Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-6Mark 1:14-20 Reflection: Mark’s gospel has no Christmas story, no manger or shepherds in Bethlehem, no Magi or star to lead them. And yet, the Christmas narrative is embedded within this gospel. It begins with the words: “The…
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7Acts 10:34-38Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 Reflection: I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. -Luke 3:16 A centuries-old…
Scripture: 1 John 5:14-21John 3:22-30 Reflection: When John the Baptist declared of Jesus, “He must increase; I must decrease” (Jn 3.30), he meant that for others to know Jesus, John must move to the background. The Baptist’s words also revealed…
Scripture: 1 John 5:5-13Luke 5:12-16 Reflection: My much younger friend recently vented about how overwhelming her life as a working parent can seem. I remember being the primary parent of three young children because my husband worked long hours and…
Scripture: 1 John 4:19-5:4Luke 4:14-22a Reflection: May You Enjoy Your Christmas Gifts Do you have a gift yet to be delivered, one under the soon-to-disappear tree sitting unclaimed? Could there be a gift yet to be purchased for the person…
Late in the evening on Tuesday, January 7, the wildfires driven by high winds in the San Gabriel mountains reached Sierra Madre, California. All guests, staff and vowed community members at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center and many of the…
Scripture: 1 John 4:11-18Mark 6:45-52 Reflection: The first reading for today begins with a surprising statement: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.” As I read this, I was expecting the author to say: “If…
Scripture: 1 John 4:7-10Mark 6:34-44 Reflection: He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?”…
Scripture: 1 John 3:22-4:6Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 Reflection: Who among us has not paused to access major intersections of our lives . . . after high school plans, marriage, entering the seminary or religious community, a job we took, the neighborhood…