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Jesus said that whoever does the will of God is his mother and brother and sister. Can we extend our own notion of family to embrace all of God's people? Wouldn't that make for a better world?

Jesus tells us to that no one lights a candle and puts it under a bushel basket. Do you let your light shine, so that others may see the glory of God working through you?

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. In these readings we learn that we are embedded in a community of faith and are called to inspire others about how to live rightly in this community, embodying in our lives the faith we profess, to help all people can flourish. In this, we can get inspiration by people such as Cesar Chavez who fought for workers' rights.

Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,​6-8; James 1:17-18,​21-22,​27; Mark 7:1-8,​14-15,​21-23

The Apostle Paul praised the Thessalonians for their steadfastness of faith in the midst of persecution, and we hear of Christina, who today, lifts up hope in the midst of tragedy.

In response to Paul's quoting of Genesis that in marriage, the two become one flesh, we hear the story of Gilberto and Laetisia, an immigrant couple who struggled but became a beacon of hope to others in Chicago's West Side.

In today's Gospel, Jesus explains to his disciples the parable of the weeds and the wheat growing together, assuring them that, even though there are trials and weeds may be choking them, they were meant to be good seeds, planted to bring a good harvest for God, and that will happen if they remain faithful and trust God. You and I are also good seeds, planted by God to bring about a good harvest.

When Jesus arrived after Lazarus' death, Martha called out to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." But her pain was turned to greater joy and great faith when her faith in Jesus led to the resuscitation of her brother. In modern times, we hear of Annette Nance Holt, who responded to the death of her 16 year old son, who died shielding another from bullets in a drive-by shooting, by starting an organisation that encourages people to work for an end to gun violence rather than simply living with the pain of its consequences. You can learn more about Purpose Over Pain at https://purpose-over-pain.org .

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, coming to us from the Shrine of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a Mohawk saint who embodies the themes of the day—being a true prophet to the nations, seemingly weak and unimportant, and rejected by her own, but ultimately a powerful witness.

Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 6:1-6

Jesus told a would-be follower, "let the dead bury the dead." We all make excuses about why we are not responding to the moment as we should. The world needs our actions, not our excuses.

God does not delight in death and destruction, so when we encounter them in the world we are called to seek out the healing voice of Christ, and to bring that voice to others.

On this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we remember Jesus' command to share this sacred meal "in remembrance of me." This still stands as a challenge to us to share our blessings with one another so that each one has enough.

Based on Mark 14:12–16, 22–26:

The Jewish authorities challenged Jesus' authority to be teaching in the Temple because he was not credentialed by them. It is our faith and the Gospel itself that gives us the authority to go out and do great things in the world, not any other title or credential we hold.