Ordinary Time

Following Christ requires trust, and trust involves risk. The good news is that, when we follow Jesus, we are never alone; even when we falter, He is there. We may prefer to cling to whatever makes us feel safe — our routines, our plans, our familiar ways of doing things. But sometimes Jesus asks us to let go of those things and trust Him instead.
 
Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11–13a | Rom 9:1–5 | Mt 14:22–33

One of our most fundamental desires, whether we recognize it or not, is a hunger for God. Because of our brokenness, however, we often try to satisfy that hunger with created things. Our desires, in their deepest sense, come from God and are meant to lead us back to Him. The key is to keep our hearts directed toward the Giver, not merely toward His gifts. Every daily blessing points beyond themselves to God, who alone can fulfill us. Then we can enjoy created things without making them into idols, and our desires become the very place where we encounter our Lord.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 55:1–3 | Rom 8:35, 37–39 | Mt 14:13–21

Christ does not offer us material prosperity or worldly success. Christ offers us true happiness, true fulfillment, true joy, everlasting bliss. And His question to us is, "What are you willing to give – or, unwilling to give – to make that possible?"
 
Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7–12 | Rom 8:28–30 | Mt 13:44–52

We have a choice whether we are going to be a problem or the solution, whether we will be a weed in the garden or the good wheat that the Master has planted. It is up to us to prepare ourselves. Instead of seeing the outside world as our garden and going around canceling, blocking, or cutting off other people, we must take care of the garden inside ourselves and pull out the internal weeds that get in the way of what God is trying to do in our lives.
 
Readings at this Mass: Wis 12:13, 16–19 | Rom 8:26–27 | Mt 13:24–43

What fruit is God producing in your life? And through that fruit, what seeds are you scattering into the lives of others? There are parts of our lives where God’s Word has taken deep root and is bearing fruit. There are other parts crowded by anxiety, distracted by the world, or hardened by disappointment and sin. If that’s you, don’t lose hope: God is still in the business of cultivating hearts.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 55:10–11 | Rom 8:18–23 | Mt 13:1–23

When the world, social media, or certain politicians and podcasters, would have us see one another as enemies, remember that this is demonic in the most basic sense of the word — “demon” from the Greek word meaning to divide or to scatter. As we celebrate 250 years together, my challenge to you is to resist that scattering. Cast out the demonic. There’s a lot of good out there, my friends, if we’re willing to claim it.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 55:10–11 | Rom 8:18–23 | Mt 13:1–23

Our true freedom can only come from dependence on God, who has endowed us with the gift of life won through His suffering and death. And that it is only through our humble acceptance of Christ into our lives that we — ourselves and this dearly beloved country of ours — will not perish from the earth, but will truly inherit the freedom of the sons and daughters of God, and will have true and eternal life.
 
Readings at this Mass: 2 Kgs 4:8–11, 14–16a | Rom 6:3–4, 8–11 | Mt 10:37–42

The problem, as we know, is that we don’t get heaven until we get to heaven. There is no human solution to all of our ills and troubles. So here’s the question we all need to sit with: can we find peace living in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people? Can you be patient and trusting with the ups and downs, the insults and injuries, even the tragedies of life, trusting that God will accompany you through them all and, in the end – somehow – draw good from them?
 
Readings at this Mass: Jer 20:10–13 | Rom 5:12–15 | Mt 10:26–33