Sunday Readings: Wisdom 7.7-11; Hebrews 4.12-13; Mark 10.17-27 “You need do only one thing more.” – Mark 10.21 The young man in Sunday’s gospel wants to know what he can do to receive eternal life. Jesus names six of the ten commandments–no to killing, adultery, stealing, giving false witness, and cheating, and yes to honoring one’s parents. […]
Gospel Reflection for October 14, 2018, 28th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Numbers 11.25-29; James 5.1-6; Mark 9.38-48 “Whoever is not against us is for us.” – Mark 9.40 Often in our disgustingly polarized times, activists, liberal and conservative, reverse Jesus’ saying and eliminate the middle ground. They insist whoever is not for us is against us. Middle ground is liminal space, valuable to preserve for exploring what
Gospel Reflection for September 30, 2018, 26th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: 1 Kings 19. 4-8; Ephesians 4.30-5.2, John 6.41-51 “The Jews began to murmur about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven” – John 6.41 Within the crowd following Jesus is a group whom the gospel writer calls “the Jews.” They murmur. They question how Jesus can be from
Gospel Reflection for August 12, 2018, 19th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Scripture Readings: Acts 10.25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4.7-10; John 15.9-17 “The command I give you is this: that you love one another.” – John 15.17 “You are my friends if you do what I command you,” Jesus says. Do is an active verb. Jesus isn’t talking about having friends, but about being a friend.”
Gospel Reflection for May 6, 2018, 6th Sunday of Easter Read More »
Scripture Readings: Genesis 22.1-2, 8, 10-13, 15-18; Romans 8.31-34; Mark 9.2-10 “This is my son, my beloved. Listen to him.” – Mark 9.7 Each year the Church reflects on Jesus’ transfiguration on the 2nd Sunday of Lent. The vision challenges us to look toward Easter, to envision our hopes and prayers for transformation and renewal
Gospel Reflection for February 25, 2018, 2nd Sunday of Lent Read More »
Scripture Readings: Leviticus 13.1-2, 44-46; 1 Corinthians 10.31-11.1; Mark 1.40-45 “A leper came to Jesus, imploring him urgently and kneeling as he spoke, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’” – Mark 1.40-41 In Jesus’ time
Gospel Reflection for February 11, 2018, 6th 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 »
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 »