SPIRIT asks us, “When do you pray?” Our lives are often busy with school, work, family, and friends, constantly in motion. We often forget to slow down and snatch a moment of reflection. Slowing down (even a 15-minute walk) can often be a prayerful and centering. It helps us to clear our heads and open […]
Music and the Gospel: “Breathless,” Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 32nd Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Our first impressions are often stereotypes. We make assumptions based on people’s appearance, how they talk, and how they act. We have to look beyond what our eyes see. The song “Go As You Are” reminds us to keep our eyes open to see who the people we encounter day by day really are. Key
Music and the Gospel: “Go As You Are,” Curtis Harding, 31st Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Malachi 1.14; 2.2, 8-10; Thessalonians 2.7-9.3; Matthew 23.1-12 “The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest.” – Matthew 23.11 Perhaps some people in the early Christian communities claim more importance than others. When Matthew writes more than 50 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christians may be living the
Gospel Reflection for November 5, 2017, 31st Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Scripture Readings: Exodus 22.20-26; 1 Thessalonians 1.5-10; Matthew 22.34-40 “Teacher, which commandment of the law is greatest?” – Matthew 22.36 Love God and neighbor without distinction. This is the distilled version of the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the religious community to which I belong. The mission calls us to act—to love and form
Gospel Reflection for October 29, 2017, 30th Sunday Ordinary time Read More »
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus teaches us the way to love God is to love one another. It doesn’t matter who we love, what religion we adhere to, what color our skin is, where we are on the economic scale. What matters the most is that we treat each other with respect, fairness, and
Music and the Gospel: “Here For You,” Kygo ft. Ella Henderson, 30th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Not all the people in our communities and nation have the same access to education, healthcare, and justice. This week’s SPIRIT spotlights Appalachia and the effects of mountaintop mining. The song “Sea Change” asks us why are we closing our eyes to the plight of people in our midst who are poor when we are
Music and the Gospel: “Sea Change,” Thrice, 29th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 45.1,4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1.1-5; Matthew 22.15-21 “Whose image is on the coin and whose inscription?” – Matthew 22.20 In Sunday’s gospel Jesus confronts a worldview about who images God. Jesus insists that we cannot keep separate our obligations to God and those to government. God blesses and calls us to integrate
Gospel Reflection for October 22, 2017, 29th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 25.6-10; Philippians 4.12-14,19-20; Matthew 22.1-10 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have
Gospel Reflection for October 15, 2017, 28th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
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
Music and the Gospel: “One Of Us,” New Politics, 28th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
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
Music and the Gospel: “Calm Down,” Skip Marley Read More »