My dear friends,
      Pope Francis has called for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time to be the Sunday of the Word of God. This is a day devoted especially to Scripture. This may seem a little odd, as we read Scripture every Sunday - every day of the week for that matter, in our liturgies. So what makes this day different?
      Catholics are very good about memorizing prayers. We have rosaries and novenas. We like to go on pilgrimages and get plenary indulgences. We try to get out of Purgatory as quickly as possible. We know not to eat meat on Fridays in Lent, to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and to light candles. We remember to bless ourselves with holy water as we enter church (even if we forget not to do it when we leave). Catholics know lots of rituals and prayers, but we are not so good at knowing the Word of God.
      When was the last time you read the Bible? If you had to think too long to answer that, it’s been too long! It is one of the greatest weaknesses in the Church. We do not encourage the reading in the Bible nearly enough. The Holy Father wants that to change. This Sunday reminds us how important the Word of God is to our faith life. No one gets married and says, “Well, now we’re done!” A relationship requires constant communication. Scripture is God’s Word. Think of it as love letters and family stories from the one who adores you most of all. Why wouldn’t you want to read that message?
      There are resources to help you if you don’t know how to get started. Come to the Bible study here on Thursdays. Take a course with the Biblical Institute of the Archdiocese. Follow Scripture reflections from the USCCB or other Catholic online resources. Check what the Scripture readings are for Sunday and read them before you come to Mass. (We print that information in the lower left hand corner of this page!) It isn’t enough to just have a Bible in your home, we need to open it! (And if you don’t have one, please, buy one!) Sometimes the best way to get started is to just open the Good Book, find a passage, and read. That is what I did, and I fell in love.
      Today, you’re invited to get to know your Scriptures better. Take the invitation and happy reading!

My dear friends,
     Down it comes! As I write, I’m taking down Christmas decorations. Everything is finished at my parents’ home, the chapel has been setup for Ordinary Time, the church cleanup has begun, and all is done at the rectory - except the Christmas trees. (I’m hoping they’re down when you read this!) To some people, this is a depressing thing, but not for me. I had finally reached the point when I walked down the hall and thought, “Boy, this looks cluttered!” That’s when I know it is time to begin getting the house back to normal. 
      One aspect of living in a modernist home is that it doesn’t take much to make it pop for a holiday. It’s pretty easy to decorate. (That means less to take down later!) There’s something to a minimalist aesthetic. The clean lines and open expanses makes for a pleasant environment. It can be dressed up or dressed down quickly and easily. With few fussy details, it’s a calming background. I may be unusual in that taste, and I’m sure years of architectural training has something to do with that preference, but I like things to be simple.
      My daily routine can be busy. It’s easy for my days to be filled up with services at church, meetings for the school, appointments with parishioners, visits to the homebound, and conferences with the archdiocese. I may be planning a funeral and wedding for the same day, along with looking at the budget for the parish. With the wide variety of issues and emotions, having a calm place helps. It can be a cleanser of the mind to just sit for a few minutes in a simple space and just decompress. It helps.
      There’s a beauty to decluttering our souls. We can fill our prayer life with lists of prayers and forget to listen. When we always talk, we forget communication involves listening. There’re times we need to stop and be quiet. Christ comes to us in the silence, but he isn’t great at yelling over the din of chaos. The Spirit can move us, but we’re less likely to feel that movement if we’re too busy. When we pare back the chaos, we’ll have that calm place in our spiritual home to unwind. Then we’re more likely to appreciate what God is trying to tell us.
      As we get back to Ordinary Time, I pray we all take some time to declutter our hearts. Simple souls focused on fewer things is a happier open to God’s direction.