don’t think so, but instead we must recognize the potential power of wanting and having many things. That is what Jesus was warning us about. Possessions capture our mind and time and before we know it we are enslaved without hardly knowing how.

What then should a serious lover of Christ do? Perhaps serious prayer and deliberate restraint from acquiring more and more of what we really don’t need (for the sake of Christ) and for the love of our neighbor, who has less, might be a start.

May God’s good and prudent Spirit guide us, who have relatively so much, to “tend toward” having less.

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hughes dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 21, 2006
Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Pius X, pope

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 24:15-23
Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20, 21
Matthew 19:16-22

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Throughout the Bible we see Jerusalem as a central focus of the Jewish people. King David built the house of the King on Mt. Zion, and Solomon finished the Temple on the same hill. In today's first reading Ezekiel warns the people that the city of Jerusalem will be destroyed. How and why would God let such a thing happen? This city, which is the stronghold of their pride, the delight of the eyes and the desire of their soul. (Ezekiel 24:20) Unfortunately, during the time of Ezekiel the people separated themselves from God through their sin. This separation, preventing God from being part of their lives, denied God the pleasure and joy of a father taking care of his children. Therefore, because they have chosen sin and not God, they will lose what is dear and rot away. (Ezekiel 24:23)

Probably the young man in the Gospel learned in the synagogues, by hearing about the prophets like Ezekiel, how important it was to be close to God for one’s eternal salvation. Being a good man, he asked Jesus what he should do to obtain eternal life. Much to his delight he found that he was doing the necessary basics, and yet, something in him longed to be even closer to God. Jesus informed him that the only way he could obtain this was to sell everything. (see Matthew 19:21) Sadness filled him with the disappointment of his lack of humility and courage to do as Jesus asked of him. We, like the young man, are asked to give up our stronghold of pride, our delight of our eyes and our desires of our souls. By doing this we leave our hearts wide open so that they will be filled with Our Lord, enabling Him to help us like a good father would do in our pilgrimage and to obtain eternal life.

- Danielle

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 20, 2006
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Prvoverbs 9:1-6
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Like the disciples of Jesus, we are confused with shadowy and complicated discourse. We want plain talk! Well, this week, we can be truly thankful that our first reading is very direct, and can be understood by everyone. Lady Wisdom speaks to us with enticing words: "Come, eat of my food and drink of my wine! Forsake foolishness that you may live!" Who can resist such hospitality? In the second reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians, however, we are admonished not to get drunk on that wine!

There's the message! Moderation in pleasure, discipline in our grasp for merely human satisfaction. Wisdom teaches us moderation in all things. It is not sinful to seek innocent pleasures, but so often we go beyond prudent boundaries. As a result, we may commit sin, or perhaps merely dull our taste and appreciation for spiritual joy.

The constant seeking for pleasure distracts us from seeking the simple yet profound joy of tasting God, especially in the Eucharist. "I am the bread come down from heaven,” Jesus proclaims in the Gospel. How often do we "seize the moment" and use the precious opportunity to hold the Bread of Angels in our hearts? Not only do we need to seize the moment, but we also need to give constant thanks for the great gift of God, eager to become a part of our lives through His Word and His food!

Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(pwhitmore29 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, August 19, 2006
Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. John Eudes, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Matthew 19:13-15

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Children were brought to Jesus. . . ."

St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face made this point over and over again. We must approach God as one of His little ones. We must accept our childhood in His eyes. Only in this way can we take the "elevator" to God--to be embraced in His loving arms and lifted to Him.

Children have complete trust in the adults who care for them. Is our trust in God childlike? Do we pray as if He knows better or as if we do? Trusting God is scary, but it is always the right way. God will care for us and bring us home safely.

So speak to the little child that is your soul and tell her not to be upset and not to try to be so "grown up." Tell her to be just as God made her, to return to God as perfectly formed as from the beginning. Turn your heart to God and trust completely. He is true and trustworthy.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, August 18, 2006
Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, religious

Readings from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63 or 59-63
Isaiah 12:2-3, 4-6
Matthew 19:3-12

A reflection on today's Scripture . . . .

“Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”
(Matthew 19:6)

The reading from Ezekiel is an allegory describing how Israel came into being. God found her a despised and neglected infant, and in His loving mercy adopted, cleansed, clothed and made her beautiful. She, however, was so taken with her loveliness that she became a harlot to all who approached her, adopting their ways and becoming unfaithful to God's love and truth. Today's psalm restores our confidence in Israel (and ourselves), for though she (we) transgress, God remains nearby, ready to rescue His adopted children from errors and transform her (us) anew in His goodness and holiness.

We learn in today's Gospel that within Judaism there were different schools of thought on such matters as divorce. The Pharisees were ever trying to trap Jesus into saying something they could use against Him. Here they tried to make Him take sides with the Hillel school who had a relaxed attitude toward divorce or the stricter Shammi group, although both were highly regarded. The Pharisees cited Moses permitting divorce; to this Jesus replied that Moses did so only because of the people's sin-hardened hearts. A moving wheel that squeaks loudly and constantly will surely receive oil to silence it.

Jesus foils the Pharisees by ignoring their choices and returning instead to God's ordained plan for marriage recorded in Genesis. It is a lifetime union between a man and a woman who then become one flesh to participate in God's creative power and bring forth new life. This sacred bond has been negated by humanity's repeated and unrepented sin; were it not for our ongoing faithlessness to God's word, all couples would have the ability to live with one another in an everlasting and unconditional love, just as God loves us. Christ calls us to share His cross and die with Him to our sins, but instead we scream and run at the slightest twinge of pain, and prefer remaining mired in a swamp of comfortable selfishness.

O Redeemer Christ, teach us to see one another as You see us, a beautiful work in progress but as yet incomplete. May we then extend to others Your mercy and compassion. Amen.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 17, 2006
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 12:1-12
Psalm 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62
Matthew 18:21—19:1

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Humans have many abilities gifted to us by God. Immediately the reader might think of one of our most powerful being the ability to love one another. One that is equally as significant is the ability to forgive ourselves and others. This is the topic addressed in the gospel of today as Jesus answers Peter's question about how many times we should forgive our brother who has sinned against us.

It is interesting to “unwrap” some of the emotions involved when we refuse to forgive ourselves and others. One that often enters in is human pride. Perhaps at times we expect more of ourselves and others than is realistic, and we fail to forgive when our expectations are unmet. We forget that we are human and can only do so much. At other times we might refuse to forgive another in order to hold power over them, as though they owe us something for what transpired. This power struggle often goes on for years, and sometimes does not get resolved before the death of loved ones. What if God had treated us in the same manner?

Forgiveness is an interesting subject. We all expect the forgiveness of others, but are we as ready to forgive? If not, why not?

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Stephen of Hungary

Readings from the Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22
Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Matthew 18:15-20

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Much of Jesus’ message was about reconciliation. He spoke of His people reconciling with the Father and as we find in today’s gospel He spoke in detail of reconciliation between individuals.

Jesus presents a highly detailed, step by step method of reconciliation between two people. The amount of time He spent on this and the detail He gives, should give us a clear indication of how important our Lord thinks this is. Conflicts between two people need to be resolved immediately, even if it means bringing in others. And if it cannot be resolved, then it needs to be put away and be done with.

Our constant dedication should be to our Lord and God. When we are in conflict with one another we find it hard to concentrate on much else and this creates a barrier between the Father and us. Jesus knows this and thus His detailed instructions to us.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Today is a Holyday of Obligation!
Check your local diocesan regulations,
and please read this)

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16
1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Luke 1:39-56

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. It is a beautiful reminder of the exalted place of the Blessed Virgin in the heart of the Trinity. It is also a reminder to us that God does not overlook any goodness and always rewards it lavishly.

When we think of the Blessed Mother, many images come to mind, all of which reflect qualities that are so useful for anyone who longs to be pleasing to God.

I for one like that she, for the most part, was hidden, said so few recorded words, but was nevertheless instrumental in the salvation of the world. Those that have been preserved are, however, very revealing and worthy of frequent meditation and habitual imitation.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46, 47)

“I am the handmaiden of the Lord,
be it done unto me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38)

“Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5)

These short phrases reflect the docility of the humble, obedient, appreciative and faithful heart of the Mother of God.

O Lord, how I wish I might be like her!

“Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen”

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hughes dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 14, 2006
St. Maxmilian Kolbe, priest, religious and martyr
Vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Please note that tomorrow, Tuesday, is a Holyday of Obligation.
Check your local diocesan regulations, and please read this)

Scripture for today's meditation is from the evening Vigil Mass of the Assumption as follows:
1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2
Psalm 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-17
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57
Luke 11:27-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"When that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about." (1 Corinthians 15:54)

One of the best examples of an ordinary person who did an extraordinary thing happened on this day, August 14, 1941. That is when the Franciscan friar, Maximilian Kolbe lifted up his arm to receive a lethal injection of carbolic acid in place of a young husband and father in the Auschwitz death camp. Saint Maximilian Kolbe's life and death served as a sublime illustration of unselfish love for God and for all men--a love that was inspired by true devotion to Mary.

I had always wondered how people can be so brave. How do they stand up for what is right even when it means their own death? Are they superhuman? The answer was no. They are just ordinary people who zealously and selflessly, always choose to do what is right regardless of the consequences. Just as Christ sacrificed his life for our salvation when He opened His arms on the cross, thousands of ordinary men and woman throughout history have enriched the world with a little more light as living beacons of God's enduring love. Just as one candle wipes out darkness-one life can bring extraordinary light into a world filled with much darkness.

- Anne
(anne97 at gmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 13, 2006
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Ephesians 4:30—5:2
John 6:41-51

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Have you ever been so discouraged that you wanted to die? Elijah was. And, ironically, he had every reason to be cheered by his success against the false prophets of Ba-al. Before an audience of many hundreds, he had called down fire from heaven to consume a damp and soggy pile of wood and animal carcasses. And God did what he asked! Now, fleeing for his life, he becomes despondent, lies down, and goes to sleep! Now, sleep sometimes cures our downcast spirits, and we can shake off our despondency. Sometimes prayer will help. In any case, God took matters into His own hands, and sent an angel to wake him—and feed him. It wasn’t a seven-course dinner, but it gave Elijah the strength to walk 300 miles to Mt. Horeb, where God renewed His covenant with sinful Israel.

We must never let Satan or our own emotions keep us from doing all the good God wants us to accomplish. We must never give up, but rather turn to prayer for nourishment. Sometimes, we need to stir ourselves into action by reaching out to someone that we can encourage or assist in their need.

St. Paul urges us in the second reading today, not to “sadden” the Holy Spirit. It may come as a surprise that the Holy Spirit can feel so deeply, and, like humans, can be saddened. What sadden Him are our bitterness, quarreling, shouting, ingratitude, and lack of forgiveness. What gladdens the Spirit is our kindness and patience with one another. We are reminded to be imitators of Christ, and to live in love. What great advice. If we want to get rid of despondency and discouragement, we only need to imitate the Savior, and be ourselves “bread" for others.

Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(pwhitmore29 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, August 12, 2006
Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Hebrews 1:12—2:4
Psalm 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
Matthew 17:14-20

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed . . . ."

Jesus once again asks us to have a little faith. Why would the demon not come out? Because we didn't believe that it would. But we have to be careful here. People often get caught up in the "why aren't my prayers being answered?" question. And the reality is that every prayer is answered in the way that is best for us.

Faith allows us to see clearly and to ask rightly. Demons will not come out if we ask for a gift of apples. The poor will not be fed if we beg the Lord to drive the demons away. Our prayers must reflect our faith and the circumstances. And most importantly of all, our faith must reflect our trust in the perfection of God's plan. Whenever we pray, the final words should always be, "Nevertheless Father, thy will be done, not mine."

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, August 11, 2006
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Clare, virgin

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7
Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39, 41
Matthew 16:24-28

A reflection on today's Scripture . . . .

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Good does exist in this world: we daily see many acts of generosity and love; much is sacrificed for the good of others; constant research and work are done to improve the human condition. Let us recognize, however, the Source of all this good; it is God's love that gifts us with the intellect, strength and the will needed to insure human progress.

In addition to this "good" we also see that humanity's "free will" often perverts God's intentions. Sin, rooted in pride, constantly replaces God with "self," and in separating ourselves from our Creator's love, we commit heinous crimes against Him and one another. In battlefields, businesses, industries, hospitals, research laboratories and abortion clinics we usurp God's dominion over human life, then soothe our troubled consciences, invent rationalizations for our vile actions. Such behavior devalues and victimizes the weak and helpless among us and allows us to use and eliminate them so that the lives of stronger, more perfect and valued citizens can be improved. This is humanity regressed to a purely animal state, practicing "survival of the fittest."

Christianity is an increasingly unpopular word in today's vocabulary. The entertainment media associates it with the murder of dissenters, a barricade to human progress, a destroyer of human freedom and pleasure and a mere myth. Today's Gospel illustrates why such ignorance and hatred prevail. Jesus tells us that He, the living Word of God, is love personified and the only "way" open to humanity for achieving world peace, justice, love and truth. The choice is ours but a difficult one to make because it requires self denial so that we may love one another as God loves us. This is diametrically opposed to the world's view: "Do unto others whatever is advantageous to you." God excludes no one from His kingdom; we, through self-will, self-love and selfishness exclude ourselves.

Merciful Lord, enable us to see that the fleeting delights we gain through sin will harden our hearts and render us incapable of receiving the joys of living in God's eternal love. Amen.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 10, 2006
Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Corinthians 9:6-10
Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9
John 12:24-26

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Scripture is rich in direction for our lives in 2006, not just for the disciples in the days of Christ! It is a challenge on a day to day basis to live the life that Christ directs us to live. The readings of today reflect on dying to self and giving to those in need.

The first challenge comes in today’s gospel of John. Christ reminds His disciples that if they’re to serve Him, they must follow Him. It is such a direct, matter-of-fact type statement, and makes sense. It is however a challenge, because do we really and always follow Christ? Sometimes we might be tempted to pick and choose about what we will follow of Christ's teachings. Some things might fit into our lifestyle or time frame, while others might be inconvenient, or seem too costly in human terms.

The readings go on to address whether we give generously or sparingly and that we will reap what we sow. The final point to consider, which cuts across all our giving, is that of our attitude. For instance, do we see Christ in the needy and give with a loving spirit, or are we sometimes a bit sour about it all, thinking perhaps their needs are unfounded?

In conclusion, Christ knows us so well! We want to know how we will be rewarded for giving to the needy. Christ says that person who has served Christ will be "Honored by my Father" (John 12:24-26). Can you just imagine that?

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin and martyr

Readings from the Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 31:1-7
Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13
Matthew 15: 21-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

When I read today’s gospel, I am struck by the apparent rudeness our Lord exhibits with the Canaanite woman who pleads for help for her suffering daughter. His language appears rough and even condescending with His comment about throwing children’s food to the dogs. “How could the Lord treat this woman in this manner?” I ask myself.

But after some time with this passage it occurs to me that perhaps the Lord intended to heal the sick daughter from the start and that He was doing two things. First, He was testing the woman’s faith and, second, showing that even though the Jews thought the Gentiles to be excluded from God’s chosen people, His love extends to all people. I believe this was the true case of what happened here. Jesus commends the woman on her great faith and shows the disciples that God’s love is for everyone.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Dominic, priest and religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22
Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
Matthew 14:22-36

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Oh my! Today’s reading from Jeremiah is very distressing! It’s so graphic, even to these modern ears and eyes that have heard and seen so much. Maybe it’s because it’s so clear that the devastation described is a clear consequence of sin.

Sin is a reality we don’t like to talk about or hear about. We are even more reluctant to admit that we often perpetuate it.

It is however, just this kind of “talk” preserved for us today in Holy Scripture that we should not be lacking in proper instruction.

Coupled with these stern reminders about sin and faithlessness, the reality of God’s mercy and His love is always part of “the rest of the story.” He has, we must remember, the weapons (and the will and resolve to utilize them) to conquer our ultimate enemy (sin), but unless we avail ourselves of His help and let Him be our truest ally, He cannot help us.

So we have a choice, to be humble before the Lord and admit our failings and great need for His sovereign help, or pretend that we're “okay” and go it alone. The latter of those two choices flies in the face of reality and is foolish because we're not okay unless our refuge and defense comes from the Lord. Our own self-righteousness has no power whatsoever to save us.

O Lord, You have the words of everlasting life!

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hughes dot net)

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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, August 7, 2006
Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Sixtus II, pope and martyr
and companion martyrs
St. Cajetan, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 28:1-17
Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102
Matthew 14:13-21

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"They all ate and were satisfied . . . ." (Matthew 14:20)

There is always hunger. Hunger of the body. Hunger of the soul. The feeding of the 5000 reveals the compassion and warm humanity of Jesus as He responds to the needs of ordinary people. Jesus lived as one of us and understood our suffering.

In this week's gospel reading we read, "When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself." Jesus needed to be alone for a while to grieve. The death of John the Baptist caused Him to be filled with sorrow. Just like us when a loved one dies, Jesus too had to take time to mourn.

When we give what little we have, God performs miracles and multiplies our offerings until the fragments that are left over are more than sufficient to satisfy our own deep hunger. Jesus came to be our food. He came to be humbled and broken. He came that we might take Him into ourselves, to become what He is, and thereby to have life. But before we eat, we must first recognize our own hunger, the longing in our hearts, the emptiness in our souls that nothing can fill. We cannot have desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists.

So, if we find in ourselves a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we are made for another world--the Kingdom of God who created us and continually lives within us.

- Anne
(anne97 at gmail dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 6, 2006
The Transfiguration of the Lord

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
2 Peter 1:16-19
Mark 9:2-10

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today we are invited to consider one of the most remarkable events in the Gospels--the shining forth of God's glory in Jesus in the presence of three of his close disciples, Peter, James, and John. There are heavenly witnesses to this event as well--Isaiah the Prophet and Moses the Lawgiver. Finally, the ultimate endorsement is given by God the Father Himself, who voice thunders from the heavens, "This is my Beloved Son; hear Him!"

We tend to be as overwhelmed by this event as were the disciples. Yet, our reflection elicits many conclusions. Among them, I would suggest the following for our consideration:

1) Jesus' person, His preaching, and His actions, are all inescapably connected to the Hebrew Scriptures, including the Law and the Prophets. They are a fulfillment of all that God planned from the beginning. As God turned the sin of Adam and Eve into greater good for His children then, so He can do at the present time.

2) Behind everyday appearances, there is deeper divine meaning hidden just below the surface. Ordinary life, containing so much drabness, suffering, and ugliness, even now by God's providential power, contains splendor, glory, and beauty.

3) As the Transfiguration showed us the true beauty of Jesus; so too, all of those joined with Jesus through faith, hope, and love, are even now beautiful in God's eyes, a beauty to be fully visible after our death.

O Jesus, thank you for showing us your glory, beauty, and power. Help us to believe in our own dignity in your eyes now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(pwhitmore29 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, August 5, 2006
Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24
Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34
Matthew 14:1-12

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"It is not lawful for you to have her. . ."

In some ways the gospel for today is terrible. It tells us the tremendously high price that sometimes must be paid to follow God. More often than not in the United States, we don't face these penalties, but people in other countries have and still do. I think about the scene in Endo's Silence where a priest is told that the torture of his parishioners will stop if only he will denounce the faith and marry.

It is never permissible to do evil that good may result. We cannot flinch from our duty as difficult as it is. How many of us have relatives who are living in sin, or whose lives are filled with things that as Christians we cannot countenance. Sometimes we must speak to these people. How often have our politicians betrayed us, allowing this law or that--laws that undermine morality or encourage all manner of illicit behavior? We are required for the betterment of society to speak out against them.

But in speaking out against them we should take care. We are not John the Baptist; we (most of us) have not lived exalted lives of loyalty and obedience to God. Our words should address the sin and condemn it. But they should at the same time express love for the sinner. And to have this combination, we must rely entirely upon the Holy Spirit, who, when we must speak will give us the right words to do so if we ask.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, August 4, 2006
Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. John Vianney, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 26:1-9
Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14
Matthew 13:54-58

A reflection on today's Scripture. . . .

"He did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith."
(Matthew 13:58)

Today's readings reveal how having or lacking faith can affect lives. Jeremiah told his people they lacked genuine faith, causing them to break the divine laws. Taking offense at this criticism, the priests and prophets sought his death. We next read the psalmist's cries of pain from the insults and abuse heaped upon him for zealously proclaiming God's word. In Nazareth, Jesus, though personifying God's truth and loving power, was seen only as the carpenter's son, thus forfeiting His blessings. Faithlessness blinds us to truth.

Faith comes to us when we see a need for seeking life's purpose. It develops through our awareness that we must transcend our animal aspect, that to live in the peace and justice we crave, our existence requires more than mere personal survival. Many will then be led to study Scripture, read volumes of writings about world religions, yet this work will amount to nothing unless it is done in the humble realization that in our own power we cannot live in harmonious love toward one another. Only through obedience to God can humanity learn and fulfill its purpose, to participate in divine goodness, joy and glory. If we seek this by invoking Christ's Spirit of grace, He will give us both the will and power to live in holiness.

Secular humanism usurps God's dominion over man; selfishness, self-will, comfort and pleasure now replace His love within many human hearts. We needn't wonder why marriage and family are deteriorating; for in God's absence, we foolishly seek to fill our emptiness with useless activities or through imperfect, sinful beings such as ourselves. Faith, on the other hand, is God's gift to those seeking Him in prayer. He progressively nourishes them, fills their inner void with His own perfect life. He satisfies our hearts' desires with an imageless, silent, knowledge of Himself called "faith" which will grow in strength and depth as it imparts to us the ability to love as He loves--boundlessly and unconditionally.

Blessed Lord, source of all love and holiness, gift us with a true, living and loving faith in You. May our hearts then bear You to all those lost and seeking a new, better life. Amen.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, August 3, 2006
Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 18:1-6
Psalm 146:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
Matthew 13:47-53

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Some would say that if there is one word which aptly describes the message of Christ it would be love. Why then in today's gospel do we have this vivid description of the angels at the end of time separating the good from the bad, and the latter being thrown into what we know as hell?

Those of us fortunate enough to have had loving parents who did discipline us can recall the entity used to 'set us straight'! It might have been 'time out', a loss of something special, or in some cases a spanking. Were these real? Indeed they were! Is hell real? Just read the gospel! Will anybody go there? We don't know.

Obedience based only on fear is pretty shallow. Even as children we often 'hurt' as much because our parents were upset as we were from the discipline. As adults we usually move into obedience, in general, based more on love. We do not want to commit a sin because we love God.

Where are we in this transition, of obedience based on fear, or based more on love?

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop
St. Peter Julian Eymard, priest

Readings from the Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21
Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
Matthew 13:44-46

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

How much do we really value what our Lord has given us? In today’s gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that the kingdom of God is so precious that it is like two men who sold all they had to obtain it. One bought a field where the treasure was buried and the other bought a pearl of immeasurable value and both gave all they had to obtain it.

God’s gifts to us come completely free of charge. But, what if they did not? What would we be willing to sacrifice to gain His gifts? Our cars, home, boats, RV’s, jewelry or other belongings? How about something more abstract like the prestige we may have within our communities? How about every material thing we possess? At what point would we say that the cost is too high and walk away?

Perhaps asking ourselves these questions and giving ourselves an honest answer will reveal how much we truly value His gifts.

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

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The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 14:17-22
Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
Matthew 13:36-43

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

All of today's readings illustrate the consequences of sin--famine, destruction, exile--great sadness. We should not be surprised by this and yet we sometimes act as if the situations in our world are unprovoked happenings. Quite the contrary, they are often due to the deliberate rejection of God’s law and the desires of His heart.

And what are the desires of His heart? They certainly don't include the world and its inhabitants suffering or being at war with one another, but yet, we are.

What are we to do?

Jesus told His disciples when they inquired about the parable of the weeds of the field that was the way things were; sin exists and the consequences will be played out. It’s not a particularly happy thought except that in the end there will be a time when all things that are wrong will be gathered together and hurled into the “fiery furnace where they will wail and grind their teeth” and all who do what is right will “shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom.”

I know what option I prefer. Yet, as Jesus knows our resolve to do good can quickly fade, He admonishes us to “let everyone heed what he hears.”

Let us all be sure to heed what we hear!

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hughes dot net)

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