Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:32-40Matthew 16:24-28 Reflection: What does Jesus mean when he says to his disciples – including us – “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”? Does it mean that we…
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10John 12:24-26 Reflection: Jesus taught that those who love their lives will lose them. This doesn’t exclusively refer to the moment when we breathe our last. All through the years, life is not static. Over and over…
Scripture: Numbers 13:1-2, 25-14:1, 26-29a, 34-35Matthew 15:21-28 Reflection: Falling Into the Hands of the Living God C.S. Lewis in one of his Chronicles of Narnia tells of a girl walking through a desert. She carries a burden of guilt for…
Scripture: Numbers 12:1-13Matthew 14:22-36 Reflection: Several years ago, I led a reflection/prayer day, and on the altar we were using, stood a candle enclosed in a large glass cylinder. What was catching my attention was the fact that the flame…
Scripture: Numbers 11:4b-15Matthew 14:13-21 Reflection: …I cannot carry all this people by myself,for they are too heavy for me.If this is the way you will deal with me,then please do me the favor of killing me at once,so that I…
Feast of the Transfiguration Scripture: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-142 Peter 1:16-19Matthew 17:1-9 Reflection: During a recent conversation with a 14-year-old, I learned of his intense interest in cosmology. He loves studying stars with his telescope on clear nights, is amazed the…
Scripture: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17Matthew 14:1-12 Reflection: The readings in the liturgical cycle are laid out to cover the majority of the biblical texts and keep us familiarized with the history, theology and life of the people of Israel. Today’s first…
Memorial of St. John Vianney, patron of priests & parish clergy Scripture: Leviticus 23: 1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37Matthew 13:54-58 Reflection: Remembering, Celebrating, and Proclaiming… Today’s Scripture readings and the August 4th feast of St. John Vianney challenge us to…
Scripture: Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38Matthew 13:47-53 Reflection: I wonder if we might allow our faith-imagination to be active today and reflect on the parable as applying to our inner life – as much as it might apply to the wider life…
Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35Matthew 13:44-46 Reflection: In the last few years, I have attended three family weddings, and each time, someone has commented on the couple’s facial expressions during the ceremony. Often, they have used the word “radiant” to describe the…