John 11:1-45 We just heard a tender story about Martha, Mary, Lazarus and Jesus. The evangelist, John, has Jesus saying that he, Jesus, is the resurrection and the life. John has Jesus saying further, “Whoever believes in me, even if she…
Last Sunday we followed Jesus into the desert. Jesus was at the beginning of this work he sensed himself called to do. We were reading from the fourth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, toward the beginning of Jesus’ public life. Jesus had just been…
Exodus, 2 Timothy, Luke 18 Pray always, we hear today. Be patient and constant, don’t get weary, keep at it, don’t give up, don’t lose heart. These commands or urgings are threads throughout the three readings. None of these expressions…
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-21; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13:21 Vanities of vanities! All things are vanity! I remember Carroll Stuhlmueller saying that line. It was when we were in the novitiate — Judy, Jeanne, Mary Ann McGivern, Anndavid, Barbara Nicholas, I…
Last Sunday and now this Sunday we have been reading from chapters 9 and 10 of Luke’s Gospel. Jesus is aware that his days are numbered. He is heading toward Jerusalem with all that implies about meeting up with the…
Acts 1:1-11, Eph. 1:17-23, Luke 24:46-53 The Gospel passage from Luke that we just heard begins starkly and abruptly — an instruction from Jesus for his disciples. It is helpful, I think, to know the setting. In the sentences immediately before…
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus sends two of his disciples off to get a colt in the nearby village. He and his disciples were heading to Jerusalem. Many people were going to Jerusalem. It was Passover time. The two disciples…
Luke 4:1-13 Today’s Gospel begins where the Gospel from several weeks ago ended. Back in January we celebrated the feast of Jesus’ baptism. The Holy Spirit had descended upon him, looking like a dove. A voice from heaven had said, “You…
Imagine what this day in Jesus’ life must have been for him. He has just taken part in a purification ritual that John, his cousin, does with the people. Jesus is one of the crowd. This baptism of John’s is a…
Here we are, on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, celebrating Christ as king. For some of us, “king” may carry negative connotations — kings and their subjects, power and prestige, wealth and castles. For others, “king” may bring…
Isaiah 50:4-9; Mark 8:27-35 We can imagine the scene we have just heard described. Jesus and a few others walking along the road, maybe on a day like this, heading off to some villages north of where they are. This…
Mark 6:30-34 Earlier in this chapter of Mark’s Gospel Jesus sends out the Twelve, two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. They were to wear the clothes they had on and to take no food or money. Meanwhile,…