For 18 December 2023, December 18, based on Matthew 1:18-25

John the Baptist is preparing for the coming of the Lord as he waits for it. Each of us must find that balance between being ready and watchful and working to help the world to be ready when God comes.

In our Gospel today, Jesus passes his healing ministry on to his disciples. Are we willing to pass along our own ministries to the next generation, or do we think that we are more irreplaceable than Jesus?

Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple and his disciples want to know when it will happen and what will be the sign. Instead, Jesus suggests that they should focus their attention on living rightly in the now.

Jesus comments that, with two small coins, the widow donated more than all the rich people because she gave what she needed to live on. When we look at the context, Jesus clearly thinks this is a bad thing. When deciding right from wrong, do we pay attention enough to the context?

For 25 November 2023, Saturday of week 33 in Ordinary Time, based on Luke 20:27-40

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the parable of the talents from the scripture for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus left the church to carry on his work, and will come back at the end of time and judge us for what we did with what we were given.

For 14 November 2023, Tuesday of week 32 in Ordinary Time, based on Wisdom 2:23–3:9

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirty Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, with its parable of the ten wise and foolish virgins, reminding us that God grants wisdom to anyone who asks, and now is the time to ask.

Jesus commends the unjust steward for being "prudent" with his master's money, getting himself out of his looming financial crisis. If only his own disciples could be so prudent about the looming spiritual crisis.