14th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Friday - Missionary Instructions

 

Chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel, from which our weekday Gospel readings have been taken the past few days, is often called Jesus’ “Mission Sermon”. He gave his Sermon on the Mount back on chapters 5 through 7, giving instruction about how to live a holy life, that attitudes and dispositions that we are to cultivate throughout our short time on earth. But in his Mission Sermon the Lord gives instruction about a particular task—the mission of spreading the Gospel.

It is the task of the Church, it is our task, to “make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all the Lord commands.” And for this task, the Lord, as we heard today, gives specific instructions.

First, he explains, he’s sending us like sheep amidst wolves”. The mission of the Gospel is a peaceful mission in a hostile world. Sheep possess no claws, fangs, or armor. The mission of the Gospel is not carried out through physical force. We are to carry out our mission entrusting ourselves to the protection and providence of the Good Shepherd.

Second, “be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” Christians must not be naïve about the world. We must recognize deception, temptation, and hostility, and act with prudence. Yet our prudence must never become dishonesty or manipulation. We must remain innocent, sincere, and free from malice.

Thirdly, “do not worry about what you are to say”. Fear must not keep us from our missionary task. By all means, study the faith to the best of your ability. Study the Word of God so that it is so rooted in you, that you are able to converse about it, to stranger and kings.

Fourth, Jesus warns that the Gospel may cause division even within families. When one person embraces the faith and another rejects it, painful conflict may result. Nevertheless, we are called to give good Christian example through patience, prayer, and charity to all who disagree with the Church, including our family members.

Finally, Jesus teaches that the persecution of the Church will continue until his return. Christians should not be surprised when the Gospel is mocked, opposed, or punished. Such opposition does not mean the mission has failed. It places us in communion with Christ himself and with the martyrs who faithfully endured before us.

The Lord does not promise that the mission will be easy. But, He promises that his Spirit will remain with us and that those who persevere to the end will be saved.

May we take the Lord’s instruction to heart—may it shape our days—for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Let us offer our prayers to God, who sends his Church to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.

For the Church throughout the world: that she may proclaim the truth of Christ with courage, humility, and unwavering charity, let us pray to the Lord.

For Christians who are persecuted because of their faith: that the Holy Spirit may strengthen them, give them the words they need, and preserve them in fidelity to Christ, let us pray to the Lord.

For families divided by religious belief or practice: that patience, prayer, and loving witness may bring them unity in the truth, let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community: that we may embrace our missionary responsibility and make Christ known through lives of holiness, prudence, sacrifice, and love, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the suffering, and all who feel abandoned: that they may experience the protection and consolation of Christ the Good Shepherd, let us pray to the Lord.

For the faithful departed: that, having persevered in faith, they may be welcomed into the joy of God’s eternal kingdom, let us pray to the Lord.

Almighty Father, you call us to proclaim your Son in a world that often resists his truth. Strengthen us by your Spirit, preserve us in faith, and grant what we ask according to your holy will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

14th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Wednesday - Patience in the apostolic mission

 

What a fascinating juxtaposition of readings today.

On one hand, we have the minor prophet Hosea describing the sad state of spiritual affairs in the northern kingdom of Israel. Recall, northern Israel had separated from Judah—politically and religiously. The North set up its own religion: it had this strange practice of worshipping both Yahweh AND the various pagan gods. And for a time, as Hosea described, northern Israel  experienced some prosperity. But, the more prosperous Northern Israel grew, the more corrupt the people became and the more they failed to be grateful to God for His blessings. The went from having a divided heart, to a heart that failed to acknowledge the one true God at all.

And for this, as Hosea prophesied, they lost God’s Divine Blessing, became subject to their enemies, and would be destroyed.

Contrast that reading, to the Gospel passage today—the naming of the twelve—their initial commission to preach the Gospel to Israel, which later in Matthew’s Gospel, would become a commission to preach to all nations—which is the mission of the Holy, Catholic, Church.

What’s the connection between these two readings? The Gospel reminds us of our mission, and the first reading reminds us to whom we are being sent.

We have been commissioned to preach the Gospel to a world with a divided heart, prone to forgetting about God in times of prosperity, vulnerable to bringing itself to the verge of collapse. These are the people to whom we are sent.

And that mission requires courage. It takes courage to speak of God to a world that often does not want to hear His name, courage to witness to the truth when hearts are divided and confused, courage to remain faithful when others have grown indifferent, cynical, or hostile.

But, courage must also be joined to patience. The divided heart is not usually healed in an instant. Conversion often takes time. People caught in confusion, sin, resentment, or unbelief may resist grace before they receive it. Hosea preached to a people who were slow to listen. The apostles themselves would often be rejected. And yet the Lord still sent them.

So, too for us. We must not give up on those who seem far from God, or discouraged because the world is confused—the word of God describes it as such. The Lord knew exactly what kind of world He was sending His apostles into. And He knows exactly what kind of world He sends us into.

Our task is not to give up when things get hard. Our task is to be faithful: to speak the truth with charity, to bear witness with courage, to pray for the lost, to invite patiently, to trust that grace can work in hidden ways. May the Lord give us apostolic courage without bitterness, patience without cowardice, and hearts undivided in His service, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Holy Church of God: that she may remain faithful to the mission entrusted to the apostles, preaching the Gospel with courage, charity, and patience, let us pray to the Lord.

For the nations of the world: that in times of prosperity they may not forget God, but seek justice, peace, and the protection of the vulnerable, let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all whose hearts are divided by sin, confusion, resentment, or unbelief.

For all missionaries, evangelists, catechists, parents, and teachers: that they may not grow discouraged when their witness is resisted, but may persevere with apostolic courage, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the suffering, the discouraged, and all who feel far from God: that they may encounter the compassion of Christ through the prayers and witness of His Church, let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

 

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

 

February 6 2024 - St. Paul Miki and martyred companions - Courageous Preaching

 Yesterday, the liturgical prayers for the memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr spoke of the courage of her martyrdom. The collect for today’s memorial for St. Paul Miki and his companion martyrs also speaks of courage—holding to the faith we profess until death with courage.

In 1596, the emperor of Japan intensified the persecution of Christians in Japan, seeking to wipe out the Christian faith from the land. He called for the wholesale arrest of Christians in the entire south-central region of Japan called the Kansai region. Christians there were rounded up and forced to march 600 miles to Nagasaki. There they underwent some of the most brutal tortures in Church history. Those who did not apostatize were hung upon crosses and then skewered with spears. St. Paul Miki had his chest pierced with a lance while tied to a cross on 5 February 1597

While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki, a 34 year old native Japanese Jesuit, preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The only reason for my being killed”, he said, “is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ… I thank God it is for this reason I die… After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

In the Gospel, today, Christ commands us to preach the Gospel and make disciples. St. Paul Miki took serious that missionary mandate. Prior to his arrest his was known for his preaching. Those who were marched to their deaths with him were no doubt people who had converted in response to his preaching. And he continued to preach the Gospel while hanging on the cross.

Nagasaki, the place of those gruesome tortures and martyrdoms, today has the largest Catholic population in Japan. 

We must have the courage to preach the Gospel, in season and out. It is the mandate given to us by Christ himself. To be courageous in preaching means to be fearless in expressing the whole Gospel, not simply those parts of it that are attractive to the worldly. It means not allowing the fear of criticism or rejection to hinder the clear communication of these truths, even when Christian truth contradicts societal norms, cultural values, or individuals who may disagree with or challenge Christian beliefs. Courageous preaching involves the willingness to endure social, professional, even physical suffering, if it would further the mission. 

Courageous preaching involves trusting that God will preserve you throughout those sufferings, and that’s hard for folks who have a superficial relationship with God. To preach the Gospel with Courage, first the Gospel must take root in our souls—for true courage cannot exist without genuine faith and a living relationship with Christ. Unless we have a living relationship with Christ, unless Christ truly lives in us, there will be no real courageous and effective preaching. 

Through the intercession of St. Paul Miki and companions, “may we hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess”, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith, may we receive the true freedom of the Spirit. 

The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure. 

The martyrs followed in your footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

That all missionaries may have courage and strength in their witness to the Gospel, for an increase in vocations, and that more men and women will take up the missionary call.

For the sick and suffering among us, for those who care for them, and for all of our beloved dead, especially X, for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

13th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Monday - Follow Him Wherever, However, Whenever

 The Gospel this morning should sound familiar. Our Gospel reading yesterday, for the 13th Sunday in ordinary time contained St. Luke’s account of a few of responses to follow Him after the Lord resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem

This morning we heard St. Matthew’s account of a few of these responses.

For Luke, the half-hearted, misguided responses to the invitation to discipleship were in reaction to setting his face toward the cross. “I will follow you wherever you go” would have to include the cross. 

In Matthew’s version, this morning, the responses were in reaction to the Lord preparing to get in a boat and crossing to the other side of the shore of the Sea of Galilee. And this is significant. He was not setting his face to Jerusalem so much as he was setting his face to the Decapolis, a largely Gentile settlement. This crossing of the sea here would separate the boys from the men, in a sense, dividing the only nominally interested crowd from the true disciples who were willing to leave their homes and follow Jesus into foreign lands. 

This incident is certainly a foreshadowing of the Great Commission in which the Lord sends his apostles to the all the ends of the earth to preach and teach and baptize. True disciples will have to go much farther into Gentile territory than just the other side of the sea of Galilee!

In today’s passage two men express their desire to go with Jesus, but one exhibits naïve enthusiasm and the other procrastination.

The first says he will follow the Lord wherever he goes, but Jesus warns that true discipleship entails a radical change in lifestyle. To follow the master is to imitate his total willingness to go wherever his Father sends—and so the disciple may be called to an austere itinerate ministry just like Jesus. Are you willing to truly go wherever you are sent by God? The answer must be yes.

The second man in response to the invitation to discipleship offers an excuse—he points to his familial obligations—a son’s responsibility at home to care for his aging father, the son’s duty in the Jewish burial custom of reburying his father’s bones one year after his father’s death. But the Lord says, “let the dead bury the dead”—true discipleship transcends familial obligations. Discipleship is the higher priority. Don’t put off discipleship because of attachments or earthly responsibilities—even good ones like family. 

This Gospel certainly causes us to examine our priorities, our attachments, and our excuses. Am I open and willing to follow the Lord wherever, whenever, however, he may call me? Out of my comfort zone? Am I willing to have my priorities readjusted by God? May the Holy Spirit continue to shape and form us in our Christian Discipleship for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the flourishing of spiritual gifts in the universal Church and our parish, for the sanctification of our parishioners, the conversion of the faithless, and the grace to be instruments of unwavering hope, mercy, love and compassion for all people. {Cantor will sing}

May Immaculate Mary, Mother of the Church, graciously help us to build a culture of life and a civilization of love, together with all people of good will, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and Lover of Life. {Cantor will sing}

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for a strengthening of all marriages, and for single Catholics’ devotion to good works for the kingdom of God. {Cantor will sing}

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: may they know God’s strength and peace and the assistance of the Christian people. {Cantor will sing}

That those who have died may share the eternal life that Jesus promised to those who believe in Him; for the deceased members of our family and friends, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for…

Easter Octave 2022 - Friday - Catch Fish, Eat Breakfast

 

We all know the famous story in the Gospels about Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry approaching the apostles on the sea of Galilee after a fruitless night of fishing. He tells them to cast their nets into the sea and they do, and they pull in this huge catch of fish. He says, “you think that’s impressive” from now on you will be fishers of men.

We find that story in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But not John. Rather, in John we find today’s Gospel passage. Following the resurrection, the apostles spend a fruitless night fishing, but then in the morning, the risen Jesus appears on the seashore, though like the disciples on the road to Emmaus and mary Magdalene at the tomb, the fishermen do not immediately recognize Jesus. The risen Jesus commands them to cast their nets into the waters once again, and after bringing in this catch of fish, they then have breakfast with the Lord, and come to recognize him in the breaking of bread, in that communal meal.

So, while John’s Gospel doesn’t contain that explicit explanation that the disciples will be catching converts, it is certainly implied. And not only that, but the Gospel also implies what exactly the apostles were to do after catching them. They were to eat with them. They were to celebrate the Eucharistic meal, in which Christ is made known in the breaking of the bread. Catch converts, celebrate Mass with them. 

In the early Church, and in some places today, after receiving the Easter Sacraments, the neophytes, still dressed in their baptismal garb, would gather for some post-baptismal instruction and they would gather daily for mass. The pattern of today’s Gospel would repeated in their lives.

But also with the whole Church, the easter season for the whole church means a recommitment to the promises made at our baptism, a recommitment to our belief in the Eucharist, and a recommitment to the Gospel mission. This is why next week we will hear the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, which begins with the need to be born again by water and spirit, and then immediately transitioning into the bread of life discourse.

Where Lent was about emptying, Easter is about filling. Lenten penances helped us empty ourselves of distractions and sinful attachments, so that during easter we might be filled up with knowledge and grace.

In the days ahead, may we contain to be open to the ways the Lord wishes to form us as fishers of men, drawing converts to Him here at the Eucharistic table. And may these Easter days help us to cherish our faith and the sacred mysteries in which the Lord is made known for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For the shepherds of our souls, the pope, bishops, and clergy, that they may govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd leading us faithfully in the Gospel mandate.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ.

That our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold fast to the faith they have received. 

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

2nd Sunday of Easter 2018 - "Men do not die for things they doubt.”

Happy Easter! He is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! For much of the world, Easter is over. For Catholics, we are just warming up. Easter is celebrated over the course of a whole season of 50 days: from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. We celebrated with particular solemnity over the first 8 days of the easter season, called the easter octave. So, if you attended weekday Mass this past week, we were singing the Gloria every day, and our scripture readings related some amazing events that took place after Jesus resurrected: His appearance to Mary Magdalene, Having breakfast with his apostles on the shore of the sea of Galilee, his appearance to his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Why do we dwell upon the “Easter-event” for so long? For the same reason Jesus appeared over and over to his disciples before ascending to the Father: to strengthen their faith, their conviction, that he is truly risen. And it took a while for the apostles to really get it. Those first few appearances Jesus has to convince them that he’s not just a hallucination, he’s not a ghost. He’s really there in the flesh—resurrected flesh. He eats fish and bread with them on the seashore, he invites Thomas, as we heard in the Gospel today, to put his hand in Jesus’ side.

He does this so they would stop doubting and truly believe.

I know some of you have seen the new movie about the Apostle Paul out in theaters. It’s very good, I highly recommend it—a perfect way to spend a…snowy easter Sunday. It tells the story of the Apostle Paul in the last weeks of his life. He is imprisoned in Rome, awaiting his martyrdom. The emperor Nero has blamed the Christians for setting fire to the city, and so the small Christian community is facing persecution. Christians are forced into hiding, and those they capture are being put to death. They are covered in pitch and burned alive in the streets, they are arrested and sent to be torn apart by wild beasts in the Coliseum.

One of my favorite scenes, and this shouldn’t give too much away for those who haven’t seen it, is when this Roman prison guard is questioning Paul about his Christian faith. This Roman guard challenges Paul about the truth of the resurrection. Paul answers, “If Christ had not risen from the dead, then our preaching is useless, and so is our faith.” The Roman Guard responds, “So you have no doubts at all?” And with a steeled look, forged by the terrible suffering he has already endured for the Gospel, Paul answers, “Men do not die for things they doubt.” “Men do not die for things they doubt.”

St. Thomas in the Gospel today, for his moment of doubt, has for two thousand years been known as “Doubting Thomas.” But the Apostle Thomas is really a testament of the power of faith to transform doubt to apostolic zeal.

For, after this scene from the Gospel today, after he places his hands in the side of the Risen Lord Jesus, Thomas is transformed.

The scriptures record no further accounts of the apostle Thomas, but accounts from the early Church tell of Thomas’ apostolic and missionary activity in modern day Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, sadly, places where Christianity has been virtually eliminated in recent years. Finally, Thomas brought the faith to western and Southern India where he was martyred.

“Men do not die for things they doubt.” Through God’s divine mercy, the encounter with the risen Lord transformed Thomas’ doubt into a blazing faith.

Blazing faith, apostolic zeal, is not just “up here”, it’s not something we profess for an hour on Sunday and forget by the time we hit the church parking lot.

St. John reminds us that “For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments.” The commandments of the moral law, and the commandments of the new law, like the one Jesus issued on Holy Thursday: love one another, as I love you, and the mandate Jesus issues before his Ascension: go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Yes, each of us is inspired to say along with Thomas, Jesus, “you are my Lord and my God”, but like Thomas we must leave the upper room, to spread the faith, and to live that faith in our day-to-day lives.

St. Thomas the Apostle is a perfect example of this. Thomas, as we’ve said, carried the good news thousands of miles, to the middle east, and eventually to India. A pagan Indian King, upon meeting the apostle, was so impressed with his conviction and holiness that the King made Thomas a trusted advisor and his royal architect.  This is why Thomas the Apostle is the patron saint of architects.
Anyway, the king put at Thomas’ disposal the great wealth of his treasury for planning and building a new royal palace.  But Thomas donated the entire sum to the poor, telling the King, that this way he builds a greater palace in heaven.  For this Thomas was forgiven when the king’s dead brother appeared to the king and testified to the reality and glory of the heavenly palace.

Thomas was martyred, however, when he converted the king’s many wives to Christ and they insisted that marriage is between one man and one woman.

 “Men do not die for things they doubt.” St Thomas and the apostles, and countless martyrs whose names we will only discover in heaven, found the courage and willingness to follow Jesus anywhere, to speak Christian truth in front of kings and judges. They model the faith for us, showing us how the encounter with the Risen Christ changes us, and emboldens us for courageously living the moral life, generously engaging in Christian service, and zealously laying down our lives for the spread of the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our Easter celebrations, our to deepen our conviction that Christ the Lord is Risen, that this truth may permeate every dimension of our life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.