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 »
Mary Magdalene had gone to the tomb and found that Jesus was missing. She could not find him and was crying. Jesus asked, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?Mary supposed the man to be the gardener and responded, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid
Gospel Reflection for April 20, 2014, Easter Sunday Read More »
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me, though they will die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha responded, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the messiah, the son of God: he
Gospel Reflection for April 6, 5th Sunday of Lent Read More »
Jesus was transfigured in front of his disciples. Out of the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son, on whom my favor rests. Listen to him.” Matthew 17.5 His transfiguration takes place just after Jesus tells his disciples for the first time he will suffer, die, and rise on the third day. This
Gospel Reflection for March 16, 2014, 2nd Sunday of Lent Read More »
Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. People who try either hate one and love the other or pay attention to one and despise the other. You cannot give yourself to God and money.” Matthew 6:24 Sunday’s gospel begins with a generic saying: No one can serve two masters. What makes the saying memorable
Gospel Reflection for March 2nd, 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 Jesus rejects conventional wisdom and accepted cultural values. He offers a prophetic alternative to payback; he wants us to make neighbors even of enemies. He pushes the law beyond simply keeping the rules and being obedient.
Gospel Reflection for February 23, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel basket. The place for a lamp is on a stand where it gives light to all in the house.” Matthew 5:15 Jesus compares his disciples to light. People made lamps in Jesus’ day from clay. Household lamps were small enough for those
Gospel Reflection for February 9, 2014, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
Jesus said to the fishermen, “Come follow me. I want you to gather people in your nets.” Matthew 4.19 Christians today may wonder why the four fishermen so unhesitatingly follow a man who comes walking along the lake shore and invites them to, “Follow me.” Matthew is writing about the call of Peter, Andrew,
Gospel Reflection for January 26, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
The fourth gospel begins in God time and enters history only in verse 6, when “a man named John was sent from God…to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him” (1.6-7). Jesus has no birth story and no parents at the beginning of this gospel. Instead he has a dedicated public
Gospel Reflection for January 19, 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
After Jesus was baptized be John, a voice from the heavens spoke. “This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on him.” Matthew 3.17 In receiving John’s baptism, Jesus passes from private life in Galilee to public life characterized by humility and compassionate justice. At his baptism the Spirit of God commissions him for his
Gospel Reflection for January 12, 2014, Baptism of the Lord Read More »