Spiritual Reflections

Since the Gospel today is so long, I have selected specific phrases to reflect on, rather than weaving a coherent homily.   The story of the “Woman at the Well” is found only in the Gospel of John.  Yet, it is…

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…

Genesis 2:7… 3:7                 Romans 5:12, 17-19            Matthew 3:13, 16-17; 4:1-11 This morning we have in the Genesis and Matthew readings very familiar and similar stories of how…

If the book of Leviticus was written during the time the Israelites were in exile, it is interesting to hypothesize about all of the rulemaking in the book of Leviticus. In a time of fear and uncertainty, did rules give…

Most of us here have experienced the Catholic Church as it was before Vatican II and after it. Think about the focus on externals before the council. Rituals were very important, and they were governed by specific rules – Mass…

I love the story of the woman who was telling her grandchild about the “Flight into Egypt” — how an angel told Joseph to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.  There was a pause and then…

Zep 2:3, 3:12-13 1 Cor. 1:31            Matthew 5:1-12 “Seek justice, seek humility …. I will leave a people humble and lowly.”  Zephaniah advises the people not to suffer the feeling of powerlessness.  St. Paul reinforces…

Many of our own accounts of joining Loretto begin with an attraction to the sisters. How much fun they had. They were happy. They had endless patience with us. They listened. They talked about big things and encouraged us to…

The liturgy of the Word for today is so rich, that I found it rather challenging to focus on only one part. The Prophet Isaiah is my favorite prophet, so he deserves at least a mention. The first reading is…

In our current liturgical cycle there are four manifestations of the Christ in the Sunday readings. The first revelation was on Christmas Day to the shepherds — the simple and humble keepers of sheep, God’s preferential option for the poor.…

Numbers 6:22-27 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21 It is an article of our faith that Mary brought Jesus to life in a relationship entirely and exclusively with God.  We take for granted that no other woman had such a relationship with…

It has happened to each of us, that day we were born. There we were, as was Jesus so long ago. Like each of us, beginning our time on this earth. A newborn baby is a mysterious creature at first,…