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 […]
Gospel Reflection for September 24, 2017, 25th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
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
Gospel Reflection for September 17, 2017, 24th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
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
Gospel Reflection for September 10, 2017, 23rd Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
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
Gospel Reflection for August 27, 2017, 21st Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
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
Gospel Reflection for August 20, 2017, 20th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
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
Gospel Reflection for August 13, 2017, 19th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Scripture Readings: Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14; 2 Peter 1.16-19; Mathew 17.1-9 “Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them u on a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before their very eyes. His face became as dazzling as the sun, his clothes bright as light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
Gospel Reflection for August 6, 2017 Feast of the Transfiguration Read More »
Sunday Readings: 1 Kings 3.5, 7-12; Romans 8.28-30; Matthew 13.44-52 “The kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid, and then in joy goes and sells every belonging and buys the field.” – Matthew 13.44 Sunday’s gospel begins with a parable about buying and selling. The treasure in
Gospel Reflection for July 30, 2017, 17th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Wisdom 12.13,16-19; Romans 8.26-27; Matthew 13.24-43 “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are children of the evil one.” – Matthew 13.37-38 The gospel last Sunday took us to the parable
Gospel Reflection for July 23, 2017, 16th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Scripture Readings: Zechariah 9.9-10; Romans 8.9,11-13; Matthew 11.25-30 “No one knows the Father except the Son.” – Matthew 11.27 For Israel, wisdom begins in awe at God’s gracious work in creation and envisions human harmony shaped out of wise, God-centered, Spirit-animated relationships among people. The book of Proverbs personifies wisdom as a woman who is
Gospel Reflection for July 9, 2017, 14th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »