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

Our lectionary readings from the Old Testament last week and this week are about the Restoration Period in Jewish history, the time when the Jews returned to Jerusalem and Judea from exile around 520 B.C. Our readings are from the Prophets Zechariah and Baruch and from the Book of Nehemiah this week. 

In the restoration period not all the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. Some waited to see how it worked out; others decided to stay in Babylon for good.

Those who did return found it hard building a temple and restoring Judaism. Jerusalem and Judea were now under Persian control. The Jewish monarchy was gone.  Foreigners had moved into the city and were resisting attempts at restoration. Some Jews who stayed on were not interested in restoration either. Facing this, the returnees had to wonder about the promises made by prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah.

In our reading today, the Prophet Zechariah reaffirms God’s promise – all nations will come to Jerusalem and its temple:

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another, and say, ‘Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD’;and, ‘I too will go to seek the LORD.’

Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zech 8:20-23)

God’s plans are greater than you think, Zechariah says, but he gives no indication when this will happen, and so the Jews certainly wondered if this were true. 

The Prophet Baruch whom we read on Friday and Saturday this week compares the Jews in exile questioning the prophets to the Jews in the desert questioning Moses. But exile, like the desert, is a time of God’s mercy, Baruch says. Wisdom comes in time of exile.  Exile, like the desert, is a place where God helps you grow.

“ In the land of their exile they shall have a change of heart; they shall know that I, the LORD, am their God. I will give them a heart and ears that listen and they shall praise me in the land of their exile, and shall remember my name. Then they shall turn back from their stiff-necked stubbornness… And I will bring them back to the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and they shall rule it. I will make them increase; they shall not be few.” (Baruch 2:30-35)

Last week the Passionists concluded a symposium in Rome on “The Wisdom of the Cross”, part of the 300th anniversary celebration of their community’s foundation. Some speakers at that symposium suggested the wisdom of the cross is a wisdom for today, when our world and our church wonder whether there’s a future at all. 

 “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word.When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” (Hebrews 1: 1-4)

The mystery of the Cross is a revelation in Jesus Christ that keeps us aware of God’s plan for our world and for us.  It’s our desert and exile when we keep it in mind. It’s where God changes our heart, gives us ears to listen and draws us to hope for the promised land. It’s a mystery we should share. 

SEPTEMBER 27 Mon Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest Memorial Zec 8:1-8/Lk 9:46-50 

28 Tue Weekday [Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr; Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs]

Zec 8:20-23/Lk 9:51-56 

29 Wed Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Feast

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a/Jn 1:47-51 

30 Thu Saint Jerome, Priest, Doctor of the Church Memorial Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12/Lk 10:1-12 

OCTOBER 1 Fri Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church Memorial

Bar 1:15-22/Lk 10:13-16 

2 Sat The Holy Guardian Angels Memorial Bar 4:5-12, 27-29 /Mt 18:1-5, 10 

3 SUN TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gn 2:18-24/Heb 2:9-11/Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12 

We hear this week from Zechariah, like Haggai, a prophetic voice in the Restoration Period. He (scholars say there are two writing under the name)  urges the temple be rebuilt and promises Jerusalem will regain its place, in fact all nations will come to make it a greater kingdom,  but it will not be soon. Joining Zechariah are Nehemiah and Baruch, also prophets who spoke during the Restoration Period.

Important saints this week: Vincent de Paul, Jerome, Therese of the Child. Jesus.   Saint Lawrence Ruiz,  an important saint for the Philippines, was among 15 others martyred in Japan September 28, 1637.

Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are celebrated September 29 and Guardian Angels October 2. 

The gospel readings Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are from Luke 9-10. As usual, on feasts like those for the angels, the readings from the gospels that reference them are read. 

Morning and Evening Prayer, Week 2, here.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

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

SEPTEMBER 20 Mon Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs Memorial

Ezr 1:1-6/Lk 8:16-18 

21 Tue Saint Matthew, Apostle, Feast Eph 4:1-7, 11-13/Mt 9:9-13 

22 Wed Weekday Ezr 9:5-9/Lk 9:1-6 

23 Thu Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest Memorial Hg 1:1-8/Lk 9:7-9 

24 Fri Weekday Hg 2:1-9/Lk 9:18-22 

25 Sat Weekday Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a/Lk 9:43b-45 

26 SUN TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Nm 11:25-29/Jas 5:1-6/Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 

We read from the Book of Ezra and the Prophet Haggai this week, two important sources describing the period of the Restoration, when a small Jewish community returns to Judea around 520 after exile in Babylon, thanks to the Persian king Cyrus.

Jewish history, like Christian history afterwards, is not unrelated to our own experience as a church today. The restoration of the temple and its liturgy is a key task Ezra and Nehemiah undertakes. It was a key task undertaken by the Second Vatican Council. 

This week’s readings from Luke’s gospel are from chapters 8-9,  part of Jesus’ Galilean mystery, which prepare his disciples for his great journey to Jerusalem.

The popular 20th century saint, Padre Pio, is remembered September 23, as well as St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist, September 21. 

The unusual beginnings of the church in Korea are celebrated September 20. They’re unusual because the church in Korea was founded, not by missionaries from the west, but by Korean laypeople.   

The thoughts of a child.

Seesaw dreams.

Boxes of books

Now stored away. 

Come floods

A brand new day.

Once arrogance 

Now fear.

An abundance of energy

Frozen in stone.

But a long-haired gray kitty still resides

The shelter of a warm left thigh.

He seldom plays

Lost in an aging haze.

Kitty-cat dreams

Seesaw days.

—Howard Hain

SEPTEMBER 13 Mon Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchMemorial 1 Tm 2:1-8/Lk 7:1-10 

14 Tue The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast Nm 21:4b-9/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17 

15 Wed Our Lady of Sorrows Memorial 1 Tm 3:14-16 (445)/Jn 19:25-27 or Lk 2:33-35 

16 Thu Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs Memorial 

1 Tm 4:12-16/Lk 7:36-50

17 Fri Weekday [Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church] 1 Tm 6:2c-12/Lk 8:1-3 

18 Sat Weekday 1 Tm 6:13-16/Lk 8:4-15 

19 SUN TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Wis 2:12, 17-20/Jas 3:16—4:3/Mk 9:30-37

Every week the liturgy offers a universe of treasures. Not only does it take us back to biblical times, but saints remembered take us to times that shape our own. Cornelius and Cyprian to the age of the martyrs. The feasts of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows to the age of pilgrimage. John Chrysostom to the patristic age.  Robert Bellarmine and Hildergarde of Bingen to Reformation times and to the age of the medieval mystics. Whether we know it or not we have been shaped by these times and they help us know the path to take.

Two celebrations this week, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows are closely connected celebrations.

The feast of the Exaltation, celebrated by churches of the east and west, originated in the Basilica of the Resurrection in Jerusalem (Church of the Holy Sepulcher) in the 5th century where the wood of the cross was venerated by the faithful. The One who died and was buried, rose from the dead was nailed to this wood. His Passion and Resurrection are celebrated in this one feast.

Similarly, the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows sees Mary following her Son, “who emptied himself” in coming among us, even to the point of dying on the Cross, but God exalted him.

Through her life, Mary embraced the “emptying sorrows of her Son”, finally sharing in his death as she stood by his Cross. But she saw her sorrows–her “seven sorrows”– turned into joy. 

“O Lady Mary, thy bright crown is no mere crown of majesty, for with the reflex of his own resplendent thorns, Christ circled thee.” (Thompson) 

Morning and Evening Prayers, week 1, here

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

SEPTEMBER 6 Mon Weekday. LABOR DAY (USA)  Col 1:24—2:3/Lk 6:6-11 

7 Tue Weekday Col 2:6-15/Lk 6:12-19

8 Wed The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feast

Mi 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30/Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 or 1:18-23 

9 Thu USA: Saint Peter Claver, Priest Memorial Col 3:12-17/Lk 6:27-38 

10 Fri Weekday 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14/Lk 6:39-42

11 Sat Weekday 1 Tm 1:15-17/Lk 6:43-49 

12 SUN TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY B:

Is 50:4c-9a/Jas 2:14-18/Mk 8:27-35 

Often the readings of the liturgy for the day throw light on the day itself and the events taking place then. Monday is Labor Day in the USA; St. Paul in the reading for that day from Epistle to the Colossians speaks of laboring and struggling to bring them the gospel. Good question for us all: are we laboring and struggling to bring the gospel to others?

Our calendar, whether recalling a secular or religious occasion, calls us to reflect and pray over what we have before us that day. What’s the meaning of work, we’re asked on Monday? In God’s eyes and our own?

On Thursday, we celebrate the feast of St. Peter Claver, who ministered to black slaves in Colombia, South America in the 16th century. Racism is still with us. We’re called to reflect on it, in God’s eyes and our own.

Wednesday’s the feast of the Nativity of Mary. Births are celebrated often in our calendar. Why do we hold human life so cheap today?

Celebrating the day and the events of the day is always better when we reflect and pray about it.

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS HERE (WEEK 3)