The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full, they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good in buckets. What is bad they throw away. Matthew 13.47-48 Matthew never knows when to quit. Rather than end his chapter […]
Gospel Reflection for July 27, 2014, 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Read More »
Master, did you not sow good seed in your fields? Where did these weeds come from? Matthew 13.27 Life takes time; God’s reign will take time. In the end God’s wisdom is not human wisdom. Some apparent weeds may be flowers. The smallest of seeds may yet grow into a plant that provides hospitality for
Gospel Reflection for July 20, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
“Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13.8 Jesus’ parable of the sower is prophetic but the promised yield doesn’t happen within the gospel. There Jesus’ teachings fall on path, rocks, and weedy patches where the seeds fail to flourish. The disciples who
Gospel Reflection for July 13, 2014, 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Read More »
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11.28 The rest that Jesus offers has its origins in Sabbath, the seventh day on which God rests and enjoys all that has unfolded in the six days of creation. Sabbath and rest are a
Gospel Reflection for July 6, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples (Matthew 16.15). Sunday celebrates the two most influential Christian apostles–Peter and Paul. When Jesus asks his famous question, Peter professes faith quickly that Jesus is the messiah. However, Peter requires more time and experience to become the firm believer on whom Jesus counts as
Gospel Reflection for June 29, 2014, Feast of Peter and Paul Read More »
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” John 6.51 John’s gospel equates faith in Jesus with faith in Jesus’ signs. Faith that this blood is real drink and this flesh is real food is the same as faith Jesus is really from God. Eucharist is a commitment we live out. To share the
Gospel Reflection for June 22, 2014, Body and Blood of Christ Read More »
“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 »