Spiritual Reflections

Ezek. 2:2-5; Cor. 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6 It’s interesting that these particular readings should turn up for us on this day that is always a day of celebration of our beloved country, the USA. But, all three of the readings speak…

I’m sure many of you are familiar, to some degree, with Sister Wendy Beckett, the Roman Catholic nun from England who gained popularity on the BBC and PBS for her commentaries and critiques about some of the world’s best known…

When I went to El Paso in 1969 to teach English and religion at Loretto Academy, I was qualified to teach English, but didn’t share Matthew Marie’s optimism that I was automatically qualified to teach religion. I went to the…

Ezekiel 17, 2 Corinthians 5, Mark 4 Today’s readings seem like they might have been perfectly designed for us here at Loretto Motherhouse today. The first reading, from the Prophet Ezekiel, speaks of God starting with a “slender shoot” torn from…

Exodus 24:3-8.           Hebrews 9:11-15.           Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 Last Sunday Eileen Custy introduced her reflections saying, “The God I grew up with is not the God I know now, and I suspect the same is true for all of you.”  It’s true…

The God I grew up with is not the God I know now, and I suspect the same is truefor all of you. My first year of teaching high school students, Sister Matthew Marielooked at my transcript and saw that…

This year especially, I think Pentecost is a celebration of unity and community. When I read these readings for Pentecost this year, certain phrases struck me in a very different way because of the COVID-19 pandemic environment. The first line…

Years ago, my brother renovated his basement, and since I am a born scavenger, I became heir to his leftover plywood. Coincidentally, that same summer, Helen Jean, Betty McGrath, Eileen Kersgieter and I took a little vacation to Wisconsin Dells.…

When I first looked through the readings for these weeks after Easter, I was very surprised to find myself feeling almost flooded with love: Love seemed to be everywhere!!  Of course, many of the readings are taken from  the writings of John,…

Acts 9:26-31, I John 3:18-24, John 15:1-8 This Gospel reading is so familiar to us: “The vine and the branches, I am the vine and you are the branches.” Jesus did not make up the image, of course. Jesus, as…

Good Shepherd Sunday? Foundation Day? Commitment Ceremony? The “Fiat” statue! Where to start?  One of the Communion services we use begins in this way: “We have been chosen by the Holy One to be in a covenant of love and…

Acts 3:13-19    1 John 2:1-5    Luke 24:35-48 Sometimes thoughts and prayers just don’t come together to make a good homily. Today is one of those days. After a strong start, what I have to offer are just a few hints and fragments.…