What’s more Catholic than fish dinners? Did you know the fish is an ancient Christian symbol? The word for fish in Greek is ichtus, pronounced ick-toose. The word fish in Greek letters look like: The first Christians, who were sometimes persecuted for their faith in Jesus, made an acrostic out of this word. In an […]
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 43.16-21; Philippians 3.8-14; John 8.1-11 “Woman, where are they all? Has no one condemned you?” (John 8.10) Only John’s gospel tells the story of the hypocrites who use a woman they catch in adultery to trap Jesus. He can reject the law of Moses that requires stoning or break the Roman law
Gospel Reflection for March 13, 2016, 5th Sunday of Lent Read More »
Sunday Readings: Joshua 5.9,10-12; 2 Corinthians 5.17-21; Luke 15.1-3,11-32 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger said to the father, ‘Father, give me the share of your property that will fall to me.’ So the father divided up the property. After a few days the younger son, having gathered
Gospel Reflection for March 6, 2016, 4th Sunday of Lent 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 »
Sunday Readings: Deuteronomy 26.4-10; Romans 10.8-13; Luke 4.1-13 “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for scripture has it, ‘God will bid angels to watch over you,’ and ‘With their hands they will lift you up so that you do not stumble upon a stone.’” (Luke 4.9-11) The devil’s third and climatic
Gospel Reflection for February 14, 2016, 1st Sunday of Lent Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 6.1-8; 1 Corinthians 15.1-11; Luke 5.1-11 “Simon put out his nets and caught so many fish that the nets began to break.” (Luke 5.6) Peter fishes all night without success. A miraculous catch of fish follows the next day in response to Jesus’ charge to put out into the deep water. The
Gospel Reflection for February 7, 2016, 5th Sunday Ordinary Time 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 »
Sunday Readings: Nehemiah 8.2-4, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12.12-30; Luke 1.1-4, 4.14-21 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; God has anointed and sent me to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty for captives, sight for the blind, release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord.” (Luke
Gospel Reflection for January 24, 2016, 3rd Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 62.1-5; 1 Corinthians 12.4-11; John 2.1-11 “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever Jesus tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding 20 or 30 gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’” (John 2.5-7) The wedding setting in
Gospel Reflection for January 17, 2016, 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time Read More »
Sunday Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40.1-5, 9-11; Titus 2.11-14, 3.4-7; Luke 3.15-16, 21-22 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3.16) After the exile in Babylon many people return to the land of Israel, rebuild their city and temple, and revive their worship. Then Greek and Roman conquerors arrive, threatening the temple
Gospel Reflection for January 10, 2016, Baptism of the Lord Read More »