Today is the feast of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. We read from the Gospel of John 11:19-27.

Jesus in his friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus wants to be with them in this moment of sadness. It is the last of His miracles of His public ministry.

In the juxtaposition between Martha and Mary we see the dispositions of the human heart. Martha, who once condemned Mary for sitting at Jesus’s feet, is the first to run to Jesus this time, where as Mary, remains at home.

This story reminds us that Jesus wants to restore us, and most of all, call out of us the confession of faith he called out of Martha.

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Today’s Gospel Reading is John 6:1-15. We are the beginning of the Bread of Life Discourse. Jesus teaches that He has come to feed the world, starting by literally feeding this crowd of 5,000.

His will is that we would be fed, that we would have enough to be actually satisfied. Importantly, Jesus not only wants to satisfy our physical hunger but our spiritual hunger.

Everyone has been made to seek the Lord. Jesus is teaching the apostles to have this outlook, and that’s why he says to the disciples, how they would feed this crowd”? Reflecting on this, we should ask ourselves, how can we bring the presence of Christ, especially the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, to others.

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 13:24-30. The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field but an enemy came in the night and sowed weeds.

This shows the Kingdom is both now and a heavenly reality. Right now, we must contend with both the good and the bad. Yet the man who sowed the good seed knows what is good, that is, the good in creation and the good in us. We shouldn’t be distressed when we see evil, when see difficulties and challenges. Rather, God asks us to wait patiently and trust that He wants to reap a rich harvest.

Today were are called to remain in good soil, to grow and bear fruit for the glory of God!

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Today is the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus and the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 13:18-23.

Jesus explains the parable of the sower and the seed. The seed grows up especially in those hearts and minds of those that are willing to receive him. The seed that is faith planted by Christ can really grow.

St. Joachim and Anne are, according to the tradition of the Church, are great examples of good soil, open to the seed of faith. Joachim and Anne were patient for the gift of a child. Like the one who sowes the seed they understood, that sometimes our role is to wait in patience.

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 20:20-28. Today is the feast of the Apostles James the Greater.

James’ and John’s mother asks that her sons would sit at Jesus’s right and left in His kingdom. Jesus asks if they are capable of drinking the cup prepared for Him, to which they say yes. Jesus makes clear that those who lead are to serve, thus the disciples aren’t to seek the places of honor, but to serve all others. Whoever wishes to be first, must be last.

Today, may we pray for the grace to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven by serving our Lord in others.

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 13:1-9. It is the very familiar parable of the sower and the seed.

As the seed grows, it grows on rocky soil, among the thorns, and good soil. On the rocky soil it grows but dies quickly because it has no root. Among the thorns the soil is good, but the weeds choke it. Finally in the good soil it grows and bears a fruitful harvest.

Those who preach the Gospel must bring the Good News to everyone, those with all kinds of soil. You can also expect to see a harvest in certain kinds of places. In places of good soil, good fruit, but in places with rocky soil or among the thorns, we must first cultivate the soil, to try and make it good soil. To help those pressured by the world to get to a place to receive the word more deeply.

Is the soil of our hearts well cultivated?

Praised Be Jesus Christ! 

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 12:46-50.

“Whoever does the will of my Father” is mother, brother and sister to me. Whoever seeks and does the will of the Father is a brother or sister to Christ.

With this comes the responsibility to strive to live according to the Gospel. We must make it our aim, goal, and only focus to live as Jesus wants us to live. In His Word, love and mercy by the following of the Commandments.

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene and the reading is John 20:1-2,11-18.  In the Gospel Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. Mary is one of the first witnesses of the Resurrection and she is instructed to go to the other disciples to share the Good News of Christ’s resurrection!

Mary is one of the first bearers of the good news. We too are called to be His witnesses in the world. Through the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, may we all be witnesses to the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection and work in our lives.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 7:30-34.

After the apostles have gone out and have carried out the mission of proclaiming the Gospel, Jesus calls them back to rest together. 

Are we numbered among the crowd clamoring to know the Lord? The ones who follow Him in all things and desire to bring Him to others. Do we have the heart and mercy of Christ?

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 12:14-21. The pharisees begin their “rebellion” against Jesus. So, Jesus pulls back so that the focus can be on his teaching, and not so much the pharisees.  When He pulls back, he heals everyone who comes to him.

Jesus comes to bring us the gift we really need, to restore us with God. In this reading we see the “divine dance” where Jesus takes a step toward us, and, if we begin to run away, he takes a step back. Always moving, or “dancing”, so he can be in relationship with us.