For this week’s homily please watch the video below.

St. Gregory the Great  got it wrong identifying Mary Magdalene with Mary, the sister of Lazarus and the sinful woman (Luke 7,38ff)  who washed Jesus’ feet. She’s one of the women followers of Jesus who came up to Jerusalem with him, mentioned in Luke’s gospel. She was a star witness at his resurrection. Her feast day is today, July 22.

 Yet,  Gregory’s description of her spirituality is right on.

Here’s an excerpt from his beautiful sermon in today’s Liturgy of the Hours:

“We should reflect on Mary’s attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tells us: Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.

“At first she sought but did not find, but when she persevered it happened that she found what she was looking for. When our desires are not satisfied, they grow stronger, and becoming stronger they take hold of their object. Holy desires likewise grow with anticipation, and if they do not grow they are not really desires. Anyone who succeeds in attaining the truth has burned with such a great love. As David says: My soul has thirsted for the living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? And so also in the Song of Songs the Church says: I was wounded by love; and again: My soul is melted with love.

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek? She is asked why she is sorrowing so that her desire might be strengthened; for when she mentions whom she is seeking, her love is kindled all the more ardently.

“Jesus says to her: Mary. Jesus is not recognized when he calls her “woman”; so he calls her by name, as though he were saying: Recognize me as I recognize you; for I do not know you as I know others; I know you as yourself. And so Mary, once addressed by name, recognizes who is speaking. She immediately calls him rabboni, that is to say, teacher, because the one whom she sought outwardly was the one who inwardly taught her to keep on searching.”

Some recently, using flimsy evidence from 3rd and 4th century gnostic writings, want to “de-mythologize” Jesus and romanticize his relationship with Mary. Some claim he was even married to her. Their claims have been sensationalized in the  media and unfortunately get a wide hearing.

Better to listen to the earlier witness of the four gospels and the evidence of the New Testament. They recognize Mary as a disciple who was one of many women followers of Jesus and loved him. Their witness is older and more reliable. There’s also new archeological evidence about Magdala, Mary’s hometown, that helps us understand Mary Magdalene. Take a look.

I started watching The Chosen and notice Mary Magdalene is still saddled somewhat with the “sinful woman” past and is from Capernaum rather than Magdala. Still, a nice presentation. It’s not afraid to present the human situation Jesus became part of, and I especially like its way of bringing women into the gospel world. Mary Magdalene among them.

What can we do as we swelter through the heat these days? We wonder in a world worried about its future. Can we do anything? Let’s not be afraid of big ideas. It’s time to think big.

In September 2015 world leaders at the United Nations agreed to work for 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The goals aim to “eliminate poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change, while ensuring no one is left behind. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while also tackling climate change and environmental protection.” https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/

Cities have become an important focus for Sustainable Development, because today more than half the world’s population lives in cities and that number is expected to reach two-thirds by the year 2060. In cities “the battle for sustainability will be won or lost,” one UN expert remarked. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2018/07/un-forum-spotlights-cities-struggle-sustainability-will-won-lost/

The 11th goal of Sustainable Development is “making cities safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable by 2030. Sustainability differs from city to city, but quality of life means among other things, adequate housing, work and employment, clean water and air, access to public transportation.

Mayors throughout the United States have recognized the important role that cities can play in achieving the SDGs. In 2018, New York City was the first city to issue a report on its progress towards sustainability. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/international/downloads/pdf/NYC_VLR_2018_FINAL.pdf

Governments, civil society and the private sector are all called upon to contribute to the realization of these goals. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2016/05/mobilizing-citizens-of-the-world-to-achieve-the-2030-agenda/

At a time when countries are building walls and thinking only of themselves, why not think big? What can we do? Our church, at least here in the US doesn’t seem active enough. It’s time to support big ideas. The signs are here to read.

20 Tue Weekday [Saint Apollinaris, Martyr] Ex 14:21—15:1/Mt 12:46-50 

21 Wed Weekday ([Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church]

Ex 16:1-5, 9-15/Mt 13:1-9 

22 Thu Saint Mary Magdalene Feast Sg 3:1-4b or 2 Cor 5:14-17/Jn 20:1-2, 11-18 

23 Fri Weekday [Saint Bridget] Ex 20:1-17/Mt 13:18-23 

24 Sat Weekday [Saint Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest] Ex 24:3-8/Mt 13:24-30

24 Saturday, The Martyrs of Damiel,   

25 SUN SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

2 Kgs 4:42-44/Eph 4:1-6/Jn 6:1-15 

We join Moses and the Israelites in their release from Egypt and Pharaoh’s chains in our first readings this week. The people wonder if could all be true. Don’t miss their doubt. We wonder too at the great mercy of God.

The gospel readings from Matthew are Jesus’ response to the lack of faith he finds. He teaches the parables of the seed, the weeds and the wheat.

Mary Magdalene, the apostle to the apostles, has her feast on July 22. She is a good saint remember. Jesus appeared to her first after his resurrection, the gospel says. She brings us news of what she saw.

Other saints this week are good to remember too. Bridget of Sweden, another strong woman, is remembered July 23rd. She was a strong advocate of the popes. May she strengthen Pope Francis these days.

And may St.Sharbel Makluf from Lebanon strengthen that nation experiencing such pain today.

The Passionists remember on July 24, the Martyrs of Damiel, 26 religious killed in the Spanish Civil War. An inspiring story.

For morning and evening prayer, see here.  Week 4

For this week’s homily, please watch the video below.

JULY 12 Mon Weekday Ex 1:8-14, 22/Mt 10:34—11:1 

13 Tue Weekday [Saint Henry] Ex 2:1-15a/Mt 11:20-24

14 Wed USA: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin Memorial Ex 3:1-6, 9-12/Mt 11:25-27 

15 Thu Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Memorial

Ex 3:13-20/Mt 11:28-30 

16 Fri Weekday [Our Lady of Mount Carmel] Ex 11:10—12:14/Mt 12:1-8 

17 Sat Weekday [BVM] Ex 12:37-42/Mt 12:14-21 

18 SUN SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jer 23:1-6/Eph 2:13-18/Mk 6:30-34 

We begin reading from the Book of Exodus on Monday of this week, and for almost three weeks we’ll be reading the story of one of our most important ancestors in faith– Moses.  God sends Moses to bring his people from Egypt to the Promised Land after “ A new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.”

We continue reading from the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 10-12.

St. Bonaventure, whose feast is celebrated on Thursday, played an important role in the development of the Franciscan movement. He brought intellectual gifts to Francis’ tradition. 

The saints (and important figures) of any tradition bring new dimensions to the original charism of the founder.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, enriches the charism of so many great religious traditions in the church by her presence. Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16) enriches the Carmelite tradition.

For Morning and Evening Prayer  www.praydaybyday.org.  Week 3

For this week’s homily please watch the video below.

Stories of Jacob, his wives and his sons continue the story of the patriarchs from the Book of Genesis we’re reading in our lectionary these days. I notices some call it the story of our ancestors, instead of patriarchs, to give it a wider net of actors.

They/ve inherited God’s promise to Abraham, and they continue his search for a land of their own. It seems like a never-ending search; God occasionally appears on the way affirming them, but there’s famine to contend with, as we see in the illustration above, and human weakness is always part of their story.

But God will get them through.

Abraham is our “father in faith”. The ancestors, especially Abraham, are examples of faith and trust in God as they face an unknown future. Faith and trust kept them going;; faith and trust keeps all humanity going. Faith and trust keeps the Church going as she makes her pilgrim way.

We can learn from the humanity we find in the ancestors, the men and their wives, their children, their friends, their servants and their enemies. They’re far from perfect. They live in a world of cruel wars and famine, stubborn enemies, political instability and unpredictable events. There are family fights, jealous brothers and sisters and sneaky deals at every step.

We can learn some important human as well as spiritual lessons from them. For example, Joseph’s brothers entered Egypt at a time of widespread famine. “In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world.” (Genesis 41,57)

Egypt wisely opened its food supply to eveybody. Was it just kindness, or was it good politics too? I remember reading that the Byzantine Empire fell so quickly to the armies of Mohammed because the Byzantines neglected to care for the Bedouin tribes at their borders and along their trade routes.

US policy now is to cut foreign aide to poorer nations of the world, especially those experiencing climate related shortages of food. Inevitably, violence in those countries will spill over to ours. Ancient Egypt knew that if you take care of others in bad times you take care of yourself. We’re all bound together, whether we know it or not.

The early Christian writer Marcion wanted to do away with the Old Testament because it wasn’t spiritual enough. But there’s reality in these stories. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” He was made flesh and dwelt among sinful humanity. He didn’t come to save the saved.

Knowing our ancestors and their times helps us to know ourselves and our times. In them we see the hand of God at work.

For this week’s homily please watch the video below.

June 28 Mon Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr Memorial

Gn 18:16-33/Mt 8:18-22 

29 Tue SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES Solemnity

 Acts 12:1-11/2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18/Mt 16:13-19 

30 Wed Weekday [The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church]

Gn 21:5, 8-20a/Mt 8:28-34 

July 1 Thu Weekday [USA: Saint Junípero Serra, Priest]

Gn 22:1b-19/Mt 9:1-8 

2 Fri Weekday Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67/Mt 9:9-13

3 Sat Saint Thomas, Apostle Feast Eph 2:19-22/Jn 20:24-29 

4 SUN FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Ez 2:2-5/2 Cor 12:7-10/Mk 6:1-6a

The Genesis stories read this week recall Sarah’s death and her burial in land promised to Abraham by God. They also recall Isaac’s marriage to Rebecca, securing the promise of heirs to Abraham. The last great test God gives to Abraham is recalled on Thursday, when God asks him to sacrifice his son.

Three important apostles are recalled in feasts this week: Peter and Paul and Thomas.

Morning and Evening Prayer: week 2 here.