Jesus said to his disciples, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, this One will guide you along the way of all truth.” John 16.12 Jesus recognizes he has more to say than his friends can hear or bear. He cannot ready his […]
Gospel Reflection for May 26, 2013, Trinity Sunday Read More »
Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. John 20.22-23 The risen Christ sends us out into the world, empowers us with the Holy Spirit, and calls us to use our power according to his way
Gospel Reflection for May 19, 2013, Pentecost Read More »
by Joan Mitchell, CSJ “In the cosmology of Jesus’ time, God and the heavens were up and human beings and Earth were below. Our 2,000-year-old gospel tells the story of the risen Jesus’ return to God in the cosmology everyone assumed in the first century. To return to God is to go to the heavens.
An excerpt from Sunday By Sunday Read More »
Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. As he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. Luke 24.50-51 The ascension is the hinge event between Jesus’ resurrection and his sending of the Spirit. Luke ends his gospel with Jesus’ departure
Gospel Reflection for May 12, Ascension Sunday Read More »
Jesus said, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them. To them we will come and make our home with them.” John 14:23 This gospel tells us that when people live like Jesus, they discover the Father within them. We learn and relearn Jesus’ message from living it. Jesus
Gospel Reflection for May 5, 2013, 6th Sunday of Easter Read More »
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so also you should love one another.” John 13:34 After Judas leaves, Jesus teaches his new commandment. It turns on the little word as, the likeness to his own love that Jesus expects of his disciples. “As I have
Gospel Reflection for April 28th, 5th Sunday of Easter Read More »
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 Sunday’s short gospel passage comes near the end of John’s gospel, chapter 10. Jesus knows us. This passage promises his followers will never perish. No one can snatch us from Jesus’ hand or his Father’s hand. These consoling promises
Gospel Reflection for April 21, 2013, 4th Sunday of Easter Read More »
Sunday’s Easter scene preserves a snapshot of the original Christian community, small and intimate. It includes the eleven, Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, and other people who have followed Jesus. They have accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem and witnessed him heal and teach. This Easter community has no pastor, committees, governance, or finance reports – yet. The
Easter Community: an excerpt from Sunday By Sunday Read More »
A third time Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So Peter said to him: “Lord, you know everything. You know well that I love you.” Jesus answered, “Feed my sheep.” John 21.17 The three repetitions remind
Gospel Reflection for April 15, 3rd Sunday of Easter Read More »
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and Jesus appeared to her. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” John 20:18 Mary Magdalene hears a man she supposed to be the gardener speak her name. Like the sheep who know the shepherd’s voice in John 10, she recognizes Jesus’
Gospel Reflection for March 31, Easter Sunday Read More »