Bearers of God’s Gifts- Reflection for Mass of September 30, 2009- St. Jerome

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Memorial of St. Jerome
Readings: Nehemiah 2:1-8; Psalm 137:1-6; Luke 9:57-62
Over the past two weeks, feast days excepted, the first readings have centered upon the activities of the Israelite people after the Babylonian exile. Following their conquest of the Babylonians, the Persian kings, beginning with Cyrus, were sympathetic toward Israel and allowed [...]

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Building the House of God- Reflection for Mass of September 22, 2009

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ezra 4:4-5, 6:1, 6-8, 12, 14-20; Psalm 122:1-5; Luke 8:19-21
This past August, I visited the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, with my family. There, stories of the greatest people in the sport’s history are told, and their memorabilia is enshrined. But the exploits of [...]

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Triumph of the Cross- Reflection for Mass of September 14, 2009

Monday, September 14, 2009
Feast of the Triumph of the Cross
Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38; John 3:13-17
As a small child I often wondered why Jesus had to die so hideously, crucified between two criminals. Each time I asked that question, the response from relatives was that the death of Christ was necessary: [...]

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Grace, Mercy, and Peace- Reflection for Mass of September 11, 2009

Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14; Psalm 16:1-2a, 3-5a, 6-7; Luke 6:39-42
St. Paul begins his first letter to Timothy by wishing three gifts from God- “Grace, mercy, and peace”- upon his friend and legate in Ephesus. (1) This salutation resembles a phrase often used by Paul to initiate his letters. [...]

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