Jesus said, “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15.13 Love is a verb. Jesus isn’t talking about having friends but about being a friend. Liberation theologians have a term for laying down one’s life—acompoñar. It doesn’t mean martyrdom, though that my happen. It means accompanying […]
Gospel Reflection for May 13, 2012, 6th Sunday of Easter Read More »
Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15.5 The image of the vine communicates the risen Jesus’ sustaining love for the Christian community. Disciples tap into the common vein of life
Gospel Reflection for May 6, 2012, 5th Sunday of Easter Read More »
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. Good shepherds lay down their lives for the sheep.” John 10.11 As John’s chapter 10 begins, Jesus talk in an elaborate figure of speech about sheep and shepherds. Sheep know their shepherd’s voice; they won’t follow a stranger or a thief. A shepherd leads a flock in and
Gospel Reflection for April 29, Fourth Sunday of Easter Read More »
Jesus breathed on his disciples 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 20.21-23 Jesus breathes the new life of the Spirit upon his disciples, just as in the beginning God breathed the spirit of life into the
A Gospel Reflection for April 15th, 2nd Sunday of Easter Read More »
Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Mark 11.9 Holy Week begins by celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem with palms and songs that express honor and praise. In the Palm Sunday gospel and in the “Holy, Holy, Holy” at every Eucharist, Christians identify Jesus as the one who comes
Gospel Reflection for April 1st, Palm/Passion Sunday Read More »
Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it will bear much fruit. Those who love their lives will lose them. Those who hate their lives in this world will keep them to life eternal.” John 12.24-25
A Gospel Reflection for March 25, 5th Sunday of Lent Read More »
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but so the world might be saved through him.” John 3.17 Jesus’ mission is not to condemn the world but to save it. He calls us who believe in him to do likewise. Like Nicodemus, we find this
Gospel Reflection for March 18th, 4th Sunday in Lent Read More »
In the temple Jesus found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and money changers sitting at tables. Jesus made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple—sheep, oxen, money changers. He poured out their money and overturned their tables. He spoke to those selling doves, “Take these doves out of here.
Gospel Reflection for March 11, 3rd Sunday of Lent Read More »
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them an order, “Tell no one what you have seen until the Son of man has risen from the dead.” Mark 9.9 Sunday’s gospel tells the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Shortly before he leads Peter, James, and John up the mountain, Jesus makes his disciples aware
A Gospel Reflection for March 4, Second Sunday of Lent Read More »
Immediately after his baptism, the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert. There for 40 days Satan tested him. After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled. God’s reign has come near. Repent and believe in the good news.” Mark 1.15 In Sunday’s gospel Jesus says,
Gospel Reflection for February 26, 1st Sunday of Lent Read More »