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  Friday – Solemnity of Sacred Heart of Jesus Gospel – Matthew 11:25-30 Out of the Mouths of Children! Walking the Streets of Jerusalem   Many years ago, when our daughter was barely 2 or 3 years old, we went to visit my Papa who was very sick.   We knew it was probably the last time we would have the chance to see him before he passed.   What amazed me during our visit was that Jaime seemed to go out of her way to get Great Papa to help her – get her dressed, tie her shoes, that sort of thing.   It was something that I hadn’t seen her do before.   It was like she was building up memories (for her, for him?, who knows).   A few months later he passed away and, after we returned home from the funeral, I spent many a sleepless night grieving his loss.   One night, as I sat there wide awake and teary-eyed, Jaime came in and climbed into my lap.   She asked me why I was crying and I told her – I miss Papa.   She looked at me and ...
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  Thursday – St Barnabas Gospel – Matthew 5:20-26 Ugly Words Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi A Rabbi was coming from Migdal Gedor, from the house of his teacher, and he was riding leisurely on his ass by the riverside and was feeling happy and elated because he had studied much of the Torah.  There chanced to meet him an exceedingly ugly man who greeted him, `Peace be upon you, Sir.'  He, however, did not return his salutation but instead said to him, `RAQA (you useless and empty thing), how ugly you are.  Are all your fellow citizens as ugly as you are?'  The man replied: `I do not know, but go and tell the craftsman who made me, "How ugly is the vessel which you have made.'    I made it a point on the first day of every class I taught; some words were never to be spoken!   Idiot!   Shut up!   Liar!   Or words to that effect!   And for the most part my students would respect each other enough to follow that simple (but...
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  Wednesday – 10 th Week of Ordinary Time    Reading – 1Kings 18:20-39 A Sense of Humor Statue of Elijah, Mt. Carmel I admit it!   My sense of humor is not for everyone.   It can be biting, sarcastic, incredibly corny and full of puns, and, in the words of many of my friends, “I don’t get it”.   No matter what, given all that the world is going through right now with war, violence on innocent children, and outright bigotry and hatred, we all could use something to make us smile. And I think God delivers exactly that in today’s first reading.   It is a contest between Elijah and 450 prophets for the false god Baal, a battle to determine which god is the true one! Baal’s prophets erect an altar and do everything, including cutting themselves, in an effort to call down their god to send down fire to consume their sacrifice, all to no avail.   And then Elijah taunts them mercilessly!   Call out louder; maybe your god is asleep!   Ma...
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