Jesus goes up into the hills to pray and sends the disciples out in a boat where they encounter a storm and are afraid. Jesus comes to them walking on the sea, and they are even more afraid. Peter hears Jesus’ voice and steps out of the boat – but then saw the wind and began to sink. Our fears overwhelm us at times, and, like the disciples, we take our eyes off Jesus and sink. We look for God amid trumpets and fanfare, but he doesn’t always come to us that way. Sometimes he comes as the still small voice that Elijah encountered. So, how do we turn down the volume on a raucous, noisy world so that we can hear God’s voice?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 14: 22-33
1st Reading – 1 Kings 19: 8b, 9a, 11-13a
Psalm 85
2nd Reading – Romans 9: 1-5

The crowds follow Jesus hoping to see another miracle… and they do. Jesus heals them and feeds them, generously, relying on limited resources but with plenty of food left over. In truth, God invites us all to partake of his heavenly banquet, to be part of his covenant, and have every one of our desires satisfied. But all too often, our desires are improperly ordered. We crave the things of this world, not realizing that God alone can satisfy our deepest desires. Paul reminds us that nothing in this world can separate us from the love of Jesus, but we keep finding ways to do that ourselves. So, how do we change that?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 14: 13-21
1st Reading – Isaiah 55: 1-3
Psalm 145
2nd Reading – Romans 8: 35, 37-39

Jesus teaches another three parables this week – each one presenting a treasure that must be obtained and protected, but he’s not really talking about worldly treasure. He’s talking about the kingdom of heaven… that is the treasure we should seek to obtain and protect! God told Solomon to ask for anything and he asked for wisdom… we could use some of that wisdom ourselves! Paul reminds us that God always takes care of those who love him – that he knows our future, that he wants us to be in right relation with him, and that he wants us to be in his kingdom. We should see the kingdom as a great treasure, but we don’t always. So, how can we gain the wisdom to do just that?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 13: 44-52
1st Reading – 1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12
Psalm 119
2nd Reading – Romans 8: 28-30

Jesus teaches three parables this week – the weeds and the wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast leavening all the flour – which remind us that there is always both good and evil in the world, and not just in the world but within each of us. God doesn’t just wipe out evil, though, which is a good thing for us since we aren’t always good! He does, however, always give us the time and the opportunity to repent. The book of Wisdom reminds us that those who are righteous must also be kind, and Paul tells us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. So, it seems like we have a lot of things going for us… but we don’t always take advantage of those good things. How do we change that?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 13: 24-43
1st Reading – Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19
Psalm 86
2nd Reading – Romans 8: 26-27

This week, we enter into a portion of the Gospel where Jesus teaches and explains parables. Using the Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches us about discipleship, but we seldom fit seamlessly into just one of Jesus’ categories. We are complex creatures – sometimes faithful, sometimes not… at times fruitful, other times empty. God never gives us on us, though, even when we turn away from him! He still sends us what we need to both sustain and enjoy life… sunshine and rain, crops and flowers, cattle and sheep, birds and butterflies. But life is not always sunshine and butterflies. We all experience pain and sorrow, struggles and heartbreaks along the way, but they are always tempered by fun and joy, success and happiness. Things don’t just happen to us, however… our personal choices also help shape our lives and, let’s face it, some choices are better than others. As disciples, we should always choose Jesus first, but we don’t… so how do we change that?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 13: 1-23
1st Reading –Isaiah 55: 10-11
Psalm 65
2nd Reading – Romans 8: 18-23

This week, we are reminded that Jesus is the humble Messiah promised by Zechariah, that he has come to teach his followers about the Father who, our Psalm reminds us, is good and merciful, compassionate and gracious, slow to become angry with us and abounding in mercy for us when we stumble. While Paul’s message this week focuses on the Spirit, teaching that when we live according to the Spirit, rather than the demands of human flesh, then we belong to Christ and will have eternal life. Every year when Ordinary Time rolls around, our challenge is to rededicate ourselves as Jesus’ followers… to listen to his teachings and learn from him… to find rest and renewal through our connection to him. Are we up for the challenge?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 11: 25-30
1st Reading –Zechariah 9: 9-10
Psalm 145
2nd Reading – Romans 8: 9, 11-13

Jesus lists a lot of things that can make us unworthy of him… and that may seem a bit unreasonable at first glance. But once we understand that loving Jesus and being his disciple must always come first, then everything else begins to fall into place. We can love others more – through Jesus; we can bear greater hardships – through Jesus; we can be kinder and more charitable to everyone – through Jesus. Everything action we undertake, every person we encounter, every word we speak, can be transformed by the love of Christ into something generous, compassionate, and wonderful! The choice, however, is ours. Will we choose to be transformed, to be better and to do better? Or will we continue to put ourselves first and remain unworthy of Christ?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 10: 37-42
1st Reading –2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16a
Psalm 89
2nd Reading – Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11

Jesus assures us that his heavenly Father sees value in each of us, so we should have no fear of anything that threatens our earthly life. The only authority we should fear is that which can separate us from God. Jeremiah understood all about earthly fear, yet he still praised God. The Psalm reminds us that God, in his love and compassion, hears the prayers of the needy. And Saint Paul promises that God’s grace abounds for all who wish to accept that free gift from Jesus. Despite these assurances, these reminders, these promises… we devote more time and attention to worldly concerns rather than heavenly ones. How do we change that way of thinking?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 10: 26-33
1st Reading –Jeremiah 20: 10-13
Psalm 69
2nd Reading – Romans 5: 12-15

Jesus tells us that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; that we should pray for the Father to send more laborers. But if we are God’s people, as the Psalmist says that we are… if we have been reconciled to the Father, as Saint Paul tells us we have been… if we have been saved by Jesus, shouldn’t that make us laborers in God’s vineyard? Doesn’t that make it our responsibility to spread the Gospel message, the Good News of Jesus, and the love of God with those we encounter? It certainly seems like that is the case… so, what are we waiting for?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 9:36 – 10:8
1st Reading –Exodus 19: 2-6a
Psalm 100
2nd Reading – Romans 5: 6-11

That we are fed by the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion is one of the greatest gifts ever bestowed upon mankind by our Creator. This food was prefigured in the desert when the Hebrews were given manna to eat, but they were not always appreciative of so great a gift… nor are we! Unlike the manna which nourished only fleeting, human life, the Bread of Life prepares and nourishes us for eternal life. Saint Paul reminds us that – because we all partake of the One Bread – we are all part of the One Body of Christ. So, why don’t we act like it?

This week's readings:
Gospel – John 6: 51-58
1st Reading –Deuteronomy 8: 2-3, 14b-16a
Psalm 147
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17