Sunday Readings: Numbers 6.2-27; Galatians 4.4-7; Luke 2.16-21 “Mary pondered all these words in her heart.” – Luke 2.19 Sunday’s gospel about the shepherds visit to Mary’s child and offers only a single sentence about her. That sentence turns on the word pondered, in Greek the word if symballein. Ballein means to throw. Literally the […]
Gospel Reflection for January 1, 2017, Mary, Mother of God Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 7.10-14; Romans 1.1-7; Matthew 1.18-24 “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, an upright man unwilling to expose her to
Gospel Reflection for December 18, 2016, 4th Sunday Advent Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 35.1-6,10; James 5.7-10; Matthew 11.2-11 John the Baptist sends messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the one to come or should we expect someone else?” Jesus answers, “Tell John what you hear and see: the blind can see; the lame can walk; lepers are cured; the deaf hear; the dead are raised
Gospel Reflection for December 11, 2016, 3rd Sunday Advent Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 11.1-10; Romans 15.4-9; Matthew 3.1-12 Two family trees figure in Sunday’s readings: the children of Abraham and Sarah hear God’s call, go to a new land, and await a child who will be the first of descendants as countless as the stars. Faith in God’s promise is their DNA. The descendants of
Gospel Reflection for December 4, 2016, 2nd Sunday of Advent Read More »
Sunday Readings: 2 Samuel 5.1-3; Colossians 1.12-20; Luke 23.35-43 “Jesus is the face of God’s mercy,” Pope Francis writes in announcing the Jubilee Year of Mercy that ends this Sunday. “These words might well sum up the mystery of Christian faith. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination in
Gospel Reflection for November 20, 2016, Christ the King Read More »
Scripture Readings: Wisdom 11.22–12.2; 2 Thessalonians 1.11–2.2; Luke 19.1-10 “When he reached the sycamore tree, Jesus looked up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry down, I must stay at your house today.’” – Luke 19.5 The tax collector Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus. He is a seeker. When Jesus notices him in the tree, he
Gospel Reflection for October 23, 2016, 30th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Exodus 17.8-13; 2 Timothy 3.14-4.2; Luke 18.18 “Take up my case. Give me my just rights against my opponent.” – Luke 18.3 The widow in Jesus’ parable this Sunday is not asking for food and basic necessities. She is seeking her “just rights.” The word in Greek, ekdikeo, is not the usual term
Gospel Reflection for October 16, 2016, 29th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: 2 Kings 5.14-17; 2 Timothy 2.8-13; Luke 17.11-17 Jesus asked, “Weren’t ten lepers cleansed? Where are the other nine?” – Luke 17.17 In Sunday’s gospel only one of the ten lepers Jesus heals returns to thank Jesus. The passage prompts us to practice gratitude to God and to one another. Being alive calls
Gospel Reflection for October 9, 2016, 28th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Wisdom 9.13-28; Philomen 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14.25-33 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, spouse and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even life itself, cannot be my follower; whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14.26-27 Jesus continues on his journey
Gospel Reflection for October 2, 2016, 27th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Exodus 32.7-11, 13-14; 1 Timothy 1.12-17; Luke 15.1-32 “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep…..Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.” (Luke 15.6, 9) Losing, finding, rejoicing — that is the pattern in each of the three parables Jesus tells in chapter 15. Who doesn’t bother to
Gospel Reflection for September 11, 2016, 24th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »