Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18; Psalms 103:1-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God." And what is that wisdom? The only good enemy is a dead enemy? Violence solves problems? Might makes right? How many of us will listen to today's Gospel and then declare, if only in our hearts, that it is Jesus who is the foolish one? Love our enemies? Show them kindness and mercy? We scoff at such notions on a daily basis. But what if Jesus is not alone in challenging our conventional wisdom? Just this month, former California congressman Pete McCloskey, a war hero if ever there was one, finally fulfilled a fifty year old desire to "salute, shake hands and embrace one of those kids" whom he fought against during the Korean War. And the result of this encounter? "We ended up friends." Foolishness indeed.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sirach 15:15-20; Psalms 119:1-34; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37

God knows the depths of our hearts and souls. They see the games we play, especially our quests to find loopholes that will enable us to fulfill our whims without the hangover of a guilty conscience. So they sent our Brother to call BS on our foolishness. He tells us to open our eyes and be honest with ourselves. We know when we do our family wrong. And we know that our lawyerly minimizations cannot remove the sting. So let us stop acting like spoiled brats. God is not trying to harsh our fun. They simply want us to treat our family like family. Or is that a wisdom beyond our age?

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalms 112:4-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16

We are called to be salt and light, and to do good deeds. But too many of us approach these tasks as if they were a mandate to fix the world. Those efforts always fail, however, because it is not our ingenuity that is being tested. No, we are invited to be and do these things so that we might awaken ourselves and our siblings to the glorious Presence swirling in our midst. And if we trust in the grace they shower upon us, the darkness and gloom in which we dwell shall be lifted. Alleluia!

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Malachi 3:1-4; Psalms 24:7-10; Luke 2:22-40

What if God stood before you today? How would you respond? Could you respond? It is no wonder that so many of us believe in an impersonal divinity. All cosmic forces and metaphors and such. God is easy in the abstract. Something comforting and affirming, but nothing that would ever stand in our way. Or so our wishful thinking goes. But all fantasies must come to end. At some point in our lives, each of us will suddenly come face to face with our maker. And we will know that we come from a whom, not a what. In that moment, we will know the refining and purifying love of our Parent. And we will weep with joy, and sing: Who is this king of glory before me? It is my Lord!