Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

“Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.”

What catches my attention immediately from today’s Gospel reading is Jesus’ acknowledgment of the inevitability that things lead to sin. As people in constant need of God’s forgiveness, I feel relieved that Jesus recognizes the inevitability of fallen human nature. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the slate is wiped clean through contrition and the forgiveness of the priest, who absolves sins in persona Christi. To those who cause others to sin, however, Jesus says, “It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” Hearing and believing that, I want to put myself in check whenever an opportunity comes to cause others to sin. Jesus then tells the Apostles to forgive those who hurt you—over and over forgive them. Just as in the Our Father, forgiveness from God comes with a spirit that cooperates with his will in forgiving others. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Lord, you say to me, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur.” Let me consider further these words in relation to the Our Father. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The word us prompts us to consider that this prayer embraces others—our family, the community, and larger spheres of interaction. Keep me, Lord, from causing others to sin, and let me pray that you deliver them from the same. For this, Lord, the Apostles said to you, “Increase our faith.”

God, you take the little faith I have and assure me that astounding things can happen. Today, when I am troubled at the tasks I face, help me remember that you call me back to sit still and rest in you and forgive those who wrong me. Through your grace and my humility to receive it, keep me from being a people pleaser for the sake of pride. Instead, work in me today to accomplish all that is fully pleasing to you.

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

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.”

The words of Jesus from this Sunday’s Gospel reading are difficult to hear for couples who have been blessed throughout life with a sacramental marriage. Jesus himself says there will be no marriage or marrying in heaven. He also says we will be like angels, the children of God, and the ones who will rise. He says this in response to a challenging question from the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection. For the sake of disproving the resurrection of the dead, they tried to trap Jesus with a question about which of the seven husbands a woman will be married to in heaven.

God, help me understand that the Sadducees were playing a game with Jesus that drew attention away from the truth: namely, the ones who are deemed worthy through the way they live their life will attain everlasting life in heaven as your children. Jesus speaks of the coming age and the resurrection of the dead. I am not certain, but I take that to mean the coming age as life after death and the resurrection as fulfillment of the Second Coming of Christ. In the second reading, Saint Paul says that the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father encourage our hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. “That the dead will rise,” says Jesus, “even Moses made known . . . and [God] is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the ultimate gift of hope, the hope of the resurrection. God of all that is seen and unseen, you sent your Son to live among a people shrouded in death to be the first to rise to new life. Let that hope and realization sink deep into my soul so that in the coming age and in the resurrection, I may see your face, the living God.

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

Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

The Gospel reading for today picks up where yesterday’s left off, relating Jesus’ parable of the dishonest steward. Jesus applies the lesson of the parable to what matters in the sight of God. Jesus says, “If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?” That is, do I use the gifts God gives me for the sake of his glory, or do I hoard them for selfish, possessive purposes. There are certain treasures we can’t take with us in death. Cardinal Francis George, former archbishop of Chicago, was known for saying, “The only thing we take with us when we die is what we have given away.” Do I recognize the dignity I have in being a good steward of God’s gifts?

Help me be grateful, Lord, for all that you give me—especially for the gifts I take for granted. I want to come to know the true wealth of your blessings, even the simple blessings along with the mundane trials of everyday life. Let me consider the words you spoke, Lord, and now speak to my heart: “for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” Whatever I esteem or prize, let me measure that in relation to your will for me and what pleases you.

Jesus, I know you are present in the Blessed Sacrament throughout the world at every moment of the day. That brings me joy and peace; when I am anxious or distressed today, grant me the grace of that recognition and generosity of heart to bring it into the moment. Let me remember not to look so much to others but to realize that you know my heart; in pleasing you, I can best tend to the needs of others. The only things I am to have, I will have to give away.

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=2W-KSOPWWBY

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Jesus said to his disciples, “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells the parable of the steward who squandered property. When his master made clear that he would no longer be his steward, the steward then made dishonest arrangements with his master’s debtors to give him an advantage once out of his service. The meaning of the parable is somewhat difficult to unravel. In subsequent passages in Luke, however, Jesus says this about the steward in the parable: “If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?” God, how far do I go in recognizing true wealth when I see it, and how do I take that into my care as a steward of my faith?

Help me understand, Lord, the Gospel and the reading from Saint Paul. Through Jesus’ dying and rising, I have the means—the freedom to choose—of attaining eternal life even as a sojourner here on earth. Saint Paul speaks of this choice: “Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their ‘shame.’ Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Saint Charles Borromeo, whose memorial is celebrated today, recognized the place of worldly things in respect to the world to come, saying, “Make use of [the things of this world] according to need, not pleasure, and take care to pass through these temporal things in such a way as not to lose things eternal.”

Jesus, be present with me today so that I can stand firm in desiring true wealth and bringing its hope to others. Through your grace, Lord, let me recall that I live in the hope of the resurrection because of your power to bring all things into subjection to yourself. I want to be a child of the light.

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