October 31, 2021: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

How delightful that we celebrate the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time on October 31.

The Mosaic Law prescribed sacrifices for the people of Israel, put it points to a higher reality, when Moses, the first reading from Deuteronomy, tells the people to love the Lord with all that they are.

Jesus underscores this commandment, and ties it with the command to love one's neighbor, as the greatest commandment, transcending the sacrifices and offerings so that the people are filled with love.

Jesus showed this love as our Great High Priest, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice to restore us to right relationship with God.

Having show us such great Love, which makes God present, we now live in that love and so offer ourselves to loving others.  Furthermore, we broaden our understanding of who our neighbors are to include all those whom we encounter, beyond just those we relate to the most.  Giving of ourselves to broadly truly manifests God's love.

A great example of someone who poured himself out in the spirit of God's love is Blessed Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, who was beatified one year ago this day.  The Knights continue his mission as they give of themselves in service to building up strong families, strong parishes, and strong communities.

October 24, 2021: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By faith, we acknowledge God Who has come among us in Jesus Christ, Who was chosen by God to serve as a priest to lead us to God, by being our Savior.

Bartimaeus acknowledged Jesus's presence, and responded by calling to Him, persisting even when others opposed him, because he truly saw Jesus for Who He was, a Savior Who could make him whole.  He came in the spirit of the prophecy from Isaiah, who spoke about God's gathering the remnant of His people, including those afflicted by ailments, or in great need, like mothers and children.  He gathers them to Himself and restores them to the fullness of being His people.  The joy they experience is a marvel for all the nations.

Let us follow Bartiameus's example and open our eyes to recognize Jesus present with us.  May we respond by calling out to Him, seeing Him for Who He is, the One Who restores and heals, meeting our needs that we are unable to respond to ourselves.

We then rejoice and devote our lives to following Him, and flourish anew in this new Life He brings to all the world.

October 18, 2021: Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist

Through the Gospel of St. Luke, and the others, we have, by faith, entered into a relationship with God.  He investigated everything so that we may come to know the truths of the Gospel by which we recognize God's marvelous work.

We come to know His healing power to restore us from sin and death to newness of Life, because of the everlasting mercy of God, as Mary acclaims.

Since God chose us, we are part of His mission to proclaim the message of the Gospel, that the Kingdom is coming to Earth, and is already here.

October 17, 2021: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus states clearly His purpose in coming in the spirit of a Servant, which is counter to natural human tendencies of power.

Just after His third passion prediction, and then a bold request from Sts. James and John, He declares that He came not to be served, but to serve.  (When I was in college, the thesis of a 2-page essay I wrote on the Gospel of St. Mark noted this passage as the climax of the Gospel.)

His sufferings served the purpose of justifying many, as is written in Isaiah the prophet.

He is a merciful High Priest, to whom we can turn confidently to help us.

Not only is He our source of salvation, but He is the model to whom we turn.  We now live our lives serving as He served, giving of ourselves to bring Life to the world.

We draw from Him as our Source, so we can live abundantly in the challenges of this world, and can be fully equipped for the mission He grants us to be a life-giving gift to the world.

October 10, 2021: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the time of Jesus, wealth was considered a sign of favor from God.

But when a man approaches Jesus and asks what he should do to inherit eternal life, He points him to a higher reality, building up treasure in Heaven.

The first reading discusses the great treasure of wisdom, so great that the author desires it above all else, for surely he recognizes it leads him to God.

This God is able to see into our hearts and discern what is there, and we all must ultimately give an accounting to Him.

Jesus saw into the heart of the man who approached Him, and He extended an invitation to go deeper in love that is made real.

So let's devote our lives now to building up treasure in Heaven, which will truly last for Eternity, and transform us to live purposefully now.

Today we mark the first anniversary of the beatification of Blessed Carlo Acutis.  Although he only lived to the age of 15, he spent his years building up treasure in heaven, becoming very devout, especially in attending Mass, and spreading the joy of faith through technological means, like the website documenting Eucharistic miracles.

May our divine encounters so transform us so that we can strive after the greatest of treasures that lead us to Heaven and experience it now.

October 3, 2021: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When the Pharisees question Jesus about marriage and divorce, He acknowledges that Moses permitted divorce, but then He points to the deeper reality of the intention for marriage that God established back in the beginning, as a union that reflects how humans are created to be one with God.

God has given us the great gift of life, so that we can join with all people and all Creation to more deeply experience union with Him, our Great Creator.

In fact, when Adam and Eve disobeyed and turned from God, He sought to restore us to perfect union with Him by sending His Son to be a human like us, so we could redeem us, and that we could be like Him as He became like us.

Jesus Christ gave us the great gift of salvation to restore us to right relationship with Him.  Even as we take responsibility for tending to our faith, let us also always have a childlike dependence on God, knowing He alone our needs with wondrous blessings.

On this Respect Life Sunday, let us give thanks for this gift of life, cherishing it, as we work to defend life at all stages, so that we can be in a deeper relationship with God, Who is our life, which overflows with love.

This day in 1863, President Lincoln issued a proclamation for an annual Thanksgiving Day celebration.  In it, he noted the great blessings of God, especially among the people and the bounty of the land, and called the American people to acknowledge them.

Yes, let us rejoice in God as the Source of all good so that we may live fully in this life in Him, along with all around us.

October 2, 2021: Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels

To aid us in our journey to salvation in Him, God has sent us Holy Guardian Angels to aid us.

It's just like the Angel that guided the Hebrews to the Promised Land.

Let us rejoice confidently in our God Who desires for us to be saved, because of His kindness.

Let us praise God in the same way the angels do as they serve His purposes.

And as the angels guide us to salvation, let us always trust God Who has our best interests in mind, with great love, and be present to help guide others to encounter God, too.

This Feast Day of the Holy Guardian Angels is the patronal feast day for the Diocese of Gary, where I attended St. Teresa's during my college years.  I rejoice in how the community led me in encountering God.