Category Archives: Religion

Readings for the 14th Week

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July 8 SUNDAY FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ez 2:2-5/2 Cor 12:7-10/Mk 6:1-6a (101)

9 Monday
[Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs]
Hos 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22/Mt 9:18-26 (383)

10 Tuesday
Hos 8:4-7, 11-13/Mt 9:32-38 (384)

11 Wednesday Saint Benedict, Abbot
Memorial
Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12/Mt 10:1-7 (385)

12 Thursday
Hos 11:1-4, 8e-9/Mt 10:7-15 (386)

13 Friday
[Saint Henry]
Hos 14:2-10/Mt 10:16-23 (387)

14 Saturday USA: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Memorial
Is 6:1-8/Mt 10:24-33 (388)

14th Sunday b: A Carpenter, Mary’s Son

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

“Where are you?”

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“Where are you?”

I’m beginning a retreat today with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, near Lake Michigan. The sisters have a college and a large motherhouse here. They serve the church as educators and spiritual directors and in health care.

We’re reflecting in the retreat on Pope Francis’ recent exhortation on holiness, Gaudete et exultate. “Where are you?” God asks us:

“The LORD God then called to the man and asked him: Where are you? He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid.” (Genesis 3)
That call of God to Adam is also a call to Eve, to all humanity, to you and me. “Where are you?”
It’s not an angry call that God makes in the garden. In the end there’s mercy.

Yes, man and woman, humanity, you and I, are part of a fallen world and must recognize our nakedness, our nothingness. Before God no one can boast, but addressing the serpent, God announces a merciful redemption:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
They will strike at your head,
while you strike at their heel.” (Genesis 3, 15)

We’re promised victory in the battle of life.

“Where are you?” God asks. In a retreat we hear that question, try to answer it and wait for the merciful grace of God.

Pray for us.

13th Sunday b: Touching the Garments of Jesus

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

The Clown of God

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Hain's avatarHowie Hain

by Howard Hain

norman-rockwell-jester-february-11-19391Norman Rockwell, “The Jester”, 1939

“Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.”

—William Shakespeare, Hamlet: Act 5, scene 1

Early this morning, Francesca and I had a good laugh.

The sun was up, we were not. We were out late a few days ago. On Saturday night we visited a friend’s home and didn’t get to bed until after 11. That’s pretty late for all of three of us, but for Francesca, from her six-year-old perspective, it was “almost the next day!”

So this morning, the Monday of a new week, we found the consequences of that shortened Saturday-night sleep still catching up with us.

Francesca had made her way from her bedroom to the couch I guess around five. I sat up just about half past, the sun fully making its presence known, and as I looked toward the couch I saw Francesca propped against some…

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12th Week in Ordinary Time

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June 24 SUN THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
Solemnity
Is 49:1-6/Acts 13:22-26/Lk 1:57-66, 80 (587)

25 Mon Weekday (Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time)
2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18/Mt 7:1-5 (371) Pss IV

26 Tue Weekday
2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36/Mt 7:6, 12-14 (372)

27 Wed Weekday
[Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church]
2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3/Mt 7:15-20 (373)

28 Thu Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr
Memorial
2 Kgs 24:8-17/Mt 7:21-29 (374)

29 Fri SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES
Solemnity
Vigil: Acts 3:1-10/Gal 1:11-20/Jn 21:15-19 (590)
Day: Acts 12:1-11/2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18/Mt 16:13-19 (591) Pss Prop

30 Sat Weekday
[The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church;
Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19/Mt 8:5-17 (376)

1st and 2nd Kings are Old Testament books that relate the history of the Jewish people after the time of Judges when Israel was ruled by kings, but they are not historical accounts as history is written today. Prophets like Elijah and Isaiah have an important part of play in these accounts. However grim and violent the accounts may see, the destiny of Israel is in God’s hands,. We might see them too much like the violent stories of today and turn away from them, but they’re reminders that our destiny is in God’s hands, no matter how bad our times are.

The saints we remember this week, Peter and Paul, Irenaeus, Cyril of Alexandria, take us back to the first centuries of the church. God provides leaders for every age, from the first centuries till now. The graces of the prophets are never lacking from age to age.

Adolescent Cardinals

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Hain's avatarHowie Hain

by Howard Hain

northern_cardinal_8Adolescent Cardinal

Brilliant Red?

Not quite yet.

The color of martyrs?

That remains to be seen.

A touch of green?

Yes, that’s for sure.

It’s the obscurity of ordinary time.

But what about the shade of gray?

An undyed robe.

One way or another, the ascetic life.

They have to learn to let go.

But they seem so unaware?

Certainly the case.

Too busy with growth.

No time to kill.

Branch to branch.

Tree to tree.

Upward.

Onward.

“Let’s find a new field!”

Though they always follow the lead.

Willingly or not.

Of the one bright red.

Hot on his heels.

They tweet and swipe:

“Let me in.”

“I’m ready to fly.”

“Let me lead the way.”

But maybe not yet?

Thinking they’re ready.

Sure sign they’re not.

Blood orange.

The bitter color.

Right before red.

A shade.

A difference.

A single feather.

Off the top of…

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Slavery

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Hain's avatarHowie Hain

Three small frying pans. Methodically. Step by step. A young black man behind an omelette station.

“Good morning, sir, what would you like?”

Eyes cast down. Polite.

———

“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

———

Fault of our father’s?

Timid. Afraid. Of me? Of the world. Of his story.

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

A good boy. A handsome young man. Strong. Going to be tall. Unconscious potential.

But those eyes. Terribly cast down. That speech. Overly polite. His posture. Shoulders down and rounded forward. All three spoke: “I am not worthy…”

The fear of man. The fear of me. The fear of himself.

“Good morning, sir, what would you like?”

But it’s not my fault. Then again nor is it his. Yet, both are moot points—for at the beginning of the day—he’s still fettered.

He can walk, but he can’t run.

Still the crowd…

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11th Week of the Year

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June 17 SUN ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ez 17:22-24/2 Cor 5:6-10/Mk 4:26-34 (92)

18 Mon Weekday
1 Kgs 21:1-16/Mt 5:38-42 (365)

19 Tue Weekday
[Saint Romuald, Abbot]
1 Kgs 21:17-29/Mt 5:43-48 (366)

20 Wed Weekday
2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14/Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 (367)

21 Thu Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious
Memorial
Sir 48:1-14/Mt 6:7-15 (368)

22 Fri Weekday
[Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Saints John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas More, Martyrs]
2 Kgs 11:1-4, 9-18, 20/Mt 6:19-23 (369)

23 Sat Weekday
[BVM]
2 Chr 24:17-25/Mt 6:24-34 (370)

We’re reading these days the first and most important of five teachings of Jesus from Matthew’s gospel, the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5, 1-7,29) These extended teachings are not only meant for us. In Matthew’s gospel they indicate how Jesus lived his life and ministry. He lives what he teaches.

Elijah’s story concludes this week in readings praising the mighty prophet. He’s not afraid of the powerful people. Neither is Jesus afraid of the powerful; the crowds who encounter him wonder if he’s not Elijah returned.

The saints this week come from different times, Romuald, 11th century Italy, Paulinus of Nola, 5th century Italy, Aloysius Gonzaga, 16th century Italy, Thomas More and John Fisher, 16th century England. Holiness is found in every age and social condition.

11th Sunday b: Take Care of the Garden

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For this week’s homily, please play the video below: