“It’s not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Matthew 15.26 Perhaps it is the rudeness of Jesus’ words that impels Matthew to edit Mark’s earlier version of this story. Matthew provides a reason for Jesus’ refusal to help this Gentile woman, whose daughter is tormented by a demon. […]
Gospel Reflection for August 17, 2014, 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time Read More »
“Lord, if this is really you, command me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14.28 Two spiritual heroes walk with doubt and despair in Sunday’s scripture readings. Both the apostle Peter and the prophet Elijah live and lead in unsettled times and experience questions we are asking today. Where is God in this
Gospel Reflection for August 10, 2014, 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time Read More »
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13.44 As a teaching method, Jesus repeatedly explores the kingdom of heaven by comparing it to real life stories and
Gospel Reflection for August 3, 2014, 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time Read More »
The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full, they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good in buckets. What is bad they throw away. Matthew 13.47-48 Matthew never knows when to quit. Rather than end his chapter
Gospel Reflection for July 27, 2014, 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Read More »
Master, did you not sow good seed in your fields? Where did these weeds come from? Matthew 13.27 Life takes time; God’s reign will take time. In the end God’s wisdom is not human wisdom. Some apparent weeds may be flowers. The smallest of seeds may yet grow into a plant that provides hospitality for
Gospel Reflection for July 20, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
“Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13.8 Jesus’ parable of the sower is prophetic but the promised yield doesn’t happen within the gospel. There Jesus’ teachings fall on path, rocks, and weedy patches where the seeds fail to flourish. The disciples who
Gospel Reflection for July 13, 2014, 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Read More »
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11.28 The rest that Jesus offers has its origins in Sabbath, the seventh day on which God rests and enjoys all that has unfolded in the six days of creation. Sabbath and rest are a
Gospel Reflection for July 6, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples (Matthew 16.15). Sunday celebrates the two most influential Christian apostles–Peter and Paul. When Jesus asks his famous question, Peter professes faith quickly that Jesus is the messiah. However, Peter requires more time and experience to become the firm believer on whom Jesus counts as
Gospel Reflection for June 29, 2014, Feast of Peter and Paul Read More »
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” John 6.51 John’s gospel equates faith in Jesus with faith in Jesus’ signs. Faith that this blood is real drink and this flesh is real food is the same as faith Jesus is really from God. Eucharist is a commitment we live out. To share the
Gospel Reflection for June 22, 2014, Body and Blood of Christ Read More »
“God so loved the world, that God gave the only Son, that whoever believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” John 3.16 God is the shared life at the heart of the universe, three in one love. We must constantly be aware that when we use language to name God, we are
Gospel Reflection for June 15, 2014, Trinity Sunday Read More »