Luke tells us that Jesus’ teaching today is how to pray always without becoming weary. Jesus uses the example of a widow who continues to badger a crooked judge so he renders a just judgement in her case. The judge finally caves in because of her persistence. That takes care of the persistence part. What […]

It is rare that both the first reading and the gospel passages have much in common. That is because both are on different tracks. Today however, Paul is thanking the Philippians for their generosity towards him, and the gospel also has Jesus talking about money, telling us that no one can serve two masters; we […]

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is the final sentence of Luke’s recalling of the incident where Jesus was invited to the home of one of the leading Pharisees. It was a comment stemming from his observation of many who were jockeying for the […]

“This is the will of the one who sent me: that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.” What a fitting gospel for the commemoration of the faithful departed. We are reminded here that Jesus will not reject anyone who comes to […]

“For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down.” This statement from Jesus’ parable of the fig tree might seem needlessly harsh. The purpose for which we plant a fig tree is to bear fruit. Its delightful leaves do not suffice. […]

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” If any gospel statement has caused confusion (and even distress) among readers, this one comes close to first. There has been much speculation about what this sin against the […]

“Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” Jesus replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Luke is the evangelist who tells us more about Mary than any other gospel writer. What might seem as a put down in another context is […]

“I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.” These are the words of Job in a passage that ends the readings from that book in our liturgies this week. It is also the climax of that marvelous story dealing with the problem of […]

Feast of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels The liturgy celebrates the feast of these three archangels who are venerated in the tradition of the church. Michael (who is like God?) was the archangel who fought against Satan and all his evil angels, defending all the friends of God. Michael appears in Daniel’s vision as “the […]

There are several problems with the gospel selection today. Jesus tells a parable, then says that the reason he uses parables is so that people will not understand. This is an incredible theory, since the obvious purpose of the parables was to make the truth compelling. Do people have trouble understanding the good Samaritan or […]