His relatives . . . set out to seize him.

SAINT AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR (MEMORIAL) His relatives . . . set out to seize him. This short Gospel passage highlights a shocking Gospel theme. Many of Jesus’ own relatives failed to grasp his identity as the Son of God. They saw him only as “the carpenter, the son...

[He] summoned those whom he wanted.

SAINT FABIAN, POPE AND MARTYR (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL) [He] summoned those whom he wanted.  At the creation of the world, God called things into existence: light, land, living creatures, and the rest. In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins to call his Church into existence in a...

A large number of people came to him.

2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME A large number of people came to him.  Jesus is a rock star! At least, that’s how it seems in today’s Gospel. Of course, Jesus is about as different from a modern-day celebrity as you can get. He wasn’t interested in wealth or success. He...

He was also “king of Salem,” that is, king of peace.

2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME He was also “king of Salem,” that is, king of peace. Who was Melchizedek? A “priest of God Most High,” he greeted Abraham with bread and wine after Abraham’s victory in battle (Genesis 14:18, 20). According to today’s first reading,...

The sabbath was made for man.

SAINT ANTHONY, ABBOT (MEMORIAL) The sabbath was made for man. Jesus’ disciples must have been hungry, so as they walked through a field of grain, they picked the heads of the grain to eat. But some Pharisees objected. It was the Sabbath, and they considered it a...

Why do . . . your disciples . . . not fast?

2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Why do . . . your disciples . . . not fast?  The people asking this question might have been missing out on the most important reason for fasting: fasting is meant to draw us closer to God. As we choose to deny ourselves out of reverence for...

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