Reflection: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Today is the feast of the birth of Mary. This feast is an ancient one that began as early as the 5th century. On this day, the Church celebrates Mary’s personal holiness as well as her call to be the mother of Jesus. Mary must have been an amazing young woman. She must have begun developing a very personal relationship with God at a very young age. Over the years, she must have learned that God was someone she could trust. Mary must have personally experienced God’s presence and love in her life as she grew up!

This deep and personal relationship with God must have been what enabled Mary to hear and respond to God’s mysterious and fantastic message. Put yourself in Mary’s shoes! How would you react if God came to you and asked you to do something so mysterious and far-fetched? Most of us would think we were crazy if we had an experience like Mary’s! Yet Mary trusted! She had the grace and courage to stay open to God’s call. From her youth, she must have developed a very strong and personal relationship with God.

This deeply personal relationship most likely is what enabled Mary to be open to God’s call and God’s action in her life. Would that we had that depth of faith and trust in God! Let us ask Mary to give us a share of her trust and faith in God!

Reflection: Luke 18:15-20

Sunday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 18:15-20

The Gospel for today is a difficult passage to swallow. Jesus is telling the disciples: “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and talk with him/ her first.” When someone “sins against us,” typically the last thing we want to do is to go and talk with them! We may want to yell at them but to have a true “heart to heart” conversation is not easy to do.

What is your first reaction when someone “sins against you” (hurts us, makes us angry, etc.)? Is it to get angry? Or is to get hurt? Do you withdraw? Do you talk with them calmly or in an angry or confronting way? Our approach to the other person is very important. If we approach the individual in anger, he or she may be more likely to respond in an angry way. However, if we approach them calmly yet honestly, they still may be defensive but perhaps they also may be open to hear what we are saying.

In the Gospels, Jesus gives us good examples of this. Most often Jesus spoke what was in his mind and heart in a sincere yet honest way. It is important that we also speak what is in our hearts and minds — in a sincere yet honest way. If a relationship truly is important to us, we need to be honest and to share what it is we are thinking and feeling. If we don’t do this, our anger, hurt, jealousy, etc., may begin to erode the relationship we have!

In these types of situations, perhaps the first thing we need to do is to “pray about it.” That may sound simple and pious. When we get upset, our instinctive reaction may not necessarily be the best way to handle it! We might say something that we later regret!

Taking time to stop, breathe and pray gives us the opportunity to reflect more deeply on what next step might be helpful. Stepping back for a time may gradually calm our minds and our hearts. This may enable us to approach the other person in a calmer and more prayerful way. We still need to be honest about how we feel but how we approach the other person often affects how they respond. This takes courage to do! The gift is we don’t have to do this alone! May we trust that God will grace us with what we need!

Reflection: Luke 6:1-5

Saturday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 6:1-5

In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees continue to find fault with Jesus. The criticism this time is that Jesus’ disciples are picking grain from the fields and then having the audacity to eat it on the Sabbath! This was breaking the law in their eyes of the Pharisees. However, I don’t think Jesus would have been able to do anything right in the minds of the Pharisees! They were continually harassing and criticizing him.

Periodically we might need to ask ourselves: Who do I find fault with? Do I truly have legitimate cause to mentally or verbally criticize them? It is so easy to get into the pattern of finding fault with others. We all do it! Perhaps what is more important is that we recognize what we are doing. If we do that, then that we can consciously shift our thoughts and let go of the judgment we are making.

At times we still need to be honest with others in an appropriate way. Before we speak, perhaps we can ask ourselves: “What would Jesus do?” I have no doubt that Jesus will help us to have the wisdom and discernment that we need!

Reflection: Luke 5:33-39

Friday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 5:33-39

Today, the Pharisees are criticizing Jesus for not being ascetical enough. In their eyes Jesus and his disciples should be fasting and praying more — a lot more! They think that Jesus should be as ascetical as John the Baptist and as ascetical as the Pharisees.

It is so tempting to criticize and judge others on the basis of what we “see and observe.” This is exactly what the Pharisees do in today’s Gospel. In their eyes, Jesus should be more ascetical. He should be more like John the Baptist, eating locusts and wild honey!! We all have our own standards of what we think is best and how others should act. However, I assume that most of us don’t appreciate it when another person criticizes or judges us simply by observing our behavior!

Jesus invites his listeners to look at the situation in a different way. He tells them that he is doing something new. Are we open to the “new” that Jesus may be inviting us to? This may be an uncomfortable invitation. Like the Pharisees, I can get comfortable with the ways things have always been. I may be tempted to criticize another person who is not doing things the way I think they “should” be done. Jesus is challenging the Pharisees, and us, to be “open” to other ways of doing things. He is challenging them not to judge others so quickly. Today may we be mindful of not “jumping to judgment!”

Reflection: Luke 5:1-11

Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 5:1-11

Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus getting into a boat and teaching the crowds from offshore. After he finished teaching, Jesus tells Simon to put out into deep water and to lower their nets. However, that was the last thing Peter wanted to hear. They had been fishing all day long and had caught nothing! Peter was tired and frustrated. He was ready to go home and rest. However, after a time Peter reluctantly says: “at your request I will lower the nets.” To Peter’s great surprise they caught so many fish their nets began to tear!

I would guess that most of us can identify with Peter! We too have times in our lives when it seems like we are not succeeding. We may be making great efforts to live life well. We may be working diligently and doing our best. However, these efforts don’t seem to bear much fruit. At these times, it is natural to get disheartened and frustrated! However, will we be open and respond to Jesus’ invitation to “keep lowering our nets?” Or will we say “enough is enough.” Or will we listen to his call, heed his voice and trust him? May we pray for the grace to have an open mind and a willing heart!

Reflection: Luke 4:38-44

Wednesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 4:38-44

Today’s Gospel contains several “healing” stories. The first story is Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law, who was afflicted with a serious fever. When Jesus heard this news, he immediately went to her, rebuked the fever and she was healed. She must have been instantly restored since the Gospel says that she “got up” and served the apostles!

However, this was not the end of Jesus’ ministry that day. At sunset, Luke says that “all the people who were sick with a variety of diseases were brought to Jesus” for healing. Jesus took compassion on them and “laid hands on them.” What a great gift it would be if Jesus was physically in our midst today and we could bring to him the many people who yearn for healing. Most likely, each one of us would be vying to be first in line! Perhaps the call of this Gospel is for us to pray and to “lay hands” on those in need with our care and concern. This too is gift!

Reflection: Luke 4:31-37

Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 4:31-37 

The Gospel reading for today is the story of Jesus healing the “man with the unclean spirit.” The reading is somewhat fantastic! The demon seemed to have complete control of the possessed man. However, the demon immediately recognized the goodness and the power of Jesus! In response, the demon was fearful of Jesus and what Jesus might do. However, Jesus simply and quietly ordered the demon to come out of the man. The demon obeyed and the man was healed!

Each one of us has our own “unclean spirits.” I doubt that they are “demons” like the one in this story. However, our “demons” often control us much more than we would like! What are your “unclean spirits,” your “demons?” I assume all of us want to be healed. Do we trust that Jesus hears our plea? Do we believe that Jesus can and will heal us? Our healing may not be an immediate “miracle” as the man’s was. Rather our healing may be a gradual healing as we continue to bring our request to Jesus. May we pray for the grace to put our trust in Jesus and believe that Jesus will answer our prayer!

Reflection: Matthew 6:31-34

Matthew 6:31-34 (Monday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time)

Today’s Gospel begins with the words: “Do not worry.” “Worry” is something that we human beings do all the time. We worry about the “big” things and rightly so. However, we often worry about the “little” things in life. Life would be so much better if we didn’t have so much to “worry” about! It is true that at times in our lives we do have significant difficulties or problems that we are rightly concerned about. However, worrying does not necessarily make life better. Our worry actually may intensify our concern. Perhaps the better action is to take our “worry” or “concern” to God and put it into God’s hands! Do we, do I, trust God enough to do that?