Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP

Jesus said that those who listen to him and acted on his word were like those who built their house on a firm foundation. While the foundation of a real house might be difficult to fix, the Good News is that we can strengthen the foundations of our faith every day by simply living out our faith. Thus we need not worry about our lack of faith or what might come if we simply live each day according to our faith.

Isaiah promised that he coming saviour will provide a rich feast for all peoples, not just for some. Jesus on the mountain miraculously healed all the sick and provided food for everyone. When we see small gains for some at the expense of others, know that this is not the promise, and work and pray and hope for more. To accept a second-rate saviour is to give up on the real one.

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the First Sunday of Advent, speaking of how to live in the time in between Jesus' first coming and his second coming. Paul says we are to grow the love of others in our heart and follow God more closely. Jesus advises us to stay awake and not be distracted by anxiety. When we do, we lean into the perfection of the second coming and pull away from the hopelessness of the world.

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14–16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2; Luke 21:25–28, 34–36

Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple and his disciples naturally wanted to know when it would happen and what signs would accompany it. Jesus told them that many will claim to have answers, but they should not believe them. We have many questions, but we should not accept easy answers to many of them. The question that really matters is how to best live today, and that changes day by day.

Jesus noticed a widow putting a small amount of money oint he temple treasury and told his disciples that she has put in more than all the rich people because she has given all she has to live on. In the context of Luke's Gospel we see that Jesus was not so much praising her generosity as he was condemning the temple system that rested on the backs of the poor "devours the houses of widows." The Good News for us is that God is not asking us to kill ourselves in helping others, but to do what we can with the riches given to us.

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, where both Daniel and Jesus predict that the world will fall apart, but God will gather the faithful from the ends of the earth and save them. When our world falls apart, we can fall apart with it in despair, adding to the pain, or we can remember that Jesus is still in the world, still bringing life out of death, and we can look for those signs, trust God, and be beacons of hope for others.

Readings: Daniel 12:1–3; Hebrews 10:11–14, 18; Mark 13:24–32