“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.” These words taken from today’s psalm are a reminder of the infinite mercy of God. Mercy begins with God, but does not belong to God alone. Since God has been merciful to us, we too, have a share in his infinite mercy, and are therefore capable of extending mercy to one another. What does it mean to be merciful?…

Today, Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of admonishing the sinner. Those who remember their eighth grade catechism will remember the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Among the Spiritual Works is the imperative to admonish the sinner. What does it mean to admonish? To admonish someone is to counsel them against something to be avoided or warn against something that is dangerous. So, let us take a deeper look at this important spiritual work of mercy.

Last week, I spoke of the authority Jesus gives to St. Peter to bind and loose sins. This week, Jesus tells his disciples he will be killed in Jerusalem and Peter takes Jesus aside to rebuke him. Immediately after Jesus entrusts Peter with the keys to heaven and earth, Peter does what many in authority are tempted to do, they try and wield that authority over others, even the Son of God. Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me." Jesus shows the true nature of…

This week, the Word of God speaks to us of authority. Now, authority is often one of those topics that seems to rub people the wrong way, at least in the modern age. There was a time when authority was revered, but these days, not so much. There was a time when children were taught to respect their elders, but these days, not so much. Or at least those who are taught it are few and far between. This is just one way in which authority has been whittled away today. How has authority broken down so…

In last week’s Gospel, we heard how Jesus came walking on the water towards his disciples in the boat being tossed around by the waves. From the very beginning, the image of the boat has been used to represent the Church, with St. Peter at its helm and assisted by the disciples. With that image in mind, today’s readings focus us on who else belongs in the boat with the disciples.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This solemnity dates back to at least the sixth century when the Church celebrated Mary’s dormition, or her going to sleep. But, in the Church’s Tradition, her sleep was always followed by her rising and being taken into heaven. We call Mary’s entry into heaven her assumption, because she was assumed, body and soul, into the heaven. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so too was Mary awakened from her sleep.

Last week, we celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration, when the glory of the Lord was revealed to Peter, James, and John on the mountain. This week, we hear how God reveals himself to Elijah on the mountain, and in the gospel how Jesus goes up the mountain by himself to pray. It would seem there is quite a bit of mountain imagery in our readings as of late. What are these mountains all about? In the ancient world, because mountains were the highest elevations on earth, reaching into the…

Jesus says, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Jesus charges his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to keep the revelation of his transfiguration to themselves until after his Resurrection. Why? Because what was shown to them as proof of Jesus’ divinity would become for them a powerful testimony to evangelize others. We see how Peter uses his testimony in our second reading when he says, “we had been eyewitnesses of his…

“The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” Stern words from our Blessed Lord, who for the second time in a row speaks of the value of the kingdom of heaven. Those who are wise, like King Solomon, and lead a life of faith by keeping the commandments are welcomed into the kingdom, while those who lead a life of wickedness and sin are cast out. What Jesus is describing in the latter…

The Book of Wisdom shows that the One True God does not have to justify or prove his justice. It says, “For your might is the source of justice…But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency…And you taught your people…that those who are just must be kind.” The mighty deeds of God are known to us all, beginning with Creation itself, and extending throughout Salvation History as the Lord entrusted dominion of the earth to man, commanding us to be fertile and multiply. He…