October 2023

Solemnity of All SaintsNovember 1st, 2023 – Rev 7:2-4, 9-14, Ps 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6, 1 Jn 3:1-3, Mt 5:1-12A Brothers and sisters, today we’re blessed with the opportunity to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. The solemnity itself dates back at least to the 700’s, since it was on November 1st during the reign of […]

            In today’s brief Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed and to yeast. Both Matthew (13:33) and Luke recount these two parables; Matthew emphasizes more the small beginnings, and Luke focuses more on the greatness of the effects. In both cases, what started off small, becomes great.             There are

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time – Odd Years – Lk 13:10-17 There are three details that call our attention about today’s Gospel: the first two tell us what it means to really be a child of God and the third, what it means to be a child of darkness. First, we’re told

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A Ex 22:20-26, Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51, 1 Thes 1:5c-10, Mt 22:34-40             Today’s readings emphasize two themes that, at first, we might think are very different or are far removed from one another: first, we have the theme or the idea of laws and commandments, as

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude – October 28th               Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles and Martyrs. These two apostles are always mentioned together in the lists of the Apostles, and yet little is known about either.               Mark and Matthew call Simon a “Cananaean,” whereas Luke always labels

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lk 12:54-59             In today’s Gospel Jesus harshly rebukes the crowds because they are ignorant of the signs of the times. They were accustomed to reading the skies, and knowing what the weather would be like; on this depended the worldly livelihood of many of them, especially

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time – Option 2 – Lk 12:49-53             There is a story, found in the writings of the Desert Fathers, about two monks, Abba (Father) Joseph and Father Lot. Lot went to go see Joseph and told him, “Father, as far as I can, I say my little

Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time – Lk 12:39-48             Today’s Gospel continues the theme of “watchfulness” that we have been hearing about over the past few days. Here, Jesus also issues a warning: “if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time – Lk 12:35-38             We could say that the theme of today’s Gospel is “watchfulness,” to be awake and ready for when Christ comes. The instructions to the servants, “to have their loins girded,” reminds us of the Passover in Exodus; in fact, the Church calls the

Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time – Lk 12:13-21             In today’s Gospel, Jesus not only warns us about the dangers of greed, but also explains to us the need to trust in God. The Gospel narrative begins with a request that Jesus intervene in a family dispute; historically, rabbis were supposed to