4th Week of Ordinary Time 2025 - Tuesday - Fall at the feet of Jesus

 Throughout the Gospels, we read of many different reactions to Jesus:

Some, like the apostles, left everything to follow him. Some, drew near to him for miracles, but walked away when it came time to abide by his teachings. Some reacted with downright vehemence, tearing their garments in anger.

In today’s Gospel, St. Mark describes a number of reactions to Jesus. 

Jairus, a man of considerable eminence, approached Jesus and fell at His feet, asking in faith for him to heal his daughter. In the incident that followed, when Jesus asked who had touched him, the hemorrhaging woman also approached and fell at his feet, her faith a conduit for healing. Then we heard of the he servants of Jairus’ household. They approached with little faith, doubting Jesus possessed the power necessary to save the little girl. 

In highlighting these different reactions to Jesus, we are challenged to consider how we are reacting to him. Maybe there were points in our life when we’ve reacted like the people in Nazareth, wanting to silence Him by all means necessary. Maybe, now, after coming to faith, we fluctuate. There are moments where we fall down at his feet in worship like Jairus, when we reach out to the hem of his garment to be healed like the woman with the hemorrhage, but sometimes, even after encountering him over and over, working miracles, delivering souls from evil, we still doubt he has the power to save us. Our faith fluctuates. Why?

Our faith fluctuates for many reasons—perhaps because we rely too heavily on our own strength, or we fear entrusting certain areas of our lives to the Lord. But the stories of Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman show us that we do not need perfect faith to encounter Jesus; what we need is the humility and courage to turn to Him, however uncertain we may feel.

Notice that He does not scold or reject anyone who approaches Him, even with faltering faith—He responds with compassion and healing. 

Like Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage, or task is to recognize our need for Jesus, and to fall at his feet asking for help. So often, we continue to commit the same sins over and over, or we fail to see real spiritual growth because we do not ask for help. It’s okay to admit even that you are unfilled in life. Ask God for help to find fulfillment. Maybe it’s your routine that needs to change, maybe simply your outlook. But the Lord will help you find fulfillment, if you turn and ask for help.

Today, let us commit ourselves anew to drawing near to Christ, trusting that He can do what we cannot do for ourselves, and allowing His power to transform our lives for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Confident that Jesus meets us with compassion when we turn to Him in faith, let us bring our needs and the needs of the world before our loving Father:

For the Church – that all believers may draw near to Christ with humble and courageous faith, trusting in His power to guide and heal us.

For world leaders and those in authority – that they may look to the Gospel for wisdom in fulfilling their duties and serving the common good

For those struggling with doubt or wavering faith – that they may, like Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman, find the grace to place their trust in Jesus’ transforming love.

For the sick and those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit – that, by approaching the Lord in prayer, they may experience His healing presence and compassionate care.

For all who have died, especially N. that they may be welcomed into the fullness of life and peace in God’s kingdom.

Heavenly Father, receive the prayers we offer this day. May each of us, with humble hearts, draw close to Your Son for healing and deliverance. Grant us the faith to trust in His power to save us, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

February 3 2025 - St. Blaise - May the Lord deliver you

 

I remember one year, a school teacher joking that every after the annual St Blaise throat blessing she would get some sort of sore throat. And I would joke back, just think how bad the sore throat would have been without the blessing! And consider this: do you have a sore throat right now?” “No” she answered. “Then God delivered you from the illness, just as we prayed”.

“Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, may the Lord deliver you from every disease of the throat.” 

Deliverance is a common message in scripture. In the Book of Exodus, God delivers his people from slavery. Through his chosen instrument, the young shepherd boy, David, God delivered his people from the Philistines, when David slew Goliath. God delivered Daniel from the Lion’s Den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered from the fiery furnace. 

In his own public ministry, the Lord Jesus delivered countless people from illness and demon possession. He rescued the apostles from the terrible storm on the sea of Galilee, and the multitude of people from hunger when he multiplied the fish and loaves. God delivered Paul and Silas from prison, and sent an angel to deliver Peter and the apostles from prison as well. 

Notice, that in each case God’s people are already suffering: Daniel is in the lion’s den, the paralytic is already paralyzed, Peter is already in prison. 

Rather than shielding us from all suffering, God chooses to deliver us from our suffering to help us draw closer to him, to recognize that He is our salvation. 

This is most evident in our salvation in Christ. In our sinful state, we are to recognize that Jesus Christ alone is our salvation. The life of faith begins when we recognize that. We are lost without him. Lord, deliver us. 

He even taught us to pray, “deliver us from evil”. In the course of this life, we will continue to experience many forms of suffering and evil. But we learn to turn to God in those times to deliver us, to provide the help that can only come from Him. In this way, God has transformed our suffering into an avenue of grace, growth, and salvation.

May we form that habit of turning to the Lord for help in all of our troubles, especially our sinfulness, opening our minds and hearts to his grace, and experiencing the transformation he desires for us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church: That she may faithfully proclaim Christ as our Deliverer, leading all people to trust in His power to set us free from sin and every form of spiritual bondage. Let us pray to the Lord…

For all who hold public office: That they may follow God’s example of deliverance by working tirelessly to liberate the oppressed, promote justice, and protect the vulnerable in society. Let us pray to the Lord…

For those enduring trials and hardships: That they may never lose hope but turn to the Lord in their suffering, trusting in His saving hand to deliver, strengthen, and transform them. Let us pray to the Lord…

For our members of our parish: That we may be instruments of God’s mercy, offering prayers and support for those who suffer, and bearing witness to the power of God to deliver and save. Let us pray to the Lord…

For the sick and suffering, especially those with ailments of the throat: Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, may the Lord grant them healing, relief from pain, and renewed strength of body and spirit. Let us pray to the Lord…

For the faithful departed: That they may be delivered from every bond of sin and welcomed into the fullness of life and peace in God’s eternal kingdom, especially N. Let us pray to the Lord…

God our Deliverer, You have shown Your mighty power throughout history, rescuing Your people from danger, sickness, and sin. Hear our prayers this day. Help us to turn to You with unwavering faith in times of trial, that we may always experience Your transforming grace. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

February 2 2025 - Feast of the Presentation - 5 years after COVID and the Light of Faith

 As I began preparing to write my homily this weekend, I was trying to recall the last time we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation—Candlemas--at the weekend masses. Eventually, I had to look it up, and realized why I was having a hard time remembering. The year was 2020, when February 2 fell on a Sunday, and a lot was on our mind that year. Already in February 2020, news of COVID deaths were being reported in Asia, the middle East, and Europe, though, I think at that time, we were still calling it “the China-Virus”. On February 2, 2020 there were only 11 COVID cases reported in the United States. The first COVID death in the US wouldn’t be reported until February 29, 2020, but anxiety was certainly growing among us, and conflicting news reports. Theories of the virus’ origin were already starting to circulate, and speculations of how our government would handle things, but we were still some time away from “fifteen days to slow the spread”. 

So, the last time we celebrated this particular feast together, at the weekend masses, we were bracing ourselves for facing the unknown. We gathered in the light of Christ, lighting our Candlemas candles, facing a dark horizon, an incoming storm—having no real knowledge how the global pandemic would unfold. 

Yet, we gathered. And that light, the light our Candlemas candles symbolize—was so important, wasn’t it?

Now, maybe, for some, the light of faith flickered in those ensuing months, as church doors were locked. Perhaps, for some, the light of faith was extinguished.  After all, for many parishes, weekend mass attendance has still not recovered.

To some people, church leaders seemed to fail us precisely when we desperately desired access to the sacraments. 

For some, the flame of faith flickered due to the convenience of live streamed masses, leading them to question the need to return to physical attendance. Some, out of caution for their own health or for other vulnerable persons, the risk of gathering for mass continued to be a deterrent. Some continued to exercise great caution, even after the bishops encouraged us to return to Mass. 

Some, sadly, began questioning the value of even gathering for Mass, and simply haven’t returned.

But here we. And the Lord has seen through the darkness of that particular point in history, to light our candles once again, thanks be to God.

And now, our task, once again, is to consider, how the Lord calls us to bear the light of faith brightly and spread that light to others. 

Sharing the light of faith with others is an act of love and concern for their souls. It is an act of love and it is our Christian duty. 

We are to be so faithful to this task of sharing the light of faith, that at the end of the day when our head hits the pillow, we are able to echo the words of Simeon in the Gospel today, “Now you let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled”. In other words, I can sleep in peace, knowing that I have done what I could today to bear the light of faith and share the light of faith to those I encountered, to those I have been called by God to seek out.

The very first encyclical of our Holy Father Pope Francis, all the way back in 2013 was about the light of faith.  Its opening line, “The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus.”  The light of faith helps us to avoid the dark errors of sin and to walk the path of righteousness.  But also, by the light of Faith we come to know about God and we come to know about ourselves.  

The Pope writes, “The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence.” Faith helps us to understand the confusing matters of our life, by helping us see from the perspective of God. Even our human suffering is made comprehensible by faith. 

I don’t know about you, but, my faith really wasn’t shaken during that whole COVID mess. Because faith, being a follower of Jesus, isn’t about not having to face darkness, rather it’s about knowing how to continue walking toward God despite the darkness. 

With the light of faith diminishing in many corners of the world, the Pope writes “There is an urgent need,” “to see once again that faith is a light, for once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim.” The urgent need to spread the light of faith, means to help others understand the importance of faith—the importance of walking a Christ’s disciples, of recognizing him, again as Simeon says, as “the Lumen ad revelationem gentium---the light of revelation to the nations of the world. Because if that light dies out, we’re all in trouble. Francis says, the Church “depends on the fidelity of witnesses chosen by the Lord for this task.”

And you and I, brothers and sisters, have been chosen for this task, to be like Simeon, and Anna in the Gospel today, who is bursting with joy in speaking to people about the Christ child. So this feast is a reminder and an opportunity to renew our commitment to share the light of Christ with those whose candles may be flickering or unlit. Every act of Christian charity, every time we encourage someone to pray, better yet, every time we pray with someone who is struggling, encouraging them in their suffering with words of faith, is an act of faithfulness to God that helps spread faith.

At every Mass too the Lord desires to strengthen our Faith, when encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, in which Pope Francis writes, “faith finds its highest expression”. “The Eucharist is a precious nourishment for faith: an encounter with Christ truly present in the supreme act of his love, the life-giving gift of himself.”

May our faithful encounter with the Lord’s self-giving act of love, help us to carry from this place the joyful certainty that our faith not only sustains us but also has the power to transform lives—as we seek the fulfillment of our lives through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

January 31 2025 - St. John Bosco - Breaking cycles of sin through purpose and faith

 

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”

St. John Bosco was a parish priest who was deeply concerned with the youth of his parish. Many were being arrested for juvenile delinquency, and once in prison, they learned more about crime and would be back in jail soon after their release. So, he worked tirelessly with the young boys in his neighborhood, providing for them a solid education and formation in the faith with the heart of a true shepherd.

 He recognized the dangers young people faced—how they were being drawn into cycles of crime and despair—and sought to break that cycle by providing them with something far greater: hope, purpose, and faith. He understood that juvenile delinquency often stemmed from a lack of guidance, support, and opportunity, and he dedicated his life to filling that void.

 “There are three things to stay on the path to Heaven, he would tell them, “Go to confession regularly, receive Communion often, and choose a regular confessor to whom you can unburden your heart.”  This is good guidance for all of us. Confession allows us to experience God’s mercy and begin anew. Frequent Communion nourishes the soul, strengthening us to resist temptation and grow in virtue. Having a regular confessor ensures a spiritual guide who knows us well and can help us navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and compassion.

John Bosco knew that his work was not only about keeping youth out of trouble but about leading them to heaven. This is a powerful reminder for us today: our efforts with the next generation should not only focus on worldly success but on their eternal destiny. And like those youth, taught and guided by John Bosco, cycles of selfishness and sin in our own life are broken by discovering our purpose in the Lord and seeking it.

May St. John Bosco help us to break those cycles of selfishness in our lives and to be devoted to Godly service, that like him, we may set aflame with the fire of love that impels us to seek out souls in service to Christ, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

For all young people who have fallen into delinquency, through their patron’s intercession, may they turn away from sin and crime, and develop a deep love for the ways of Christ.

For all those in prison, for those who struggle with addiction and mental distress, that the healing of Christ may bring them wholeness and the promises of Christ may bring them hope.

That the fire of charity may impel all Christians to work for the salvation of souls, for a spread of the Gospel, and the building of God’s kingdom of peace.

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, and for the victim of the airline crash Wednesday evening and the comfort of their families.

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

January 28 2025 - St. Thomas Aquinas - Outstanding in the study of sacred doctrine

 Today we celebrate the great Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas. He is called the angelic doctor for a number of reasons: he was simple like the angels—he had single hearted devotion for service of God.  He was clear like angels; if you ever read Thomas’ theology, you will find he is very clear and understandable.  Like the angels, He is full of the praise of God. 

In our seminary formation for the priesthood, we were emersed in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas more than any other philosopher or theologian. His writings have been extolled by Popes. At the Council of Trent, as the bishops gathered, they placed two books upon a pedestal to guide the deliberations of the Council Fathers—the Holy Scriptures, and the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas.

If you want to learn how to think about God, read Thomas Aquinas. I know many people who like to take a little daily dose of Thomas; like taking a knife to a whetstone, a little Thomas every day keeps the mind sharp and the soul directed toward God.

Pope St. John XXII, speaking about St. Thomas, said before his canonization that “his life was saintly and his doctrine could only be miraculous … because he enlightened the church more than all the other doctors. By the use of his works a man could profit more in one year than if he studies the doctrine of others for his whole life.”

Thomas is a doctor of the Church, “outstanding” as we prayed in the collect, “in his study of sacred doctrine” meaning all of us, do well to study his teachings. And yet, Thomas would be the first to admit, in the words of the Gospel, there is but one teacher, one who as the true authority to teach what is right and wrong. We simply do our best to understand and adhere to the teaching of the master. But Thomas certainly helps us, lesser intellects, to do just that.

St. Thomas helps us to put our lives in order, to see the things of the world and the things of God as they are, he teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God, that the highest wisdom comes from sitting at the feat of God, kneeling in front of the presence of God for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That all Church leaders will faithfully proclaim Christ’s love and truth to the world.

During this Catholic Schools week, we pray that our parish families and the families of all of our school children will all seek to grow in the Truth of Christ in believing, following, and cherishing the Word of God. And for the students, teachers, staff, and alumni of St. Ignatius of Antioch School and all of our Catholic Schools.

For the grace to grow in wisdom, knowledge, prudence, and understanding, and put these gifts into practice in our daily lives.

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.

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

January 27 2025 - St. Angela Merici - Faith, Excellence, Service in Catholic Schools

 Happy Catholic Schools Week everyone! Each year, we set aside this time to celebrate the distinct mission of our Catholic schools—a mission that cannot be found just anywhere. Yes, you can learn reading, math, and science in many different places, but Catholic education offers something more: the chance to grow in Faith, strive for Excellence, and foster a spirit of Service.

In reflecting on these three pillars—Faith, Excellence, and Service—we find a perfect model in St. Angela Merici, whose feast we celebrate today. From her own life story, we see how a deep love for God overflowed into compassionate service toward others.

First, Faith. St. Angela Merici was a woman of profound faith. Even at the young age of ten, the age of our fifth graders, she consecrated herself to God, choosing to live a life rooted in prayer and dedicated to serving God. Again, at the age of 10, she was concerned with how the young children of her neighborhood were so poorly educated, they couldn’t read or write, so she took it upon herself to teach. She gave regular instruction to the young neighborhood girls. And she continued this work throughout her life.

In our Catholic schools, our starting place is the same as St. Angela’s. Faith. Our Catholic School exists because people of faith started a parish, and started a school. They wanted a place where the children of this neighborhood could come to learn about God, and learn the skills that would be needed to flourish. 

The second pillar is Excellence. 

St. Angela’s life also shows us the meaning of true excellence. She saw a pressing need—children who lacked religious training—and rather than despair, she devoted her energy, talents, and organizational skills to address it. She founded a group of women—eventually known as “The Company of St. Ursula”—who taught the faith to girls, ensuring they would receive strong moral and intellectual formation. Angela Merici did not settle for mediocrity but sought to give her best for the glory of God.

In our Catholic schools, “excellence” goes beyond academics. Yes, we strive for high standards in reading, writing, science, and math; yet we also aim for excellence in character, discipline, and love for one another. We work on our intellects and our hearts. We train our minds and our wills so that each student can become not only an intelligent person but a kind, selfless, and faith-filled disciple of Jesus.

The third pillar is Service. St.  Angela Merici reminds us of the power of service. At every stage of her life, Angela put her faith into action by serving others. She did not simply complain about the lack of religious education for children—she responded with courage, gathered like-minded friends, and transformed her small efforts into a movement. A movement that has shaped the world, for St. Angela’s “Company of St. Ursula” also known as the “Ursulines” have taught and shaped generations of Catholics around the world, and even here in Cleveland. Many schools and universities have been staffed by Ursulines and those formed by them.

Service is precisely the call of Catholic education: to form servant-leaders who bring the light of Christ to every corner of society. We want our students not only to excel but to channel their gifts into service—whether by caring for a classmate in need, volunteering in the parish, or reaching out to the marginalized. In this way, you, students of St. Ignatius of Antioch school, will have a positive impact in our world. 

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, let us take her life to heart. May we be: People of Faith, rooted in prayer and trust in God; People of Excellence, striving to give our very best for the glory of God; People of Service, always seeking ways to lift up those in need. St. Angela Merici, pray for us! For the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2025 - Discovering ourselves through God's Words

 After having fasted and prayed for 40 days in the desert and facing the temptations of the devil, Jesus traveled to the synagogue of his hometown at the beginning of his public ministry. And there, as we heard in the Gospel today, the Lord read from the scriptures, a passage from the prophet Isaiah about the miracles that would accompany the arrival of the Messiah. 

Certainly, this is a fitting scripture passage for this particular weekend, as, a number of years ago now, Pope Francis designated the third Sunday of Ordinary Time as Word of God Sunday. We hear of Jesus himself reading from the Word of God. 

The scriptures play an important role in the life and ministry of Jesus. Again, as we heard today, he read and quoted from them publicly, as we do, every time we celebrate any of the Church’s liturgies. The Lord was raised in a family which cherished and lived out God’s word. The Holy Family celebrated the feasts prescribed by the scriptures, they adhered to the moral teachings found in its pages, they looked forward to the fulfillment of the prophecies of scripture, and they recited its beautiful poetry prayerfully in different moments of their lives.

Recall how Mary, upon visiting Elizabeth recited a lengthy passage of scripture, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, for he has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly”. Our Lady was reciting by heart a passage of the first book of Samuel—when Samuel’s mother, Hannah, praised God when she discovered she had been blessed with child after a period of barrenness. 

Jesus spoke about the scriptures in the course of his ministry, and he assumed that his audience was familiar with the Scriptures. On the Sermon on the Mount he says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven” 

So our Lord was immersed in Scripture, his family recited it, he recited it. The scriptures were the lens through which God’s people view the world, view history, and understand themselves and who they are called to be. 

Knowing this, it is not surprising to hear of our Lord opening the book of the prophet Isaiah in today’s Gospel, and explaining to people how this Scripture applied to what he was doing in their midst. 

Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised that there would be miraculous signs surrounding the coming of the Messiah: glad tidings would be preached to the poor, liberty to captives, recovery of the sight to the blind. And in his hometown synagogue, Jesus makes the claim that those promises were being fulfilled in Him.

Jesus explains to the people that what they see him doing is a result of his faithfulness to his Father, in obedience to His Father. He is living out the vocation, if you will, of who he is, and the work he was sent to accomplish.

Jesus shows us that the purpose of our existence is to live out God’s plan for us. This is what Jesus did…he lived out his Father’s plan for him to preach the Good News and to save us from our sins through his suffering, death, and resurrection. And the Word of God is clear, this is the vocation of every Christian: to live out God’s plan for our lives.

If the Word of God explains to us who we are and who we are meant to be, the big question is, are you doing that?  Are you pursuing the person God made you to be? Are you becoming the person that you hoped you would become—that God hopes you will become? Are the choices that you’ve been making lately helping you to develop your mind, your heart, and your soul?

In thinking of my own priestly calling, and I think I speak for most priests here, that our priestly calling never came in the form of a clear, undeniable message from God that his plan was that we should become a priest.

Rather, the priestly calling came as a result of listening to God’s Word and discerning how I could best pursue its promises. My own calling came at a point in my life when I was really trying to figure out how can I pursue the things of God,  And that question, led me to the seminary, where I was able to pursue God—in prayer, study, and service.

I can even tell you one of the scripture passages that led me to even begin asking that question. In Romans chapter 12, St. Paul says, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” And where do we find what is good and pleasing and perfect? The Word of God. Read the Word of God. Meditate upon it, consider what it means for the direction of your life, the choices you are making, the way you are treating people. The Word of God enables you to discern the will of God for your life. 

This is no doubt, why so many people in our modern age wander aimlessly, from empty pursuit to empty pursuit. It’s because they have not taken the Word of God seriously—so many are biblically illiterate. They have no power to discern God’s will over their own because they unaccustomed to the divine logic found in the pages of Sacred Scripture.

In the first reading, Ezra the priest, read the scriptures to a group of Jews who only just returned from exile. For over a hundred years, the Jews had lived and worked in Babylonian Exile. There, you can be sure that they did not have the opportunity to read or hear from their scriptures. They were cut off from their traditions, their history, their rituals, and their stories. They didn’t know who they were, or who God called them to be. They grew up only knowing the false gods and practices of Babylon—a culture which practiced child sacrifice, polygamy, and other corrupt practices.

Well, after a hundred years, God saw to their deliverance from Babylon. But returning to Jerusalem, what they found broke their hearts. They found Jerusalem, the once great city of God—devastated—the walls breached and broken, the great temple destroyed.

But then we hear of Ezra, gathering the men, women, and children. And he begins to read to them from the Word of God. He stood on a raised platform, and from morning until midday Ezra read the Torah from beginning to end:  Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.  For hours and hours the men, women, and children listened to their story, their family history, the laws which God had given them. They raised their hands in the air, and proclaimed, “Amen, Amen”.  And they bowed down to the ground and wept discovering who they were for the first time: they were the people chosen by God to manifest his greatness.

The story of Ezra and the people of Israel reconnecting with the scriptures, is a wonderful image of what the Church does every time we gather for public worship and the role of the scriptures in our private lives and our families. They help us rediscover every week, every time we open them, to who we are, and who God made us to be.

May we, in the words of St. Augustine, tolle et lege, take up and read, meditating upon its words day and night, that we may prosper in the sight of God, and discover his vocation and love for each of us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

January 24 2025 - St. Francis de Sales - Growing in spiritual maturity

 

At the age of 35, St. Francis de Sales was installed as bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, which at the time had become the epicenter of Protestant Calvinism. 

Many Catholics were experiencing tremendous social pressure to leave the Church, so to assist his flock, Bishop Francis wrote extensively on the spiritual life. He knew that if Catholic grew to spiritual maturity, they would not only have the strength to withstand those social pressures, but they would be able to fulfill their vocation to witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Two of his books are spiritual classics which continue to be published and read to this day: The Introduction to the Devout Life, and The Treatise on the Love of God. Both books offer practical advice for Catholics living in the midst of the world to pursue a life of sanctity. 

Growth in the spiritual life is not automatic. In this way, it is different from the physical life. A child will naturally develop into a young adult, then an adult, then an older adult, just by doing what comes naturally. But growing in spiritual maturity is different.

Spiritual growth requires discipline, intentionality, focus on overcoming our errors and vices, seeking to advance in the virtues of faith, hope, and especially charity. 

To advance in holiness means to become more like God, who Himself is selfless and boundless charity. We see this love embodied in Jesus who makes a complete gift of himself to his Father for our salvation.  He says in the Gospel for today, “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love”

St. Francis de Sales taught that all people, in all walks of life, are called by God to a devout life—a holy life. Growing in holiness is a process, and “the Lord delights in every little step you take.”  But taking steps in the right direction is up to us. God will not force us into spiritual maturity. And sadly, many people go their entire lives advancing very little, because they are unwilling to take those steps. 

As we celebrate the feast of St. Francis de Sales, let us be inspired by his life and teaching to take those small but significant steps toward spiritual maturity. He reminds us that holiness is not reserved for the clergy or religious but is a universal call for every Christian, no matter their state in life. By seeking to grow in virtue, remaining faithful to God's commandments, and embracing a life of intentional prayer and self-giving love, we become more like Christ and fulfill the purpose for which we were created. With God’s grace, those small steps, taken daily, lead us closer to the ultimate goal of union with Him. May St. Francis de Sales intercede for us and inspire us to live devoutly and courageously in the midst of the world for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Presider: Inspired by the example and teaching of St. Francis de Sales, let us bring our prayers before God, seeking His grace to grow in holiness and serve Him faithfully.

For the Church: That all Christians may heed the universal call to holiness and embrace a life of devotion and charity, as taught by St. Francis de Sales.

For bishops, priests, and religious: That they may follow the example of St. Francis de Sales in shepherding their flocks with wisdom, compassion, and courage.

For all who work in education and communication: That, like St. Francis de Sales, they may use their gifts to spread truth, foster understanding, and inspire others to grow in faith

For ourselves: That we may embrace intentionality in our spiritual lives, striving to overcome sin and grow in faith, hope, and charity.

For those who struggle because of addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they may be healed and strengthened in Christ. And for the victims of the fires in California. 

For the departed: That all who have died in faith may find eternal rest in God’s presence, we pray to the Lord.

Presider: Heavenly Father, you gave us St. Francis de Sales as a model of holiness and a guide for living devoutly in the world. Hear the prayers we offer through his intercession, and grant us the grace to grow in your love and truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

January 21 2025 - St. Agnes - The Virgin Martyr: A corrective force for humanity

 Listen again to our Collect prayer this morning for the feast of St. Agnes: “Almighty ever-living God, who choose what is weak in the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of your Martyr Saint Agnes, may follow her constancy in the faith.”

Whenever we celebrate a liturgical feast, the collect prayer contains themes corresponding to the particular feast. Today’s collect prayer mentions how God chooses the weak to confound the strong.

No doubt, the collect is alluding to the line from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians from which we read today: “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something,”.

When she was martyred, St. Agnes was a thirteen-year-old consecrated virgin. In the eyes of the world, she was foolish, poor, weak, powerless and irrelevant. And yet, those with eyes of faith can see her wisdom, her spiritual wealth and power. She is not only relevant, but also a corrective force to the fallenness of the world, and an inspiration to Christians.

Agnes embodies the spiritual truth that hat true strength comes not from physical might or political influence but from God, true wealth lies in virtue and the ability to stand against evil, and true wisdom is found in living not just for worldly success but for eternity. 

For her martyrdom, she won the heavenly crown, reminding us that fidelity to God in the face of earthly threat is the fulfillment of our faith. 

When she refused the advances of the governor’s son, she was threatened with death. But she held firm to her consecration to her true Beloved, Our Blessed Lord, reminding us that there is a deeper love than earthly romantic love. 

The fallen world, which often idolizes romance, physical beauty, self-interest, and compromise, is confronted by her unwavering pure love of God. And she challenges us to examine whether we are conforming to the world or living as citizens of heaven.

Agnes’ constancy in the face of persecution invites us to live with the same clarity of purpose, courage, and love for Christ. When we face ridicule or pressure to abandon our faith, Agnes’ witness encourages us to remain steadfast.

Her life invites us to learn to rely on God’s strength, especially in moments of weakness, and to remember that, like her, we are called to be witnesses of faith, even in a world that may mock or reject us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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To God the Father almighty, dear brothers and sisters, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for his will it is that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.

That during this season of Ordinary Time, Church leaders and all Christians may grow in the practice of the virtues and make use of their spiritual gifts in service to God. 

That as he begins his term of office, our nation’s new president will be assisted and protected by God’s grace and conduct his administration in righteousness. May he labor always for peace, justice, and the common good with respect to God’s laws and the dignity of every human person. 

For all those preparing for baptism and full initiation: that they may be open to the grace of conversion and the joy of the followers of Christ.  

For those who struggle because of addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they may be healed and strengthened in Christ. And for the victims of the fires in California. 

For the repose of the souls of our departed loved ones…

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain.  Through Christ our Lord.

January 20 2025 - Pope St. Fabian and St. Sebastian - Spirit of Fortitude

 Today we have the option of celebrating the memorials of two martyrs: St. Sebastian, a lay person martyred in the persecutions in Rome in the third century under the emperor Diocletian, and Pope Saint Fabian, who was martyred about thirty years earlier, when the Emperor Decius decreed that all Christians must offer a sacrifice to the pagan gods, and killed the ones that wouldn’t.

Little is known historically about St. Sebastian, yet depictions of his martyrdom are vast. The legends state that Saint Sebastian was a Christian who joined the Roman army and would secretly visit the Christians who were arrested  and sentenced to death, so he could give them comfort and encouragement.  He was discovered, and sentenced to death by the Emperor himself; he was to be put to death by being shot with arrows.  He was shot at by numerous archers.  But miraculously, he did not die.

Artistic depictions often show Sebastian standing by a Roman column with arrows sticking out of him.  After being nursed back to health, another saint, Saint Irene, St. Sebastian again, went on to publicly denounce the emperor for his cruelty to Christians.  This time the sentence of death was carried out, and he was beaten to death with clubs.  His relics are kept at the Basilica of St. Sebastian in Rome, though his head is in the famous church of the Four Crowned Martyrs.

Here is a martyr of tremendous courage and perseverance.  Perhaps this is why he is the patron saint of Athletes, many young athletes, 1800 years later, still take him as a patron at the time of their Sacramental Confirmations.

Pope Saint Fabian was Pope from 236 to 250 AD.  He is famous for the miraculous nature of his election, in which a dove is said to have descended on his head to mark him as the Holy Spirit's unexpected choice to become the next pope.  

Fabian organized great care for the poor in Rome and the flock began to grow again after a terrible persecution.  Yet, along came the new Emperor Decius, who decreed that all Christians were to deny Christ, and forced them to worship pagan idols.  Many stood firm in their faith, suffering torture and death, one of the first of which was Pope Fabian.

These early saints made such a tremendous impact upon the Church.  Their stories remind us of the faith and courage that Christians are capable of and called to.  The Opening prayer presents the martyrs as a model for us because of their “spirit of fortitude” which gave them strength to offer their lives in faithful witness. 

In all of the challenges of living in this modern age, with the example and prayers of the saints and martyrs, may we be given that same spirit of fortitude in our witness to Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.  

- - - 

To God the Father almighty, dear brothers and sisters, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for his will it is that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.

That during this season of Ordinary Time, Church leaders and all Christians may grow in the practice of the virtues and make use of their spiritual gifts in service to God. 

That as he begins his term of office today, our nation’s president will be assisted and protected by God’s grace and conduct his administration in righteousness. May he labor always for peace, justice, and the common good with respect to God’s laws and the dignity of every human person. 

For all those preparing for baptism and full initiation: that they may be open to the grace of conversion and the joy of the followers of Christ.  

For those who struggle because of addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they may be healed and strengthened in Christ. And for the victims of the fires in California. 

For the repose of the souls of our departed loved ones…

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain.  Through Christ our Lord.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025 - Cana Epiphanies

 Two weeks ago, on the Feast of the Epiphany, the babe at Bethlehem was revealed to be the Son of God and savior of the world. What an epiphany: Jesus is revealed as God in the flesh come to earth to save and redeem all people of all nations of all time.

Last Week, we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord.  The voice of the Father proclaimed Jesus to be his beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased and the Holy Spirit in the bodily form of the dove was seen, revealing Jesus as Christ.  What an epiphany—Jesus is revealed as what…as the second person of the holy Trinity, beloved by the Father, anointed by the Spirit for the work of salvation.

Today, we heard in our Gospel another epiphany, a set of epiphanies, really! The Gospel of the wedding feast of Cana contains epiphanies about Jesus, epiphanies about his Blessed Mother, and it even reveals something about us and the response God wants from us all, of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Firstly, what does the Gospel reveal about Jesus? At the Wedding at Cana, Jesus is revealed to be the divine bridegroom. And you might say, Jesus wasn’t getting married, how is he the Bridegroom. Well, at a Jewish wedding, it was the responsibility of the bridegroom to provide the wine. We can see this to be true, even in the text, for when the headwaiter tastes the wine, he immediately calls the bridegroom, assuming that he was the one who procured the vintage.

But, in this story, it was Jesus who provided the wine. By taking on the bridegroom’s responsibility to provide the wine, and doing so in a spectacular style, miraculously changing 120-180 gallons of water into the finest vintage, Jesus reveals himself as the Divine Bridegroom, who provides the wine of salvation for his bride, the Church.  

This epiphany was hinted at in our first reading. Isiah prophesied about how God himself would take us as his spouse: “As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.” 

In joining the Church to himself, through his Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has united himself to humanity as Bridegroom to his Bride in a union of love.

And that Jesus revealed himself as a Bridegroom through a miracle of changing water into wine, is also significant. Wine, drunk at a wedding brings joy to the hearts of those who imbibe in it. So too, those who join the church, are able to rejoice at being united to God through Baptism, and most especially, receiving Holy Communion with God through the Sacrament of the Lord’s Body and Blood, the Eucharist.

What an epiphany! Jesus is the Bridegroom who unites himself to us, through Sacramental bonds, that we may live in joy. 

The second epiphany at the wedding at Cana is regarding Jesus’ mother, something that also gladdens our hearts. 

You can imagine how embarrassing it would be today if, at a wedding reception, the banquet hall ran out of food or beverage.  Even though most people would sympathize with the couple and blame the banquet facility, it would still be embarrassing. Well, in the ancient world, it would be incalculably more so, because the family threw the wedding party. If they ran out of supplies, especially with days to go for the duration of the wedding celebration, it would be an embarrassment that likely would never be forgotten.

Well, who noticed first that the family had run out of wine? Jesus’ mother. Mary noticed the impending catastrophe before anyone else, even the mother of the bride and even the wine steward.  Mary’s love made her notice details that others were missing.  To remedy the problem, she went to her son.  She didn’t twist his arm.  She simply said, “they have no wine!” confident that her Son would miraculously intervene even though his “hour” had not yet come.

What’s the epiphany? Mary is involved in the gritty details of our lives, and she is at work before we even know we have a problem. Our Lady is looking down on all of us right now with maternal love, bringing our needs to Christ, even the ones we are not aware of, the needs we might even be ashamed to acknowledge—praying that we may have the strength and patience and humility, to bear our crosses in union with Christ.  Mary brings our trials, our heartaches, our challenges, our vices and sins to God, so that we may obtain the wine of grace we need to endure and overcome them.

Mary’s role in the Church reveals something about God too. God has placed Mary in this role of heavenly helper and intercessor. God has chosen her and thereby God wants us to have a relationship with her, trusting Mary, entrusting ourselves to her, bringing our needs to her. God formed the Church as a family with the greatest mother in all existence. 

And there is the epiphany about us as well: God has formed us into a family, united us through Jesus in Word and Sacrament, having Mary as mother. And  we are joined with each other for a purpose.

In the second reading today, St. Paul reflects on the variety of spiritual gifts…gifts of healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment, varieties of tongues. Gifts given to glorify God and spread the Gospel. All these gifts are given to help us serve God. But notice, St. Paul says that none of us have received all of these gifts. Meaning, we are to work together, using our unique gifts, to serve God. We aren’t meant to do it on our own. Perhaps, this season, you’d do well to consider how God is calling you to work together with a brother or sister in Christ, in service to God—that all people of all places may come to drink the wine of salvation.

While the extraordinary seasons of Advent and Christmas have come to an end, our Ordinary Time scripture readings help us to realize the extraordinary nature of being members of the church, being loved by God, joyfully gifted with a variety of blessings, and spiritual helpers, the blessed Mother, our patron saints, our guardian angels  for the work of the Gospel. 

When we are faithful to our mission— Epiphanies of Christ’s goodness and power and love are made known in us and through us, in how we treat people, in the people we serve, and forgive, and witness to, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

January 17 2025 - St. Anthony of the Desert - "If you wish to be perfect..."

 “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”

At first glance, this can seem like a simple command regarding material detachment. But in Catholic spirituality, these words hold a much deeper meaning related to Christian Perfection and the call to complete love of God and neighbor. Jesus’ invitation involves more than the external act of selling possessions; it is an invitation to radical interior freedom and total surrender to God.

All Christians—whether lay, consecrated, or ordained—are called to strive for perfection. Vatican II powerfully re-emphasized this in its document Lumen Gentium (Chapter 5, “The Universal Call to Holiness”), reminding us that holiness is not reserved for a select few but is a vocation for everyone.

Lumen Gentium states, “The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and every one of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consumator of this holiness of life [teaching] "Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect" Indeed He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength and that they might love each other as Christ loves them.”

This is what Christian perfection consists of, growth in charity—growth in love. All of the virtues find their fulfillment in the virtue of charity. And this growth in charity changes us, transforms us, unites us more closely to God who is love.

St. Anthony, whom we honor today, at the age of 19, heard the Lord’s call to Christian perfection, and sought it in the solitude of the desert. He went to the desert because it is a place without material attachments and earthly pleasures that could distract him from the ultimate pursuit.

Like St. Anthong, all Christians are called to pursue perfection through Interior Detachment from material things, deepening in our life of prayer, practicing virtues like fortitude, temperance, patience, and humility, learning to rely ever-more wholly on God’s grace, and striving daily to be faithful to God in all things and loving our neighbor with Christ-like love. 

May St. Anthony be a constant reminder to strive for that Christian perfection for which we were made, the perfection which brings us the joy and fulfillment we most deeply long for, perfection for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - 

 

For the Church: that all the faithful, inspired by the universal call to holiness proclaimed by Vatican II, may strive for Christian perfection by growing in love of God and neighbor.

For the poor and the marginalized: That our acts of charity, grounded in the virtue of love, may bring them hope and remind us that true holiness includes concrete service to our brothers and sisters in need. 

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, the sanctification of all marriages, and a deeper devotion to charitable service amongst all people.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the Holy Spirit’s manifold graces, they may find relief in both mind and body, and rejuvenation in spirit. 

For all who have died: that they may now share in the eternal joy of heaven, beholding the fullness of God’s love and perfection.

Heavenly Father, You call each of us to holiness. Hear these prayers we offer in faith. Through the example of Saint Anthony and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, lead us further along the path of Christian perfection. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Friday Holy Hour - January 2025 - The Most Holy Name of Jesus

 As we gather in the stillness of this evening, we come to adore in the Eucharist, the same Jesus whose Holy Name we have honored throughout this day—He who was named on the eighth day, in fulfillment of the law and in anticipation of our salvation.

In the Eucharist, we encounter Him personally, intimately. Christ is truly here, body, blood, soul, and divinity, just as He was in the manger, just as He was on the Cross, just as He will be in glory at the end of time. And before Him, we echo the words of St. Paul: “At the Name of Jesus every knee should bend… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This morning I shared how liturgically, the Holy Name of Jesus is reverenced by the priest, every time the name of Jesus is mentioned, the priest is instructed to give a slight bow of the head. Well, now in his presence, we do not simply bow, we kneel, for he is truly here.

Throughout the centuries, the name of Jesus has been used for prayer. Both in our public prayer, liturgically, and also in our private prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “The invocation of the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always”

This insight highlights that prayer does not always require long or elaborate formulas. At its heart, prayer is a loving communion with God, and sometimes the simplest forms of prayer are the most powerful.

Simply to recite the name of Jesus, gently and slowly can be a powerful mode of prayer. Repeating the Holy Name in our hearts fosters an interior silence and calm that opens us to God’s presence. And that is a prayer that can be prayed in the car, in line at the grocery or doctor’s office, or when we have to spend time with someone who really gets under our skin. Jesus. Jesus.

 In the midst of anxiety, stress, or temptation, simply reciting Jesus’ name recollects us and reminds us of His mercy, power, and abiding love.

This evening, before the Blessed Sacrament, I invite you to spend some time simply gazing at the Eucharist and reciting the name of Jesus.

To quote again St. Bernardine of Siena, that great preacher of the Holy Name—St. Bernadine said, “Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary” for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

January 3 2025 - The Most Holy Name of Jesus

 

On this 10th day of the Christmas season, we celebrate an event taking place on the 8th day of the Lord’s earthly life. As we heard in today’s Gospel, “When eight days were completed for his circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel.” 

The Name of Jesus is repeated almost a thousand times in the New Testament.  St. Paul even describes the reverence that is to be given to the Holy Name of Jesus. at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend; in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We reverence his name because we reverence, and show highest respect and honor to Him. Liturgically, this is observed, whenever the priest pronounces the name of Jesus in the prayers, he bows his head.  His name is not just reverenced liturgically, though. The second commandment forbids us from taking the name of the Lord in vain. 

We are to use the name of Jesus in prayer, in worship, always with respect and love. 

The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus spread particularly in the 15th century St. Bernardine of Siena. The great preacher Saint Bernardine was moved by stories of the apostles healing in the name of Jesus, demons being cast out in the name of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins comes through the name of Jesus, the name of Jesus makes heaven exult and hell tremble. The name that contains his power and help. The name, which recalls that God comes in the flesh to save us.

He was also concerned with the resurgence of paganism. 15th century Italy saw a concerning resurgence of the cult of apollo, the pagan Greek god of the son. So St. Bernardine took the three Greek letters, Iota, Eta, Sigma, IHS, which are the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek, and emblazoned them on vestments and sacred vessels and banners, to replace the false pagan worship with the authentic worship of the true Son of the Father. At the time, there was also deep political division between two groups: the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. St. Bernardine urged people to adopt the IHS rather than the banners of these two groups.

St. Bernadine said, “Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary”.  Not only did St. Bernadine speak these beautiful words, but many miracles occurred giving testimony to the power of the Holy Name.  

In a time of political division and secular godlessness, we do well to invoke the powerful name of Jesus, to emblazen it in our churches and homes and on our hearts, that the true God may be made known, and worshipped, and loved, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

For the conversion of all those who have turned their hearts from Christ, for those who have fallen into serious sin, for a strengthening of all of the faithful in virtue. And that through the Holy Name of Jesus, God may bring the faithless to believe in His Son and increase the faith of those struggling to believe.

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

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

January 01 2025 - Mary, the Holy Mother of God - Blessings in the New Year

 

Yesterday, at morning Mass, I considered how December 31 is a good day for looking back on the year—a good day for considering how God has been with us throughout in the joys and challenges of the year. 

So, as a little spiritual exercise yesterday, I went through my 2024 calendar, day by day, week by week, month by month, and considered the ways I experienced God and the ways God called me to service in the last year, and recalled some of those joys and challenges. 

Throughout 2024, there were masses, holy hours, anointings of the sick, rcia sessions, meetings with the grieving, funerals and burials, weddings, meals and visits to parishioners’ homes, meetings regarding our capital campaign and church sound system and other maintenance related issues. There were staff meetings, marriage and other sacramental preparation meetings, meetings where I offered spiritual direction, and meetings where I received spiritual direction, meetings for annulments, planning meetings, and then all of those wonderful parish events like our clam bake, Lenten simple soup dinner, and parish picnic. Events with the school, family gatherings, gatherings with brother priests, diocesan meetings, events, and liturgies. I was reminded how I climbed to the top of the bell tower for the eclipse on  April 8, and attended a friend’s music recital at Cleveland Institute of Music on April 24, how I had the great honor of sitting on jury duty, and the amazing Italian dinner I had with a priest friend prior to his reception of his doctoral degree. There was my 15th anniversary of priestly ordination, and the week in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress. 2024 was certainly a year of grace and  blessing. I even improved a little on my golf game, making my first eagle on the 9th hole over at little met. 

I really do recommend a similar exercise. Go through your past year. Consider the blessings. Thank God for the blessings that were evident, and the challenges, which in retrospect, could perhaps be considered as blessings in disguise.

Our readings on this Holy Day all speak of blessing. Our first reading from the book of Numbers contains a literal prayer of blessing. Aaron the brother of Moses was instructed to pray words of blessing over the people of Israel. Our psalm, sings to God asking God to extend his blessing upon us and to the end of the earth. Just like you can go through your personal calendar, one could flip through the pages of the bible to consider how God has blessed his people in every age—forming Israel, teaching and forming his people, corrected them, and preparing them for the birth of the Messiah.

On this Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on this octave day of Christmas, we celebrate how God has blessed us, answering that petition for worldwide blessing through Mary, the Mother of Jesus. He has made Mary a blessing to all people—for the role she has played in our salvation and the role she continues to play, both in example and also as the most powerful of heavenly intercessors. We are blessed, we are better, for knowing her faithfulness and her love in bringing about the greatest blessing possible. 

As we prayed in our Collect prayer, “Through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, God has bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation”. There is no greater blessing than that, no greater gift, the grace of eternal salvation. And today the Church universal thanks God for her, through whom eternal salvation Himself was born. 

And as we celebrate how God made Mary a blessing for all people, on this first day of the calendar year, we consider how we, too are to be a blessing for others, every day this year. 

Again, going through my calendar, wasn’t just an examination of the record of events of the last year. Honestly, it was very moving to consider how many times God used others, yourselves included, to bless me, to shape me, to encourage and strengthen me, to correct me, and to simply show me the depths of His love and goodness. 

The saints recommend, not simply a yearly examination, but a daily examination—to grow in awareness of God’s presence and God’s blessing. At the end of the day, before bed, sit in a nice chair with the tv and social media off, and consider the conversations, the lessons, the unexpected joys and the mistakes. Thank God for the blessings and ask God’s mercy upon your faults. And to conclude, as priests and consecrated religious do, sing or recite a song to Mary, the salve regina, regina coeli, or a simply hail mary.

Like Mary, we are meant to contemplate the mystery of God in our hearts, that we like her may serve God as blessings for others for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.