Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Job 19:21–27 Job is suffering. But his suffering is made heavier by the words of his friends. They do not comfort him. They accuse him. They suggest that his pain must be his own fault. His relatives keep their distance. His friends despise him. Even those close to him do not understand him. ...

Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church Job 9:1–12, 14–16 Job’s friends come to comfort him. Their names are Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. At first, they sit with him in silence. That was good. Sometimes silence is the best comfort. But then they begin to speak. And their words become heavy. Eliphaz suggests that Job’s suffering must somehow be his own fault. ...

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels John 1:47–51 The world can sometimes feel as if it is falling apart. A pandemic closed countries and took many lives. Wars continue. Innocent people suffer. Natural disasters come. Tension grows. Many people feel anxious, tired, and afraid. Sometimes it feels as if darkness is gaining ground. But today’s Gospel quietly reminds us: we are not alone. Jesus says to Nathanael: You will see heaven opened, ...

Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time Job 1:6–22 Today we begin reading the Book of Job. This book asks one of the deepest questions of the human heart: Why do innocent people suffer? Many people in the ancient world had a simple answer. If you do good, God blesses you. If you do evil, you suffer. But the Book of Job challenges this simple answer. Job is introduced as a blameless and upright man. ...

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ezekiel 18:25–28; Philippians 2:1–11; Matthew 21:28–32 Albert was lying in bed for many days. He did not want to see anyone. His family tried to speak with him, but he did not want to talk. He was an artist, a painter, known for his talent, but also known for his sinful way of life. Now he had reached the bottom. Again and again, his family heard him say: ...

Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8 Today we come to the end of our journey with Qohelet. He speaks about youth. He speaks about old age. He speaks about death. His words are honest. And they are tender. He tells the young: Rejoice in your youth. Enjoy the strength and freshness of your early years. But do not forget where life is going. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. ...

Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Ecclesiastes 3:1–11 There is a time for everything. A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to harvest. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. These words from Ecclesiastes are among the most famous words of the Bible. They speak to everyone. ...

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Ecclesiastes 1:2–11 Today we begin reading the Book of Ecclesiastes, also called Qohelet. It is a book of wisdom. But it is not easy wisdom. Qohelet looks at life with open eyes. He looks at work. Pleasure. Friendship. Old age. Success. Failure. And above all, death. For Qohelet, death is the great question. It seems to end everything. The book begins with famous words: ...

Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest Proverbs 30:5–9 Today we hear a short passage from the Book of Proverbs. It comes from Agur, son of Jakeh. The name Agur can mean: I am a sojourner. That is already a beautiful beginning. We are all sojourners. We are travelers on this earth. We are not yet home. Our true homeland is the heavenly Jerusalem. ...

Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Proverbs 21:1–6, 10–13 The Book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom. It gives short sayings about life. How to live well. How to choose well. How to avoid foolishness. Today we hear several wise sayings. Most of them compare two ways of living: the way of the just, and the way of the wicked. The way of wisdom, and the way of selfishness. ...