Ordinary Time

Living with a resentful heart is a dark place to be. St. Thomas Aquinas described envy as “sorrow over another person’s good.” Envy makes us resent the good that others receive. Gratitude does just the opposite: it teaches us to rejoice in God’s generosity, even toward someone we think doesn’t deserve it. But God’s grace is not measured out according to what we have earned. It is gift: freely and extravagantly given.
 
Readings at this Mass: Ez 18:25–28 | Phil 2:1–11 | Mt 21:28–32

Mercy isn't just about rules; it requires a willingness to change. If we would have God’s life within us, then we, too, must learn to become merciful.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 55:6–9 | Phil 1:20c–24, 27a | Mt 20:1–16a

Many of us have a gift in at least one of the three areas — Goodness, Truth, and Beauty — but focusing on just one should not negate the others.
 
Readings at this Mass: Ez 33:7–9 | Rom 13:8–10 | Mt 18:15–20

Love is shown in many ways; those forms of love point towards God and heaven. Our love points to God's love for us.
 
Readings at this Mass: Jer 20:7–9 | Rom 12:1–2 | Mt 16:21–27

If we truly know who Jesus is, that knowledge cannot remain only in our minds or on our lips. A relationship with Christ inevitably begins to reshape the way we live. Jesus still asks each of us, "Who do you say that I am?" The most powerful answer will not be the one we give with only our lips — or post online — but the one we give with our lives.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 22:19-23 | Rom 11:33–36 | Mt 16:13–20

Following Christ requires trust, and trust involves risk. The good news is that, when we follow Jesus, we are never alone; even when we falter, He is there. We may prefer to cling to whatever makes us feel safe — our routines, our plans, our familiar ways of doing things. But sometimes Jesus asks us to let go of those things and trust Him instead.
 
Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11–13a | Rom 9:1–5 | Mt 14:22–33

One of our most fundamental desires, whether we recognize it or not, is a hunger for God. Because of our brokenness, however, we often try to satisfy that hunger with created things. Our desires, in their deepest sense, come from God and are meant to lead us back to Him. The key is to keep our hearts directed toward the Giver, not merely toward His gifts. Every daily blessing points beyond themselves to God, who alone can fulfill us. Then we can enjoy created things without making them into idols, and our desires become the very place where we encounter our Lord.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 55:1–3 | Rom 8:35, 37–39 | Mt 14:13–21

Christ does not offer us material prosperity or worldly success. Christ offers us true happiness, true fulfillment, true joy, everlasting bliss. And His question to us is, "What are you willing to give – or, unwilling to give – to make that possible?"
 
Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7–12 | Rom 8:28–30 | Mt 13:44–52