“God so loved the world, that God gave the only Son, that whoever believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” John 3.16 God is the shared life at the heart of the universe, three in one love. We must constantly be aware that when we use language to name God, we are […]
Gospel Reflection for June 15, 2014, Trinity Sunday Read More »
Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” John 20.21 In this Easter appearance Jesus gives his friends a purpose that makes the passage a fitting Pentecost gospel. Jesus sends disciples as the Father sent him. He commissions them and us to continue his
Gospel Reflection for June 8, 2014, Pentecost Read More »
Each weekday morning at our house progresses remarkably the same. My bleary-eyed sons stumble their way downstairs to cuddle with me for a bit before watching a show of their choice on pbskids.org. The viewing of a television episode insures that I can have approximately twenty-three minutes to myself to shower and get ready for
Gifts of the Spirit Read More »
Jesus told his disciples, “And I will ask the Father, who will give you another Advocate to abide with you always: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, since it neither sees nor recognizes the Spirit; but you know the Spirit because the Spirit abides with you and will be in you.” John
Gospel Reflection for May 25, 2014, Sixth Sunday of Easter Read More »
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered, “All this time I have been with you, Philip, and you do not know me? Whoever sees me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’” John 14.8-9 In responding to Philip, Jesus shifts the
Gospel Reflection for May 18, 2014, Fifth Sunday of Easter Read More »
Jesus said, “The one who enters through the gate is shepherd of the sheep; the keeper opens the gate for him. The sheep hear his voice as he calls his own by name and leads them out.” John 10.30-31 The shepherd allegory offers the intimacy between shepherd and sheep as an image of the relationship
Gospel Reflection for May 11, 2014, Fourth Sunday of Easter Read More »
Where do we find Jesus in the post-resurrection time in which we live? For those of us who did not get to know Jesus during his embodiment on earth, how do we now get to know him now? This Sunday’s Gospel, the road to Emmaus story from Luke 24, gives us some important clues to
Two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus and began talking to a stranger about Jesus’ death and all that had transpired since that time. They did not recognize that the stranger was the risen Jesus. While Jesus sat with the two disciples, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them.
Gospel Reflection for May 4, 2014, Third Sunday of Easter Read More »
When the risen Jesus appears to his friends on the road, they don’t recognize him immediately. However, they say their “hearts were on fire” when they talked with him and recognized him when they shared a meal. Similarly, when we feel moved to act out of compassion or justice, or we know in our hearts
Music and the Gospel: “Compass” and the 3rd Sunday of Easter Read More »
Jesus’ followers were hiding from the Jews when Jesus appeared to them. Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound.” John 20.22-23 Easter is about transformation and action. Jesus hands over to the community the
Gospel Reflection for April 27, 2014, Second Sunday of Easter Read More »