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Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Catholic Faith | Gospel Reflection | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith | saints
St. Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with the bottom line: “Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.” He was helping them to be in the battle of life that we’re all a part of. As I reflected on this and the strong metaphorical speech that follows, I was reminded of growing up as a Boston Bruins ice hockey fanatic.
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Gospel Reflection | Jesus | Learn more about our faith
We hear Jesus tell Peter and the disciples today to be prepared for an hour when they do not expect the Son of Man to come. Peter asks, “Jesus, does what you are saying apply to us or to everyone?” Jesus replies, “Peter, what I just said applies to everyone.” Jesus proceeds to tell a story about those who are prepared and those who are not, those who have oil in their flasks as they await the arrival of the master, and those who allowed the oil to run out and missed his coming. Faithfulness in Our Daily Responsibilities In telling us this story about the servants and their attitude toward the responsibilities entrusted to them, Jesus is actually moving us away from predicting when the Lord will come to considering how we live as we wait. The good news today is that if we are doing all that we can possibly do and are doing it faithfully, then we will be prepared. For some, it will be the daily responsibilities we have of raising a family, caring for elderly parents, or caring for a sick spouse. For others, more may be required of us if we have been blessed with more.
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Gospel Reflection | Learn more about our faith | Video homily
Two statements are given to us today — one from Paul, one from Jesus — and together they offer a deep and abundant assurance of God’s love for us. Paul tells the Ephesians, and tells us, that we are chosen. God has set His heart upon us. We belong to Him. This is not something we earn; it is something God freely gives. We are His own. In the Gospel, Jesus strengthens that assurance even more. He says, “Do not be afraid.” He reminds us that the Father has counted the hairs on our heads. He sees the smallest sparrow fall and yet tells us that we are worth more than many sparrows. In other words, nothing about our lives escapes His loving attention.
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Catholic Faith | Gospel Reflection | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith | saints
Have you ever noticed how much we like to build memorials and put up signs honoring people? We put up monuments, dedicate buildings, and preserve the memories of those who have gone before us. And, there’s something good about honoring those who made a difference in our lives and those who came before us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges the scribes and scholars of the law, when He says, “You build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed.”
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Gospel Reflection | Learn more about our faith | prayer
Roy Bennette in his book “The Light in the Heart” states: “Don’t let things that matter least, get in the way of things that matter most.” What he is pointing out here is that it is important to consciously prioritize what truly matters. We should not allow ourselves to be consumed by less important tasks or distractions that hinder the pursuit of one’s most significant goals or aspirations. That is also the contention of Jesus in today’s Gospel when he criticizes the Pharisees for getting wrapped up into religious rituals while ignoring mercy and fairness to others.
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Gospel Reflection | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
Most of us want to make a good impression. Before we leave the house, we might look in the mirror, comb our hair, or make sure we look presentable. We pay attention to what people see on the outside. But how often do we stop and take a good look at what’s going on inside us? That’s what Jesus is getting at in today’s Gospel. A Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner and is surprised that Jesus doesn’t wash before the meal. Jesus uses this opportunity to make an important point: “Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” In other words, Jesus is asking, “You’re paying a lot of attention to the outside, but what about the inside?” And that’s a question worth asking ourselves.
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