Scripture: Ezra 18:25-28Philippians 2:1-11Matthew 21:28-32 Reflection: Anyone who has raised, taught or just been around children can relate to today’s readings. How often have we heard children cry, “It’s just not fair!”, or had them agree to a parent’s request…
Scripture: Haggai 1:1-8Luke 9:7-9 Reflection: Cost of Discipleship! Jesus said to his disciples in relation to discipleship: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Today as…
Scripture: Ezra 9:5-9Luke 9:1-6 Reflection: Our readings today give us a great summary of discipleship and what it means to be church. In our first reading Ezra is overcome with the guilt of his people, and acknowledges that guilt before…
Scripture: Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14—20Luke 8:19-21 Reflection: My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. Luke 8:21 Jesus praises his mother for “hearing and doing the word”. In the original Greek text,…
Scripture: Ezra 1:1-6Luke 8:16-18 Reflection: There’s an old song entitled “God Bless the Child.” I think it was first recorded by Billie Holiday and later by Blood, Sweat and Tears, among many others. I sometimes think of the lyrics when…
Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-9Philippians 1:20c-24, 27aMatthew 20:1-16a Reflection: Kindness of God In today’s Gospel a kind owner of a vineyard gives workers a full day’s wage to people who only worked an hour! In New Testament times, wages were given one…
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:13-16Luke 8:4-15 Reflection: In our Gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable about a sower who goes out to sow his seed. The seed falls in different places with different results. Later on, Jesus explains the parable to…
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:2c-12Luke 8:13 Reflection: I recall once watching a short documentary on gender differences. A producer had spent hours and hours filming children playing and in the course of this he dutifully recorded a group of boys chasing…
Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13Matthew 9: 9-13 Reflection: He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. -Matthew 9:9 The Calling of Saint Matthew is a painting completed in 1599-1600 by the famous Italian…
Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn and Companions Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16Luke 7:31-35 Reflection: Today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn and Companions. For many of us St. Andrew is a “new” saint, canonized by Pope Paul…