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 »
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 »
Sunday Readings: Acts 5.12-16; Revelation 1.9-11, 12-13, 17-19; John 20.19-31 Jesus breathed on his disciples and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20.22-23) Bible scholar Sandra Schneiders observes that the Greek word translated as retained above or sometimes bound
Gospel Reflection for April 3, 2016, 2nd Sunday of Easter Read More »
Sunday Readings: Exodus 3.1-8, 13-15; 1 Corinthians 10.1-6, 10-12; Luke 13.1-9 “For three years now I have come looking for figs on this tree and found none. Cut it down. Why should it take up space?” (Luke 13.7) Jesus’ parable of the fig tree reveals God’s hope and compassion for people. The gardener who cares
Gospel Reflection for February 28, 2016, 3rd Sunday of Lent Read More »
Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 1.4-5, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 13.4-13; Luke 4.21-30 “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4.21) These words begin Jesus’ inaugural sermon in Luke’s gospel. In last Sunday’s gospel Jesus read a passage from Isaiah that describes a prophet whom the Spirit anoints and appoints to bring good news to the
Gospel Reflection for January 31, 2016, 4th Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »