Jesus bends over and writes into the dust of the earth, dissipating the chaos and screams swirling around the woman caught in adultery. People will always use others to make their point and win the argument, often out of jealousy, hurt feelings, or pride. Jesus the Word wants to write something completely new in your life.
We read today of the prodigal son, but the parable might better be named the indulgent Father from whom nothing can separate us. His holiness, Pope Francis has invited us to ponder this indulgent love during this Jubilee year of hope.
There is a sense of urgency in today’s readings, both in the fig tree being given one more season, and in St. Paul’s reminding us of the insecurity of our personal standing in this world. Repent and convert or face the likelihood of perishing, but also keep in mind that the owner of the garden is also the One who cultivates and prunes that we might come to fruition.
The smoking fire pot and burning torch seal the deal in the first covenant with Abraham. The blinding light that knocks Saul down and lovingly sets him on a new path as missionary to the Gentiles, like the Transfiguration of the Lord, reveals the one who from before and within, calls us his sons and daughters.
“Jesus, after 40 days in the desert,
experienced the temptations we all face yet did not fall. Notice that He cites the bible in his encounter with temptation. Wrestling with pleasure, honor, glory, and wealth pursues us all the days of our life. The three-prong strategy of Lent, prayer, fasting and abstinence, plus almsgiving, however, are keys to discipleship in the Lord.
“From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks,” reminds me of a guided walk through an obstacle course on a youth retreat. The guide gives verbal instructions to the blindfolded person as the rest of the group together communicate messages that both help and hinder the one who must discern the correct next step.
The first sentence of the Catechism of
the Catholic Church states that “God,
infinitely perfect and blessed in
Himself, in a plan of sheer goodness
freely created man to make him share
in his own blessed life.”
The first sentence of the Catechism of
the Catholic Church states that “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in Himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life.”
I remember the night that God called me to the priesthood; after overcoming my misgivings, I said yes, and then sensed his tremendous peace. Isaiah writing about his call says, woe is me for I am doomed having seen the living God.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord does not often fall on a Sunday when most Catholics attend mass. Here the Lord is presented in the temple to be consecrated as the first born, and Mary his mother, following the Jewish prescriptions, to be purified 40 days after childbirth.
The world around us is swirling in the opposite direction, yet we are sons and daughters of the Lord called like Jesus to stand in public and proclaim the year acceptable to the Lord.
St. Augustine, in writing about the water turned wine at Cana, remarks that for the Christian who knows of the wonders of God, this should come as no surprise, as the Lord God does this every year in vines.
I’m always edified when we touch our fingers to the holy water, and bless ourselves in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Epiphany is three celebrations in one! First, it celebrates the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles after his birth by the visitation of the three pagan Magi from the East, also known to us as the three kings, who through the virgin Mary encounter Christ for the first time as an infant. This expression of universality was the Christmas celebration of the Eastern or Greek church introduced into the Latin or Roman Rite in the 6th century.
Jesus was born into a Jewish family that often moved because of economic or political reasons from Bethlehem of Judea to Nazareth, and to Egypt, and back again. And like the millions around the world migrating today, family bonds hold us together.
Next August 8th – 10th, 2025, you are welcome to join us on a pilgrimage to Detroit where the now Blessed Solanus Casey is buried. He arrived for the first time at St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit on December 24, 1896, on a snowy Christmas Eve and was shown to a small room containing a bed, a desk, and a chair. He stretched himself out on the bed and fell fast asleep.
St. Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I say it again rejoice!” Today, we light the rose-colored candle on our advent wreath on our journey toward the birth of the One who John the Baptist says will baptize us with fire.
Do you ever feel like you are barking up the wrong tree? If John the Baptist is the voice crying out in the wilderness for us to change our hearts, Jesus is the Word he speaks that liberates us today from the captivity of our own making.
Today, the first Sunday of Advent, we begin the gospel of mercy, St. Luke who invites us to watch and wait. When we learn to patiently wait, though the world be spinning around us, we foster a greater appreciation and peace in daily life.
Jesus Christ king of the universe, unlike earthly royalty, is unlimited in his ability to resolve the crises of our world.
Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the end of time when he said, “…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”
Do you go all in for the Lord? Or do you hold back, worried that He might not give you what you need or desire? The Lord God has given all for you, laying down his life for us in Jesus Christ.
Jesus summarizes the ten commandments, also known as the Law of Moses in two simple commands: to love God with one’s whole heart, soul, and strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself.
Outside the Jericho city gate, Jesus says, “what is it that you want me to do for you? Bartimaeus responds, “Lord, I want to see.” Well then see, Jesus says, “your faith has saved you.” In scripture, blindness refers to lack of faith.
Famous sports figures like Leo Messi are named GOAT – the Greatest of All Time. And we, like James and John, who ask Jesus to take places of honor in his kingdom, also desire to be remembered as ‘great’ in some way.
Does it matter what I do with my time, talent, and treasure? Leading a meaningful life is dependent on using these for the kingdom and our gospel today reminds us that our eternal destiny is at stake. But more immediately, living in the kingdom means recognizing its seeds all around us here and now.
In the spring of 1206, St Francis of Assisi while praying in the tumble down church of San Damiano heard the Lord say, Francis, rebuild my church that as you can see has fallen into ruin.
In preparation for our celebration of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct 4th, this is the 800th anniversary of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi 1224-2024.
We don’t understand the passion of Jesus Christ. Someone cuts ahead of you in line and you shout, no, me first! Like St. Peter and the disciples, we just don’t get Jesus’ message.
The prophet Isaiah writes: the Lord GOD is my help; therefore, I am not disgraced. Can I say the same?
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” People brought a man who was deaf with a speech impediment to Jesus. He healed him to the amazement of all. In Christ, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, yet many could not believe what they saw and heard.
We now turn from our 5-week summer discourse on the bread of life to the essence of the law and prophets, that is the law of love: you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and all your might, and Jesus would later add, you will love your neighbor as yourself.
In our first reading, Joshua says, “decide today whom you shall serve.” The gift of autonomy, to decide for ourselves, is fundamental to being created in the image and likeness of God.
Today the Wisdom of God manifests itself in the community of believers who spent time with Christ Jesus, saw his death, experienced his resurrection and ever since gathered on the resurrection day of the Lord, what we call Sunday, to break the bread, read from the scriptures, and to become the very Lord that they received.
We share the body and blood of the Lord Jesus at mass who says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
The Israelites grumbled to Moses about the quail and manna that they ate in the desert during the Exodus. Jesus says that it was his heavenly Father who gave them the true bread from heaven. Are you thankful, or do you grumble about what God has given you or your neighbor?
Today we begin a 5 week stretch of readings from the Bread of Life discourse in Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel.
We are all preachers and receivers of the word of God. The prophet Ezequiel and St. Paul had difficulty preaching; even Jesus would not force people to open themselves to the word.
We know in the physical world that what goes up must come down. But with the Lord Jesus, what goes down, must come up.
We have all known the storms of life: an accident, a chronic illness, a painful separation, an abuse of trust, or a death that tosses us into the dark waters that threaten to overwhelm us. We do have a choice in these situations; we can complain and blame, or we can trust the one who never abandons and calls us through his own life, death, and resurrection to enter the mystery of divine love that suffering breaks open.
Fr. Benedict Ayodi, OFM Cap originally comes from Kenya and currently serves in the Capuchin Province of St. Mary in New York. He graduated with an MA in International Affairs at the New School University in New York and is currently a doctoral student in Organizational Development at Manila University.
“Where are you?” the Lord God asks Adam, after he committed the first sin, and it is a good question to ask of ourselves.
Today, Corpus Christi, we celebrate in faith the New Covenant, the foundation of which is built upon the very blood of Christ, shed for us on the cross.
Unlike other celebrations, the feast of the Holy Trinity is the celebration of mystery that, while breaking the rules of logic, proclaims that God is one, yet three.
50 days now since the resurrection we celebrate Pentecost when Jesus passes through locked doors to breathe the Holy Spirit on the frightened disciples gathered in the upper room.
The Eleven cast lots to elect Matthias to complete the twelve Apostles to engage the mission for which they were chosen by Jesus.
St Mary’s Church
440 Grand Street
New York, NY 10002
Parish Office
213 Stanton Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 674-3266
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