Citizens with the Saints- Reflection for Mass of October 28, 2009- St. Simon and St. Jude

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles
Readings: Ephesians 2;19-22; Psalm 19:2-5; Luke 6:12-19
Citizenship is an important characteristic for many people. When I have applied to study at universities, or to work, the applications have often asked me to state my citizenship. With some pride about having been born in and [...]

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Teach Us Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge- Reflection for Mass of October 23, 2009

Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Romans 7:18-25a; Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94; Luke 12:54-59
Today’s readings are very Basilian. In the first verse of the Responsorial Psalm, we hear the Congregation’s motto, “Teach me goodness, discipline, and knowledge,” in a more up-to-date translation: “Teach me good judgement and knowledge.” (1) In place [...]

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God Has Come to His People and Set Them Free- Reflection for Mass of October 19, 2009

Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Romans 4:20-25; Luke 1:68-75 (Responsorial Canticle); Luke 12:13-21
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to His people.” (1)
In place of a responsorial Psalm, today’s Mass includes the Benedictus, the beautiful hymn of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, from the Gospel of [...]

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Ste. Marguerite d’Youville, Universal Model of Holiness- Reflection for Mass of October 16, 2009

Friday, October 16, 2009
Memorial of Ste. Marguerite d’Youville
Readings: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13; Psalm 146:2-10; Matthew 25:31-40
Less than three weeks ago, the memorial of eight Jesuit “Canadian Martyrs” was celebrated in Canada. Those men gave their lives courageously to the service and spread of the word of God to the Native peoples of North America, and [...]

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The Spirit of Prayer- Reflection for Mass of October 8, 2009

Thursday, October 8, 2009
Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Malachi 3:13-20; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 11:5-13
Much discussion about how Christians pray is centered upon the methods of prayer. People I have talked with have asked the question of me as to whether formal or rote prayer is better than spontaneous dialogue with God, or whether [...]

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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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