Topic archive
Spiritual Reflections
These are reflections given by Loretto members at Sunday services.
Reflection on the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Have you ever wondered what purpose a giraffe serves in this life? Do they enhance nature? Can they be domesticated? They can’t carry a burden; It would slide right off of their slanted backs. They can’t pull a wagon walking…
Reflection on the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we are a week and a few days away from Ash Wednesday. Lent begins. As I looked back on the Sunday Gospel events it has been a quick history of the public life of Jesus. This might be a good…
Reflection on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A couple of weeks ago, Eleanor Craig introduced me to a treasure trove of books containing theological, pastoral, exegetical and homiletical perspectives on the Sunday readings. Delving into these books was like trying to take a drink from a firehose. …
Reflection on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The story is clear, and it gives us a lot to think about. Jesus wishes his disciples to open themselves to a new way of living, a radical change. They are fishermen, finishing this day of fishing; They are dead tired.…
Reflection on the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 1:1-19 Psalm 71: 1-17 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 4:21:30 This morning’s Gospel reading from Luke follows directly from last Sunday’s reading. And the two together bring to completion Luke’s introduction of Jesus. From here on out, we will be…
Reflection on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Human history reveals many periods where people lost a sense of God’s transcendence. It may even be argued that human beings have been wandering and lost more than they have been settled and focused. Human nature being what it is,…
Reflection on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
When I first read the readings for today, I thought I had made a mistake. I double checked and then looked back to find that the first reading today was also the first reading at the Christmas Vigil Mass on…
Reflection on the Baptism of the Lord
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…
Reflection on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
These words from Wendell Berry call to me this Epiphany Sunday: “And we pray, notfor new earth or heaven, but to bequiet in heart, and in eye,clear. What we need is here.” What we need is here… It sounds so…
Reflection on the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Mary, the holy mother of God, or in Greek, “Theotokos.” That title goes back to the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. Nestorius held that the divine and human natures of Jesus were completely separate and thought the title of…
Reflection on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
1 Samuel 1:20–28 1 John 3:1-24 Luke 2:41-52 Yesterday we celebrated Jesus’ “Birth Day,” and today we celebrate his family. Jesus was given to us in a family, given to us as the son of Mary and Joseph, grandson of…
Reflection on the Nativity of the Lord
A child is born to us. Some of you may know that in one of my former lives I was a labor and delivery nurse. So, this night has doubly special meaning for me. I think back on all the babies…