Readings of the day: RB 16Mass: Romans 4:1-8; Resp. Psalm 32; Luke 12:1-7
I don’t know how many times our Lord said, “Do not be afraid,” but I like to think he said it at least 365 times, once for each day of the year. It seems Jesus knew we needed to hear those words over, and over again. In today’s passage from Saint Luke, Jesus tells us two times! Even so, we spend a considerable amount of time being afraid, and worrying about this and that. Then we are given unhelpful advice from too many

Readings of the day: RB 14Mass: 2 Timothy 4:10-17b; Resp. Psalm 145; Luke 10:1-9
Demas succumbed to the trappings of the world; Crescens preferred Galatia; Titus, Dalmatia. Alexander the coppersmith was nothing but trouble. Paul, although deserted by his companions, reminds us of something very important: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” People are fickle; Jesus isn’t. The Lord will never abandon us.

Readings of the day: RB 9Mass: Malachi 3:13-20b; Resp. Psalm 1; Luke 11:5-13
Today’s commentary brought to you by Cardinal Basil Hume (1923-1999).
“How often have we prayed for something, and our prayer has been ignored, or so it would seem. And how irritating this is when we have been told quite clearly: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you’ (Mt 7:7/Luke 11:9-10).
Is there such a thing as unanswered prayer?

Readings of the day: RB 8Mass: Jonah 4:1-11; Resp. Psalm 86; Luke 11:1-4
Jesus taught the disciples many things, sometimes using words, other times not. As far as I know the disciples only asked Jesus once to teach them anything at all. Today they ask the Lord to teach them to pray. It seems a reasonable request considering they, with us, don’t know how to pray as we ought (Romans 8:26). Jesus doesn’t waste time, stating clearly,
When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed by your nam

Readings of the day: RB 7:49-50Mass: Nehemiah 2:1-8; Resp. Psalm 137; Luke 9:57-62

Someone’s knocking at your door. Go ahead, answer it. It’s Jesus. He has two words for you. “Follow me.” What are you going to do?
No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind


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