June 6, 2026 Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time / Memorial of Saint Norbert, Bishop Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
Today, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of Saint Norbert, Bishop. The saint’s biography tells us that Saint Norbert (1080–1134), born in Xanten in Germany, lived a secular life at court in his early years. At the age of thirty-five, following a profound conversion after a near-fatal accident, he was ordained a priest and founded the Premonstratensian Order (also known as the Norbertines). In 1126, he was appointed Archbishop of Magdeburg. Despite enduring persistent opposition, he labored tirelessly to reform clerical discipline, defend orthodox doctrine, and safeguard the unity and liberty of the Church.
Today’s Gospel continues the account of Jesus’ ministry in the Temple in Jerusalem, taken from the Gospel of Mark. I would like to offer some reflections drawn from this passage.
When we enter the church, aside from the tabernacle, one of the first things that often catches our eye is the offering box near the entrance. At times, we may fixate on it, judging the faithfulness of our brothers and sisters by the amount of money they place within it. If someone contributes generously, we are quick to praise their devotion; yet when we see those who come regularly to Mass but give little—or nothing—we may be tempted to look down on them, as though their love for God were lacking. When such thoughts take root in our hearts, we become like the scribes whom Jesus condemns, measuring our relationship with God by worldly standards. We act as though God were needy, dependent on the transient things of this world—the perishable works of human hands—to be honored. In doing so, we forget that all we have comes from God. Were it not for His creating us in His own image and entrusting us with stewardship over creation, we could not even exist in this world.
The widow who put her whole livelihood into the offering box is truly blessed. Like Holy Mother Church herself, she holds nothing back, entrusting herself entirely to God, that she may receive every grace He wills to bestow—and in turn, dispense these graces to her children. Thus strengthened, her children may overcome the ruler of this world and his minions, and together with her, take up their crosses daily, follow Christ, and journey toward holiness.
O God, whose providence never fails in its design, keep from us, we humbly beseech you, all that might harm us and grant all that works for our good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
June 5, 2026 Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr Gospel: Mark 12:35-37
Today, Holy Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Boniface. The Saint was born around the year 675 in Crediton, Devonshire, England. From his youth, he entered a Benedictine monastery. In the year 716, he undertook his first missionary expedition to Frisia, though without success. Two years later, having received papal approval, he set out again and successfully evangelized vast regions of southern Germany. Eventually, he was appointed Archbishop of Mainz by Pope Gregory III. In his seventies, he embarked on a new mission to Holland. In the year 754, at Dokkum in Frisia, he was martyred together with fifty-two companions. His body was taken to Fulda and laid to rest in the monastery he had founded.
Today’s Gospel passage from Saint Mark continues to present Jesus teaching in the Temple of Jerusalem. I wish to take this occasion to offer some further reflections.
How are we to understand Jesus’ question: “How do the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.’” (cf. Mark 12:35-37; Psalm 110[109]:1)? We ought to consider: if Christ were not from God, if He were not the Eternal Word of God who was with God in the beginning (cf. John 1:1-2), then David would have called the Messiah his son, rather than calling Him his Lord.
Indeed, through the sin of the first Adam, humanity lost all those graces which God had bestowed upon man created “in His own image” (cf. Genesis 1:27-31). But God, rich in mercy, according to His promise made to our first parents (cf. Genesis 3:14-19), sent forth His Only Son, our Lord and God, Jesus Christ. He, though knowing no sin, was made sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). We firmly believe that the Sacred Baptism we receive causes us to be reborn in Christ (cf. Romans 6:3-5). And when we follow Christ and are led by the “Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father” (cf. John 15:26), we are truly children of God, for “whoever are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (cf. Romans 8:14).
Today, as the Church commemorates the martyr Saint Boniface, she calls us to imitate his example—to remain faithful to the Word and to live as true children of God, as taught by Jesus. May our thoughts, words, and deeds reflect the likeness of the Heavenly Father, whom Jesus revealed. May those who live with us witness this transformation and themselves be converted, so that this world, now filled with strife, may once more radiate the harmony of God’s first creation.
May the Martyr Saint Boniface be our advocate, O Lord, that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
June 4, 2026 Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Mark 12:28–34
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In some dioceses, for pastoral benefit, this feast is transferred to the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. To accommodate those dioceses, this year we provide both the reflection for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and that for Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time.
The Gospel for Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time is taken from the Gospel of Mark and recounts a dialogue between Jesus and a scribe. I would like to offer some reflections.
Saint Mark tells us that a scribe came to Jesus and asked Him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” (cf. Mark 12:28). We can see ourselves in this scribe, for sometimes we too think that by keeping just one of God’s commandments we can attain eternal life. But in Jesus’ view, the Ten Commandments are closely linked and inseparable; not one of them can be set aside. He did not come to abolish the Old Law but to fulfill it. Therefore, He cites a passage from Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (cf. Deut 6:4–5). Then He quotes Leviticus: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord” (cf. Lev 19:18). Finally, He summarizes: “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (cf. Mark 12:29–31).
Today, each of us is called to be a Christian. Christ, rich in mercy, has proclaimed the Ten Commandments to us through His Church, founded upon Saint Peter. If we are guided by the Holy Spirit, we will no longer view God’s commandments according to the logic of this world—a logic that says God’s law is too profound and burdensome to bear. Rather, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s commandments are not a weight, but a duty we are capable of fulfilling. Now, let us pray together:
O God, whose providence never fails in its design, keep from us, we humbly beseech you, all that might harm us and grant all that works for our good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
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