July 19, 2025 - Volume I, Issue 7

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"As all men are touched by God's love, so all are also touched by the desire for His intimacy. No one escapes this longing; we are all kings in exile, miserable without the Infinite"

 Bl. Fulton Sheen 

Editor’s Note

Movies from the 90s all seemed to have a certain archetype. Mom and Dad work so hard professionally that the kids are struggling to get their parents’ attention. Through the story, the parents discover that there’s more to the life than work, putting them on a redemption arc to forge a better relationship with the kids.

Some of my favorites with this archetype are the Santa Clause, Liar Liar, and Home Alone 3. All classics in my book, and all are good any time of the year. I’ve always been worried that I’d turn into that parent when I became a dad. With my ADHD, I’ve had to work a little harder in life than others to get where I've gotten, so I’ve tried to be on guard with that tendency. My wife always grounds me in that respect. She’s always been the one to whisper in my ear that there are more important things in life than work. I’ve always admired her for that.

Now that I am a parent and that I have more serious work responsibilities, I can see why this plot template drove so many of the movies I watched growing up. They’re relatable. The admirable thing in our society is to work hard and to provide for your family. Our country has seen many immigrant families flock to our shores for this dream, the American dream of working hard and providing for your kids. As the movies teach, this hard work comes at a cost. The more time you work, the less time you have to spend with loved ones. You're providing for your family in both ways, but which is more important? It’s this tension that we see in this week’s gospel.

After last week’s lesson on the Good Samaritan, Christ journeys to Bethany, home of Lazarus, near Jerusalem. He is greeted by two women the author juxtaposes: Martha, the worker, and Mary, the listener. While Jesus is teaching, Mary is sitting at his feet, listening intently. Martha is up serving the guests and busying herself with housework, which seems reasonable and practical while hosting guests. Martha notices Mary and her lack of work and asks Jesus to tell Martha to help with chores.

At this, Christ rebukes Martha and tells her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Lk. 10:41-42) Martha was so preoccupied with hospitality that she wasn’t truly paying attention to her guests.  

How many times can you remember how dirty your friend’s house was when you had gone over to have a heart-to-heart conversation about something that was bothering you? I personally cannot remember if there was a mess, let along what it looked like while I was there, but I remember my friend's thoughtfulness, kindness, and love in my time of need, and that’s what Jesus is telling us He wants from us. He points to Mary, who isn’t “doing” anything, but is simply “being” with Him. Showing Him attention and love.

St. Gregory the Great taught that the two women signify the two dimensions of spiritual life. Martha signifies the active life as she busily labors to honor Christ through her work, which is good. Mary exemplifies the contemplative life as she sits attentively to listen and learn from Christ. While both are necessary and good, the greater is the contemplative. In heaven, our active life ends, but our contemplative life lives on and reaches perfection. 

With the end in mind, we should be working to foster this contemplative life, balancing it with our active work. It took me a while to discover this. In college, I was very active in Campus Ministry, taking on roles of Eucharistic Minister, Choir member, and reader all in the same Mass at times. I was active in our outreach to feed the poor and basically lived in our campus ministry house. I thought I was living my best spiritual life, but I was missing a vital piece, quietly just “being” with Christ.  

When I started my Lay Dominican formation, there was a module about prayer and the hierarchy of prayer. First is vocal prayer - the memorized prayers we say; intentional prayers, for ourselves and others; and novenas all fit in this category. Next is meditative prayer - prayer that we enter into while thinking of a Bible verse or where our mind goes during the Rosary. The highest level of prayer is contemplation - this just “being” with Christ, listening to what he’s trying to tell us and immersing ourselves in the immensity of God.

The goal of our prayer life is to build this relationship with God and to spend time with Him. Some of the ways we can climb the ladder are praying the Rosary or Lectio Divina. If you feel a pull to stop and pause and rest while praying with these, that could be the Holy Spirit telling you to stop being Martha for a bit, and start being like Mary — to start “being” with God.

Sunday Readings

Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading – Genesis 18:1-10a

Second Reading – Colossians 1:24-28

Gospel – Luke 10:38-42

Headlines

A few headlines that caught my eye this week:

Miami Archbishop Calls for Administration, Congress to Change Course On Immigration - NCR

Catholic Priest Warns Against Publicly Humiliating Sinners: ‘Whose Side Are We On?’ - ChurchPop

Pope Leo XIV’s Hometown of Dolton, Illinois, Buys His Childhood Home, Eyes Historic Landmark… - CNA

Guess what weighs as much as the Pope’s daily mail- Aleteia

Federal judge blocks Washington state Seal of Confession law- Aleteia

Great news for Catholic Montessorians: New institute- Aleteia

US bishops condemn Gaza church strike; call for ceasefire- Aleteia

3 Members of Opus Dei laid to rest after tragic deaths- Aleteia

Wow: Baby born at just 26 weeks goes home from the hospital- Aleteia

Anglican church seeks to unearth St. Thomas More’s head - Aleteia

‘You Are Gods’: The Catholic Doctrine of Divinization Is Making a Comeback... - NCR

More scandal surrounding a high-profile Catholic personality. For all of us, it’s a call to reflection..... - New Advent

New Catholic scouting patch honors Pope Leo XIV - OSV

Brave new classroom: Catholic schools nationwide integrate AI into teaching plans - OSV

12 takeaways from new survey on Mary’s impact on vocations - OSV

2 Catholic groups back bipartisan bills to fight human trafficking - OSV

West Virginia ban on mifepristone’s use in abortion upheld by federal court - OSV

Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization - OSV

Contemplative Corner

Fr. Mike’s Tips for Praying as a Busy Person

Ascension Presents Fr. Mike's tips to pray as a busy person. - Click Here

Apostolate Spotlight

Lay Dominicans

Lay Dominicans are lay men and women who live out the Dominican charism while fully engaged in the world. They may be single, married, or widowed. Rooted in prayer, study, community, and mission, they seek to proclaim the truth of Christ in everyday life. Through regular formation, fraternity gatherings, the Rosary, and the Liturgy of the Hours, they grow spiritually and support one another. In union with the Dominican Order, Lay Dominicans preach through their daily lives at home, at work, and in public. Learn more at laydominicans.org.

The Liturgical Week Ahead 

Links included below, coloring indicates Liturgical Color

7/21/2025 - Monday - Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church 

Ex 14:5-18/Mt 12:38-42

7/22/2025 - Tuesday - Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Sg 3:1-4b or 2 Cor 5:14-17/Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

7/23/2025 - Wednesday - Memorial of St. Bridget, Religious 

Ex 16:1-5, 9-15/Mt 13:1-9

7/24/2025 - Thursday - Memorial of St. Sharbel Makuluf, Priest

Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b/Mt 13:10-17

7/25/2025 - Friday - Feast of St. James, Apostle

2 Cor 4:7-15/Mt 20:20-28

7/26/2025 - Saturday - Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

Ex 24:3-8/Mt 13:24-30

Community Prayer Intentions

For Strength and Comfort

• Sia Krog and the Krog Family
• Mystery New Arrival to SCI Phoenix
• Pope Leo XIV

Eternal Rest

• Emma Niese
• Kaylee Goncalves
• Madison Mogen
• Ethan Chapin
• Xana Kernodle
• Pope Benedict XVI
• Pope Francis

Saints in Progress, pray for us!

• Fr. Augustus Tolton
• Bl. Solanus Casey
• Fr. Patrick Ryan
• Bl. Fulton Sheen 

Thank you!

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Please know of my prayers for you, and please continue to pray for me and my family. I’ll see you next time, but in the meantime, God Bless!

–☧ Rob