Presence Patience and Faith

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Memorial of Saint Monica, invite us to use our sense of the Presence in our lives to empower patient faith in the plan of God for our lives.

Guide our Way

The Reading: from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians presents a Greeting and Thanksgiving.

* [1:1–9] Paul follows the conventional form for the opening of a Hellenistic letter (cf. Rom 1:1–7), but expands the opening with details carefully chosen to remind the readers of their situation and to suggest some of the issues the letter will discuss.

* [1:1] Called…by the will of God: Paul’s mission and the church’s existence are grounded in God’s initiative. God’s call, grace, and fidelity are central ideas in this introduction, emphasized by repetition and wordplays in the Greek.

* [1:6] The testimony: this defines the purpose of Paul’s mission (see also 1 Cor 15:15 and the note on 1 Cor 2:1). The forms of his testimony include oral preaching and instruction, his letters, and the life he leads as an apostle. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 145 proclaims the “works of God” make God present and invite human praise.

 

* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew calls our attention to The Unknown Day and Hour for the Faithful or the Unfaithful Servant.

* [24:42–44] Cf. Lk 12:39–40. The theme of vigilance and readiness is continued with the bold comparison of the Son of Man to a thief who comes to break into a house.

* [24:45–51] The second part of the discourse (see note on Mt 24:1–25:46) begins with this parable of the faithful or unfaithful servant; cf. Lk 12:41–46. It is addressed to the leaders of Matthew’s church; the servant has been put in charge of his master’s household (Mt 24:45) even though that household is composed of those who are his fellow servants (Mt 24:49).

* [24:45] To distribute…proper time: readiness for the master’s return means a vigilance that is accompanied by faithful performance of the duty assigned.

* [24:48] My master…delayed: the note of delay is found also in the other parables of this section; cf. Mt 25:5, 19.

* [24:51] Punish him severely: the Greek verb, found in the New Testament only here and in the Lucan parallel (Lk 12:46), means, literally, “cut in two.” With the hypocrites: see note on Mt 6:2. Matthew classes the unfaithful Christian leader with the unbelieving leaders of Judaism. Wailing and grinding of teeth: see note on Mt 8:11–12. (Matthew, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)

Candice Tucci, OSF, comments that Jesus lets us know that interiorly, we can meet and overcome the threats that attempt to distance us from God’s love and grace because God is already present in mystery and spirit. Like Saint Augustine who lived his early life far from godly ways, have our Saint Monica(s) praying for us. We have people ready to help us find our ways to move forward. We have God. Pray. Like Saint Monica, never give up on a conversation with God, Jesus or Spirit.

Be aware! Every day is an invitation to a conversion of heart. Every day is a day to turn our hearts toward God in becoming who we are called to be and do. Saint Monica believed her life mission was praying for the conversion of her son, Saint Augustine. When it was achieved through the grace of God, she felt her life complete. Will we come to know the satisfaction of our lives complete? Saint Paul assures us; God will keep you firm to the end. God is faithful. You are enriched in every way. You are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of Christ Jesus.

Let us pray:

I will praise your name for ever, God.

Generations after generation praises your works. (Tucci, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes You do not know the day, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).

"But his meaning is like this: If ordinary persons knew when they were going to die, they would surely be striving earnestly at that hour. In order therefore that they may strive, not at that hour only, he does not tell them the hour or day. He wants to keep them on their toes looking for it, that they may be always striving. This is why he made the end of each person's life so uncertain. In this passage he openly implies that he himself is Lord. Nowhere before has he spoken of this so distinctly. But here he seems to me also to be putting to shame those who remain careless about his lordship. They take much more care about a thief taking their money than about their own soul. Those who care about their house and do not want their possessions stolen take measures against the thief. They watch; they are prepared for the thief. So it is with you. You do not know when he will come. But you know assuredly that he will come. If you do not continue to watch, you will not be ready on that day. You will be unprepared. Destruction will come in your sleep. If the person had known when the thief was coming, he would have been prepared. So be like the one who is prepared at all times, so you will escape free. Having then mentioned the judgment, he directs his thoughts next to teachers, speaking of honorable and dishonorable actions. His discourse closes with that which is alarming, for he speaks first of those who do right, then of those who continue in sin." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 77.2-3) (Matthew, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts today. Corinth was a port city with everything, including prostitution and a lot of difficulties. Immorality is the major theme. Paul addresses a group to whom Christ Jesus was not that important. Incarnate Divinity was a decadent concept and not important. Referred to as “Proto Gnostics”, they assumed a special spiritual knowledge and Paul cites Jesus as the source of Spiritual Gifts with the Holy Spirit in proper perspective. After the destruction of the Temple (70CE), Matthew addresses the end of the world being at hand. One sign of the end times was the resurrection of the dead. Some lost the idea of a final return of God and started celebrating and drifting away living everyday as the last day. Friar Jude reminds us to be prepared for the Master. There will be an accounting. We should be ready.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 24 :42-51 asks what does it take to be a “faithful and prudent servant”? Both a little and a lot. A little because the servant in the parable wasn’t doing anything special—only what his master expected of him. So it is with us. On any ordinary day, we’ll encounter plenty of opportunities to offer the “food” of a relationship with Christ to the people who cross our paths.

We don’t have to go searching for them. But it also takes a lot because it means staying “awake” and “prepared,” always ready to share about God’s goodness and give of ourselves when the opportunity arises (Matthew 24:42, 44).

God has given you the privilege of sharing his “food” with the people around you. And he has already given you an abundance of this food. How will you share it today?

“Jesus, thank you calling me to be your servant!” (Meditation on Matthew 24 :42-51, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr first encountered the concept of the true self and false self from the Trappist monk Thomas Merton (1915–1968), who had a mystical experience on the corners of Fourth and Walnut (now Fourth and Muhammed Ali Boulevard) in Louisville, Kentucky. Most people spend their entire lives living up to the mental self-images of who they think they are, instead of living in the primal “I” that is already good in God’s eyes. But all we can “pay back” to God or others or ourselves is who we really are. This is what Merton is describing. It’s a place of utter simplicity.

But when we are nothing, we are in a fine position to receive everything from God. As Merton says, our point of nothingness is “the pure glory of God in us.” If we look at the great religious traditions, we see they all use similar words to point in the same direction. The Franciscan word is “poverty.” The Carmelite word is nada or “nothingness.” The Buddhists speak of “emptiness.” Jesus speaks of being “poor in spirit” in his very first beatitude (Matthew 5:3).

A Zen master would call the true self “the face we had before we were born.” Paul would call it who we are “in Christ, hidden in God” (Colossians 3:3). It is who we are before we’ve done anything right or anything wrong, before we even have a conscious thought about who we are. Thinking creates the separate self, the ego self, the insecure self. The God-given contemplative mind, on the other hand, recognizes the God self, the Christ self, the true self of abundance and deep inner security.

[1] Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (Doubleday & Company, 1965, 1966), 142. (Rohr, n.d.)

We invite the Spirit to be our guide as we seek patience with the turmoil in the world and continue to serve the siblings of Christ as the Master exhorts until our last day.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/24?42 

Meditation on Matthew 24 :42-51. (2026, August 27). The Word Among Us. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/08/27/1654889/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1?1 

Psalms PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Glory of God in Us. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-glory-of-god-in-us/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Are You Ready to Meet the Lord? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Tucci, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved August 27, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-27-2026 

Holiness Mercy and Compassion

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder if holiness can exist when we neglect the practice of Justice, Mercy and Faith.

Mercy and Compassion

The reading from the Second Letter to the Thessalonians alerts us to separate Christ and the Lawless One.

* [2:1–17] The Thessalonians have been shaken by a message purporting to come from Paul himself that the day of the Lord is already present. He warns against this deception in eschatology by citing a scenario of events that must first occur (2 Thes 2:3–12) before the end will come. The overall point Paul makes is the need to reject such lies as Satan sends; he also reaffirms the Thessalonians in their calling (2 Thes 2:13–14). (2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 proclaims that even inanimate creation is to offer praise to God.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the Pharisees’ preoccupation with matters of less importance while they neglect the weightier things of the law.

* [23:23] The Mosaic law ordered tithing of the produce of the land (Lv 27:30; Dt 14:22–23), and the scribal tradition is said here to have extended this law to even the smallest herbs. The practice is criticized not in itself but because it shows the Pharisees’ preoccupation with matters of less importance while they neglect the weightier things of the law.

* [23:24] Cf. Lv 11:41–45 that forbids the eating of any “swarming creature.” The Pharisees’ scrupulosity about minor matters and neglect of greater ones (Mt 23:23) is further brought out by this contrast between straining liquids that might contain a tiny “swarming creature” and yet swallowing the camel. The latter was one of the unclean animals forbidden by the law (Lv 11:4), but it is hardly possible that the scribes and Pharisees are being denounced as guilty of so gross a violation of the food laws. To swallow the camel is only a hyperbolic way of speaking of their neglect of what is important.

* [23:25–26] The ritual washing of utensils for dining (cf. Mk 7:4) is turned into a metaphor illustrating a concern for appearances while inner purity is ignored. The scribes and Pharisees are compared to cups carefully washed on the outside but filthy within. Self-indulgence: the Greek word here translated means lack of self-control, whether in drinking or in sexual conduct. (Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock remembers Fr. Pat Malone, and the compelling nature both to him and to his preaching. He invited us into the reality of life: joys and sufferings. But most of all he invited us to “bless the world.” He shined a light on the path we, as Christians, are meant to follow through acts of mercy and kindness.

Recently I have heard several other priests at different Masses approach the living of the Christian life differently. It shocked me. Their emphasis was on “getting to heaven.” This was their only advice to how to live the Christian life. Directives such as. “Be holy - that’s the only thing you need to be,” and “Where are you in the stages of prayer? How advanced are you in the spiritual life?” It seemed to foster a self-centered approach. What about all those others around us? What about the suffering, the starving, the bombed in wars, the homeless? The lonely, the elderly? The sick? The migrant?

Getting to heaven might be the last thing on our minds if we are immersed in care for others. Heaven will take care of itself.

We strive to live in the Word. (Braddock, 2026)

In the presentation and book, “Compassion and Solidarity - The Church For Others (CBC Massey Lecture Series, 1987)”, Gregory Baum presents the Faith and Justice movement in the churches -- especially the Roman Catholic Church -- together with the considerable opposition to it. Baum presents the history of the cycle of emphasis in Christianity from periods of focus on compassion and solidarity to periods of personal holiness as the path to heaven.

Don Schwager quotes “Neglecting Weighty Matters of Love and Justice,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"Not only among the Jews but among ourselves as well, we find people sinning in these ways. They are swallowing camels. People of this type frequently show off their religion even in the smallest of things. They are rightly called hypocrites for wanting to exploit their religiosity before men but being unwilling to undertake that very faith which God himself has justified. Therefore the imitators of the scribes and Pharisees must be dislodged and sent away from us, lest a woe touches us in the same way it touches them. The scribes could be described as those who valued nothing found in the Scriptures except its plain sense interpreted legalistically. Meanwhile they condemn those who look into the very depths of God himself. Mint and dill and cummin are only spices for food but are not themselves substantial food. What substantive food would mean in conversion would be that which is necessary for the justification of our souls - faith and love - unlike these legalisms, which are more like condiments and flavorings. It is as if a meal might be thought to consist more of condiments and flavorings than the food itself. The seriousness of judgment is neglected while great attention is given to minor matters. Spiritual exercises which in and of themselves are hardly justice are spoken of as justice and compassion and faith. It is lacking in justice to treat these small parts as the whole. When we do not offer to God the observance of all that is necessary for worship, we fail altogether." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 19-20) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts today.

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17 comments that we live in a world in which it is increasingly difficult to discern what is real or true. That means it’s more important than ever for us to be careful and responsible consumers of media. Even when the material is authentic, we might still find ourselves troubled in spirit. The sheer volume of bad news can be corrosive and discouraging.

How can we respond to these harmful influences? Cutting out some media time is one part of the equation. But the other part is just as important: replace it with times of intentional quiet listening in the presence of the Lord. He can help you to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). You can do this by seeking refuge in the Scriptures or by focusing on the beautiful qualities that you see in other human beings, all of whom are made in God’s image and are deeply loved by the Lord.

Do everything you can to remain grounded in “our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Not only will you be protected from the worst of the rancor and division, but you will find the peace that only the Lord can give.

“Jesus, help me always remain rooted in you!” (Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr appreciates the purpose the false or egoic self serves, while encouraging us not over-identify with it. Our false self, which we might also call our small or separate self, is our launching pad: our body image, our job, our education, our clothes, our money, our success, and so on. These are the functional trappings of ego that we all use to get us through an ordinary day. However, they are largely projections of our self-image and our attachment to it.

Discovering the true self is not just a matter of chronological age. Some spiritually precocious young people see through the false self rather early, while some old men and old women are still dressing it up. If all we have at the end of our life is our separate or false self, there will not be much to eternalize. These costumes are transitory and impermanent, useful to us in our development, but also largely created by the mental ego. The false self is what changes, passes, and dies when we die. Only our true self lives forever.

Before we have encountered our true self, our false self is who we think we are. But our thinking does not make it true. The false self is primarily a social construct to get us started on life’s journey. It is a set of agreements made during childhood with our parents, family, neighbors, school friends, partner or spouse, and religion. Jesus might call it an “old wineskin,” which he points out cannot hold any new wine (Mark 2:22). (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the consolation of the Spirit as we work to pour the New Wine of compassion, solidarity, faith, and mercy into the old wine skins of self centered personal holiness. 

References

Braddock, S. (2026, August 25). Daily Reflection August 25, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-25-2026 

Matthew, CHAPTER 23 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/23? 

Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/08/25/1653913/ 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?10 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Releasing Our False Self. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/releasing-our-false-self/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Neglect Justice, Mercy and Faith. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2thessalonians/2?1