Scripture: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11Matthew 17:9a, 10-13 Reflection: The Spanish saint, John of the Cross, was not an ordinary writer. He was a poet. Thousands of years before, in the Holy Land of the Old Testament, he might have chosen to…
Scripture: Isaiah 48:17-19Matthew 11:16-19 Reflection: I’ll Live in You, if You Live in Me; Dance then, Wherever You May Be. John Mogabgab, founding editor of Weaving, prays, “May the Lord of the Dance kindle in us a passion for the…
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Scripture: Zechariah 2:14-17 or Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10abLuke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47 Reflection: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what…
Scripture: Isaiah 40:25-31Matthew 11:28-30 Reflection: During Advent, the Prophet Isaiah takes center stage in the Old Testament. He is, in a real sense, the Advent Prophet. Today’s first reading is a lovely example of Advent preparation. By way of background,…
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11Matthew 18:12-14 Reflection: My recent retreat experience happened to coincide with reading a powerful book (I highly recommend Richard Gaillardetz’ While I Breathe, I Hope: A Mystagogy of Dying). Theycombined to challenge me to look at all the…
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Scripture: Genesis 3:9-15, 20Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38 Reflection: Mary, Conceived Without Sin, Pray for Us Who Have Recourse to Thee Have you ever felt your daily world was just not meshing with the world around…
Scripture: Baruch 5:1-9Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11Luke 3:1-6 Reflection: For the Second Sunday of Advent, our Gospel reading introduces us to John the Baptist. In our Gospel reading for this Sunday (Luke 3:1-6), Luke tells us that “the word of God came…
Scripture: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8 Reflection: Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,“Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure…
Scripture: Isaiah 29:17-24Matthew 9: 27-31 Reflection: Perhaps you, like me, sense that we celebrate Christmas doing the opposite of what brings peace and joy. Christmas entertainments, shopping, decorating, traveling, cooking, and trying to meet what my Mother called “social obligations,”…
Scripture: Isaiah 26:1-6Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Reflection: Today’s gospel presents a most challenging element. “Not everyone who calls Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Like many…