Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8Luke 4: 38-44 Reflection: As a psychotherapist for decades, I never cease being stunned by the power of listening. The intentional act of focusing on every word that comes from the mouth of someone sitting across from me…
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11Luke 4:31-37 Reflection: Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do. -1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this about his Word?” -Luke 4:36…
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Luke 4:16-30 Reflection: Spreading the Good News Today’s Gospel selection recounts Jesus’ early ministry on a sabbath in his hometown synagogue. He proclaimed a familiar reading from Isaiah, and then said “…today this Scripture passage is fulfilled…
Scripture: Jeremiah 20:7-9Romans 12:1-2Matthew 16:21-27 Reflection: In the midst of the Shoah’ (the holocaust) many Jewish people lost faith in God. They had experiences so much suffering and evil that they had given up trying to answer the question ‘why…
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11Matthew 25:14-30 Reflection: In our day-to-day lives, we hear the word “love” mentioned when someone gets engaged to be married, or when a baby is born. We also hear the word a lot at funerals, as we…
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8Matthew 1:1-13 Reflection: Today we read the parable of the ten virgins or bridesmaids. The groom, in Jewish wedding custom, first celebrated a meal at home with family and friends. Then the party moved to the bride’s…
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13Matthew 24:42-51 Reflection: Happy Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time! Some years ago, I had cause to plead with God – to beg for something… anything that would help me through a challenge which, up…
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13Matthew 23:27-32 Reflection: Isn’t it funny that God knows everything about us, every hair on our head, every memory, activity, action. And yet there are still those who put on airs of grandeur. The pompous or self-righteous,…
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist(A gentler way of saying the Beheading of John the Baptist) Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5Mark 6:17-29 Reflection: The readings today show the power of words. Someone who knows how to use words…
Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10Matthew 23:13-22 Reflection: Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. We all know stories of ‘bad boy’…