Each day, I look into the readings that will be read at Mass in the Roman Catholic Church and offer a brief reflection on the gospel for that day. I often take an anachronistic approach allowing the words of Jesus to speak to me today.
May you be blessed as you consider the word of God each day.
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Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
28 July 2026
Daily readings for July 28, 2026
A brief reflection on Mt 13:36-43
So why, then is evil allowed to exist among us? We find it, surely enough in all institutions and professions. We can easily believe in evil politiciah, business leaders, and oligarchs. We even find evil in teachers, health-care workers, and priests.
Why must we put up with this? The simple answer is love. We endure the evil ones in our midst that our love might lead them to repentance, that they might at least have the opportunity to cast aside the ways of evil and walk in the way of the Lord.
There is another reason. We, through weakness or ignorance do evil ourselves. If we are attentive, we will notice times when our words and actions were a bit wide of the mark. What a blessing is the second (or third or more) chance.
Evil in our midst is only for a season. We endure it for a season in the hope that all will one day be well. And it shall.
Ss. Martha, Mary, and Lazurus
29 July 2026
A brief reflection on Jn 11:19-27
Daily readings for July 29, 2026
“Lord, if you had been here…”
Martha and Mary have experienced a terrible loss, a great mourning and yet she believes that Jesus could have prevented her present sorrow. Later, in a portion of the gospel not included in today’s readings, Martha says the same. And yet Jesus made clear to his disciples before setting out for Bethany that he was delaying his departure for Bethany so that God might be glorifed. He had his reasons for not being there until after Lazarus had died.
As troubles and difficulties enter our lives, we must be open to the possibility that God may be glorified. Our reliance on him through suffering sets an example for others and for ourselves. Suffering is a part of our pilgrimage here on earth and is so important that our Lord made man suffered for our sake. By his suffering for our salvation our suffering is sanctified.
We who suffer become more Christ-like by that fact alone. We who suffer well imitate Christ to others.