Topic archive
Spiritual Reflections
These are reflections given by Loretto members at Sunday services.
Reflection on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Numbers 11:25-29 James 5:1-6 Mark 9:38 … 48 “Whoever is not against us is for us.” With these cryptic words, Jesus breaks through the partisan clannishness of his disciples and puts us all on notice that the team of God’s…
Reflection on the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
When I was still in the classroom many years ago, the children would often ask me as to why Jesus would tell his disciples not to tell anyone after He gave sight to the blind, made the deaf hear or…
Reflection on the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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…
Reflection on the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“ Here comes your God . . . who comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared.” In recent months, my ears and eyes have been opened to…
Reflection on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Three phrases stand out in today’s readings: From the Old Testament: “For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call on him.” The second reading…
Reflection on the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel reminds me of a story I heard some years ago. During WW II when jobs were scarce, a telegraph operator job came open and many people showed up to apply for it. They waited all day for someone…
Reflection on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Revelation 11:19; 12:1-10 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 7:39-56 When I rose early this morning, my Amaryllis had opened two glorious red blooms in the night. One is surely in celebration of Sister…
Reflection on the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings start with a story from the Book of Kings, concerning the prophet Elijah, who has fallen into trouble with the powers that be. He fears he’ll be killed, so he was running for his life. He goes to…
Reflection on the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I have never known real hunger, hardship or food scarcity and I have never been enslaved like the Israelites in the first reading. But it is not hard for me to imagine that someone would want to go back to…
Reflection on the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the first reading, Elisha feeds the people with 20 barley loaves. When the servant protested that it was not enough, Elisha replied simply, “Give it to the people to eat. For thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and…
Reflection on the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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,…
Reflection on the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Whenever I hear this Gospel I recall all of the times at the Loretto Women’s Network meetings that we were led in song by Maureen McCormack singing “The rest of our lives must be lived in the best of struggles.…