Lacy Sietsema – Page 51 – Good Ground Press

Music and the Gospel: “One Of Us,” New Politics, 28th Sunday Ordinary Time

Immigration is a fiery topic today. Some people welcome immigrants; some resist others different from them. This week’s SPIRIT explores how accepting new people and cultures can benefit our communities and schools and expand our relationships with those around us. The song “One of Us” is about celebrating our differences and accepting people into our […]

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Music and the Gospel: “Calm Down,” Skip Marley

Some decisions stay with us and even define us for the rest of lives. Some choices seem so clear that we forget we made them. Serious choices demand time to weigh the pros and cons of our actions, the positive or negative ways the choices affect other people. Occasionally, someone (a friend, a parent) will

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Gospel Reflection for October 8, 2017, 27th Sunday Ordinary Time

Sunday Readings: Isaiah 5.1-7; Philippians 4.6-9; Matthew 21.33-43 “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will yield a rich harvest.” – Matthew 21.43 Economically in Jesus’ time, 95% of the people were poor peasants who worked hard to survive. Roman soldiers from the occupying army

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Gospel Reflection for October 1, 2017, 26th Sunday Ordinary Time

Scripture readings: Ezekiel 18.25-28; Philippians 2.1-11; Matthew 21.28-32 Jesus told this parable. A man had two sons. He said to the first, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” “No, I will not,” the first son said. But afterwards the son regretted it and went. The father asked the second son to do

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Gospel Reflection for September 24, 2017, 25th Sunday Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 55.6-9; Philippians 1.20-24,27; Matthew 20.1-16 “So the last will be first and the first will be last.” – Matthew 20.16 The vineyard owner in Sunday’s gospel has a unique pay scale. The owner pays the full-day wage to those who find work only at the last hour. Some will perhaps count these

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Gospel Reflection for September 17, 2017, 24th Sunday Ordinary Time

Sunday Readings: Sirach 27.30-28.7; Romans 14.7-9; Matthew 18.21-35 Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” – Matthew 18.21 We know Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question. Seventy times seven times. That’s always. In the Our Father we ask God to

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Gospel Reflection for September 10, 2017, 23rd Sunday Ordinary Time

Sunday Readings: Ezekiel 33.7-9; Romans 13.8-10; Matthew 18.15-20 “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” – Matthew 13.20 “Talk it through” is the nub of Jesus’ advice on what to do when one disciple wrongs another. Step one is one-on-one dialogue. If that fails, step two advises us

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Gospel Reflection for August 27, 2017, 21st Sunday Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 22.19-23, Romans 11.33-36, Matthew 16.13-20 “Who do people say that I am?” – Matthew 16.14 Jesus asks his disciples this question, “Who do people say that I am?”, halfway through his public ministry. Is he the long-awaited leader that prophets dreamed would bring peace? His disciples think so. Is her God’s servant

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Gospel Reflection for August 20, 2017, 20th Sunday Ordinary Time

Sunday Readings: Isaiah 56.1, 6-7; Romans 11.13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15.21-28 “It is not faith to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs,” Jesus said, but the Canaanite women said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” – Matthew 15.26-27 In

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Gospel Reflection for August 13, 2017, 19th Sunday Ordinary Time

Scripture readings: 1 Kings 19.9,11-13; Romans 9.1-5; Matthew 14.22-33 “Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened. Beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his had and caught him.” – Matthew 14.29-30

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