Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time 1 Corinthians 2:10b–16 Every day I pray: Come, O Creator Spirit. I began to pray this when I understood something simple: without the Holy Spirit, life becomes unmanageable. Today Saint Paul speaks about three spirits: the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, and the spirit of the world. The spirit of the world is the air we breathe every day. It tells us what is normal, what is successful, what is worth wanting. ...

Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 Paul came to Corinth after Athens. In Athens, he had spoken to philosophers and educated people. He had tried to meet them on their own ground. He spoke about the one God, about creation, about human searching, and about Jesus’ resurrection. Some listened. Some laughed. Some walked away. Only a few believed. Perhaps that is why Paul arrived in Corinth in weakness, ...

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 20:7–9; Romans 12:1–2; Matthew 16:21–27 Peter had just made his great confession: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. But now Jesus begins to show the disciples what kind of Christ He is. He must go to Jerusalem. He must suffer. He must be killed. And on the third day, He will be raised. Peter cannot accept this. He takes Jesus aside and says: ...

Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 Abraham was old. Moses was a fugitive. David was a boy. Mary was unknown. The apostles were fishermen. And yet, God chose them. This is one of the great patterns of Scripture: God does not choose as the world chooses. The world looks for power, status, education, wealth, beauty, influence, and success. ...

Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 1 Corinthians 1:17–25 Crucifixion was one of the cruelest forms of punishment in the ancient world. It was reserved for rebels, runaway slaves, and those who challenged the power of Rome. The condemned person was stripped not only of clothing, but also of dignity. The death was slow. The pain was terrible. ...

Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saint Monica 1 Corinthians 1:1–9 The community in Corinth gave Paul many troubles. There were divisions. There was pride. There were scandals. There were arguments about spiritual gifts. And yet, Paul begins his letter by calling them: the Church of God which is in Corinth. This is striking. Paul does not say: the problem in Corinth, the failure in Corinth, the disappointment in Corinth. ...

Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time 2 Thessalonians 3:6–10, 16–18 From the beginning, the Christian community was marked by sharing. Jesus and his disciples were supported by women who gave from their own means. In Jerusalem, the first believers shared what they had, so that no one would be in need. Later, Paul organized collections from wealthier communities for poorer Christians in Jerusalem. The Church was learning to live as one body. ...

Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3a, 14–17 The Christians in Thessalonica had a problem. They were waiting for the coming of the Lord. But their waiting became restless. Some became confused. Some became frightened. Some thought the Day of the Lord had already come. So Paul writes to them with pastoral firmness: do not be quickly shaken. do not be alarmed. This matters. Because from the beginning, Christians have believed that Jesus will come again. ...

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle John 1:45–51 Today we celebrate Saint Bartholomew, Apostle. In the Gospel of John, he is called Nathanael. According to ancient tradition, Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. Philip finds Nathanael and says: We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and also the prophets: Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth. Nathanael is not impressed. Nazareth? Can anything good come from Nazareth? ...

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 22:19–23; Romans 11:33–36; Matthew 16:13–20 In my Christology class, I often ask my students: Who is Jesus for you? They answer in different ways. He is my Savior. My friend. My Lord. My companion in life. My spiritual guide. They are not only repeating a catechism answer. They are trying to say what Jesus means in their own life. Jesus once asked his disciples the same question. ...