Mary’s words at the wedding feast at Cana - “Do whatever he tells you” - offers two examples of prompt obedience and Christian discipleship. May Mary’s words encourage us to show our trust in Jesus by promptly obeying him in all things, filling our “jars to the brim” in whatever he may ask of us.

On this first Sunday of Ordinary Time, we recall the Baptism of the Lord. But, in addition to remembering this historical event, we also are asked to call to mind our own baptism. Why? Because our baptism isn’t just an event from the past, but a present reality that impacts every aspect of our lives.

On this day we encounter the Magi coming from the East to worship the baby Jesus. What were the Magi? And why did they travel so far to find the Child King? What did these “foreigners” see that eluded the leaders and people of Israel?

It’s tempting to think that the Blessed Virgin was somehow different from the rest of us—that she knew exactly what would happen in her life and never had to work through difficult periods. Yet, she did. And in her, we see how certain trials in our lives fit perfectly within the bigger picture of God’s work - and the graces that we obtained through them.

Many Catholics are familiar with the story of “the Visitation,” when Mary and Elizabeth met. But many don’t know why the scene of two expectant mothers greeting each other is so important. Apart from affirming Mary’s miraculous pregnancy, the scene also shows Mary’s service and humility as she travelled a long distance to assist her older relative Elizabeth. We should ask if we’re willing to go the extra mile – or several – to serve others.

The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete, or Rejoice, Sunday—and all of the readings for this week invite us to do just that. This first reading from the prophet Zephaniah opens with a threefold call to joy, “Shout for joy… sing joyfully…. Be glad and exult with all your heart” (Zephaniah 3:14). Israel rejoiced in the presence of her saving God, but this joy can only be made complete in the coming of the Messiah.

Any experienced driver knows that a road that zig-zags takes longer than a straight path to get to a destination. The same is true spiritually, as we see in today’s reading. But the question is: why were the roads to God crooked in the first place?

If the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year, why does the Gospel focus on endings as it talks about the sun and moon darkening and the stars falling from the sky? We’re supposed to be preparing to celebrate Jesus’ birth as the Messiah, not hear about the end of the world. What’s going on here?

This Sunday brings the liturgical year of the Church to its culmination. At the close of the year, the Church draws our attention to Jesus’s Kingship and the coming of his Kingdom through this Sunday’s readings.

We’ve all heard predictions about the impending end of the world. We are often fascinated with the possibility of the end of the world, but this interest can easily become distorted and misconstrued. When we obsess over trying to solve the puzzle of when the world is going to end, we miss the Gospel message the Jesus was really preaching.

A widow in Jesus’ time would have been one of the most outcast in society. With no man to own property, home, or bring in an income, she would be struggling to get by. And yet, with great humility and great courage, she still presents herself in the Temple, showing her brave faith. She trusts in God’s word. She hopes in his promise. And she gives all that she has. While no one else may notice, Jesus does. He notices the ways in which we empty ourselves when we don’t think we have more to give. Jesus sees. Jesus sees the mother who gets up for the sixth time in the middle of the night to comfort her crying baby. Jesus sees the father who takes up the daily grind to provide for his family, exhausted and wanting for a respite. Jesus sees the child who shares their Cheerios snack with a friend. Jesus sees us. And our reward for these moments of quiet humility and generosity will be great.

The imagery of sight and blindness pervades the readings for this Sunday. The Church uses this metaphor to help us understand how we are blinded by sin and are in need of Christ's light in order to follow him.

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time—October 21, 2018 View Opening the Word™, Year B - Ordinary Time Weeks 22-34 Series Share TopicShare Page (18 ratings) Have you ever longed for a role, a job, or place in life that you would give just about anything to have it? And then, after you finally get what you wanted, you realize you bit off way more than you can chew? In today’s Gospel, two of Jesus’ disciples ask for a huge role—to partake of Jesus’ passion and death and sit at his right and left side in his eternal kingdom. They have no idea the suffering that they would be partaking in in order to have this desire fulfilled though. With gentleness and love, Jesus tells them he will give them some of what they ask for, but not all. Hearing that we can’t do it all or have it all requires deep humility. Are you ready to put on profound humility?

Have you ever felt like you really have something down? Maybe a sport, a task at your work, or getting the laundry folded regularly! You have finally mastered it. And then, when you thought everything was (finally) going as you planned and worked for, something comes up. You get hurt, your work changes, a child gets sick and everything is thrown off once again. Today we will encounter this in a man who has been seeking to follow the commandments since he was a young boy. He thinks he has it all together in order to have eternal life. But when Jesus invites him to something deeper, something more, he is crushed, as he will have to “start over” in some ways. Are you willing to take the next step to growing closer to Jesus?

The readings for today focus on God’s vision of marriage, which is a hot topic in our culture. Today the Church invites us to meditate on the truth about marriage. And as we’ll see, God created marriage to reveal the very meaning of our existence, and it is very good!

In the Last Supper discourse, Jesus tells us that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Today’s readings invite us to meditate on what it means that he is the Truth. What are the ramifications of the truth being a set of rules that has the Person of Jesus Christ as its divine author? To the extent that we see Jesus, recognize him, know him, and commune with him we are able to see things in the truth and perceive reality clearly. The more we know him and love him, the more we know and love the truth in all things.

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus is nearing the end of his journeys with his disciples. Soon after these events, he will turn towards Jerusalem to face his Passion. He is beginning to pull his Apostles aside for intimate moments, revealing more deeply his heart, teachings, and mission on earth.

Winter can be depressing. Depending on where you live in the country, you may not get to see the sun for two or three months. It can be bone-chillingly cold and there is little sign of life except for the brave neighbors who shovel their driveways. The days are short and dark, the trees are lifeless, and we don’t hear children playing outside or birds chirping. It can be so desolate. Carrying our cross is often a “winter” for our soul. It can be challenging, lonely, and feel never-ending. The hope that we have in Christ is for the springtime that is to come. We carry our cross and accept death to ourselves so that we can experience the Resurrection with him. The budding of flowers and leaves on the trees, the warmth of the sun, and life coming to bloom again. But in order to experience this beautiful springtime, we must first go through the trial of winter.

Have you ever been so sick that you needed to rely on a family member or a friend to help you get to the doctor? Sometimes, we are unable to be healed on our own. We need someone else to bring us. Today we will read about a man who was brought to Jesus and how grateful he was to those who loved him enough to present him before the Divine Physician.

God desires our whole hearts, not simply our actions. We can do good acts but still keep our hearts far from him. But if we lift up our hearts, the power of Jesus’ resurrection can transform us overtime to actually become more like him. Then our actions will flow seamlessly from who we are in our hearts.