Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9Matthew 5:17-19 Reflection: In today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses his disciples, mostly working-class Jews who knew the Ten Commandments and the minutiae of Jewish laws. Jesus did not mince words. We must follow God’s will to fully live…
Scripture: Daniel 3:25, 34-43Mattew 18:21-35 Reflection: But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received… -Daniel 3:39 Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” -Matthew 18:22 In today’s gospel we find the parable…
Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15Luke 4:24-30 Reflection: Lent 2024: Fasting from Anger, Feasting on Patience In today’s Gospel selection, Jesus is speaking in the synagogue and was rejected by the people of his hometown of Nazareth because he was too familiar…
Third Sunday of Lent Scripture: Exodus 20:1-171 Corinthians 1:22-25John 2:13-25 Reflection: The temptation to turn life into a marketplace seems to still retain all its force and energy in our day. I recall one commentator telling a market-orientated politician once…
Scripture: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Reflection: The beginning of today’s gospel sets the scene: tax collectors and sinners were gathered around Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law saw this and disapproved: “This man welcomes sinners and…
Scripture: Genesis 37:3-4,12-13a,17b-28aMatthew 21:33-43, 45-46 Reflection: We want to think we are usually in control of our lives, and when we are not, we believe we can regain control. The truth is that control is frequently an illusion. In today’s…
Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-10 Luke 16:19-31 Reflection: In today’s gospel, Jesus asks us to consider something shocking. How could a man who has everything allow a man, whose only possessions were the sores covering his body, to die right before his…
Scripture: Jeremiah 18:18-20Matthew 20:17-28 Reflection: In our gospel reading from Matthew today we see Jesus and the apostles heading to Jerusalem. Jesus shares with them a pretty grim picture of what he has to look forward to in Jerusalem. As…
Scripture: Daniel 9:4b-10Luke 6:36-38 Reflection: For those of us who grew up in the heyday of post-WWII Catholic life, Lent brings back vivid images of boldly (and a bit too proudly?) showing off our ashed foreheads, out-competing (a bit too…
Second Sunday of Lent Scripture: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18Romans 8:31b-34Mark 9:2-10 Reflection: Today’s readings are difficult to comprehend. Abraham, it seems, was misguided into thinking that God would want what the Canaanite gods wanted; so, Abraham, the faith-filled servant…