Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

The apostles ask Jesus for the gift of faith, and he reassures them with his reply. Just as Jesus heals those who called out to him in their illness or distress by reaching out for him, so it is with the apostles. Only a little faith is necessary for God to supply what is lacking.

God, help me understand that the little faith I have is enough as long as I desire you. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Help me see the mulberry trees in my life that the mustard seed of faith can move. I can do little, but as Job says in yesterday’s reading: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

“At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. . . . No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son.”

On hearing from the seventy-two disciples Jesus sent out that even the demons are subject to them, Jesus rejoices. One of the translations from Greek for rejoice is to jump for joy. Jesus acknowledges the power the he has given his disciples through God the Father and the Holy Spirit and quickly adds, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Because of the power Jesus gives the disciples, they could face Satan and not be harmed and rejoice that he had a place for them in heaven.

God, what is it about childlike faith that brings you more closely into view? It means being able to see you beyond the veil or hear you, as Job did, speaking through the storm. Surely childlike faith does not mean returning to the faith I had as a child; it means returning to a mature faith that is childlike in trusting in your gracious will, in recognizing that you are my God and I am your child. To be childlike means to see beyond the veil what remains hidden to the wise and learned. How often, Lord, I count myself among the wise and the learned? Help me return to you and put that aside so that your Son can rejoice in saying to me: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.”

From the Psalms today, we hear “The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.” And from the refrain: “Lord, let your face shine upon me.” Just as the sun bathes me in light and warms me, let me bask in your love, God. Teach me childlike wisdom and learning, even in the midst of trials so that I can say as Job did: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am72_e-h9d8

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

And as for you, Capernaum, “Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!” He speaks to the people of the region where he called his disciples and preached the Gospel. The people he addresses he would have known and loved as his own. How is it, then, that he says: “Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.” Is this to say in another manner that whoever exalts himself will be humbled? The woes toward the towns close to his heart are perhaps caused by human frustration that, although he worked mighty deeds, the people did not repent and return to God. In the first reading from Job, God expresses the same sentiment when he says, “Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place. . . ? But from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered.”

God, help me understand how to take the grand scope of your actions in the world to see how they apply to my life, to this very day. As the people of Capernaum rejected Jesus, they rejected you, God. In turn, whoever listens to your Son, listens to you. As Jesus said elsewhere in the Gospel: “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Let me give glory to you, Lord, that is due to you as God the Father Almighty, creator of the universe.

You are God, and I am not. Let me remember throughout the day, God, as the psalmist says, that it is you who guide me along the everlasting way. Give me the grace to hear your voice.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus is able to say to Nathanael, “You will see greater things than this” because Jesus sees through the eyes of his divinity. In this Gospel reading from John, Jesus’ encounter with Nathanael comes after he chooses the first disciples. There is a giddiness in Jesus’ response to Nathanael, as if he can’t wait to show Nathanael where he comes from and who he is.

God, you sent your Son, who always accomplished your will perfectly and showed us the way to you. “You will see greater things than this,” Jesus tells us. Help me to see him today in the so-called ordinary events of the day; help me to see your divine work with the eyes that Jesus sees heaven opened. Today, on the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, help me understand that the greater things that you work through the world are visible but also invisible and no less real, such as the work of his angels. Michael means “who is like God,” Gabriel means “hero of God,” and Raphael means “God has healed.”

Jesus, let me trust in your care of me today. When will I be able to see as you see “the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”? It is more than I can imagine and enough that you stay with me today, keeping me sure-footed as you guide me throughout the day. Saint Michael, defend me in battle; Saint Gabriel, champion my faith; Saint Raphael, heal my soul!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings