Spiritual Reflections

Today’s readings are a wonderful collection of literary styles from Ezekiel’s visionary magical realism to the poetry of Psalm 46, the metaphor from Paul, and finally, a dramatic narrative about Jesus.   In the first reading, Ezekiel says he is shown…

When I was in the seminary taking homiletics, our professor told us that our listeners would likely not remember everything we said in a homily and so he advised that perhaps we should try to state what we wanted to…

Sirach 35: 12 Paul to Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18 Luke 18: 9-14 Luke was a master storyteller. When reading today’s Gospel, remember that the setting for the dialogue was the temple – for some a place of prayer and learning,…

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…

A few years ago, I had the privilege and fun of distributing some family inheritance funds to my five nieces and nephews. It was a very substantial sum. Two of them responded immediately. I waited patiently to hear from the…

We are unprofitable servants, and we live in ordinary times. Indeed, today is the 27th Sunday in ordinary time. I want to offer words of comfort today, and I apologize for starting off bleakly. But there is plenty that is…

I will admit to not knowing much about the prophet Amos, but I was intrigued by the sentences that talk of the people who were living very well while Joseph was collapsing. Amos was an uneducated shepherd from a village…

We all suffer. We suffer the loss of parents, dear friends and family. We suffer injury in accidents. We suffer as witnesses to loss. We suffer the loss of our own good health and energy. And at some time or…

Luke 14: 25-33 “Anyone of you who does not renounce all possessions cannot be my disciple.” Today’s Gospel is not the one for Ascension Thursday but it reminded me of Sister Helen Jean’s words to us one morning in June…

I start by admitting that I have a mixed relationship with the virtue of humility, which is the main point of the reading for today. When I was a kid, I was often in trouble for being loud and argumentative.…

I read these readings several weeks ago to begin reflecting on them. And then I went to the LCWR meetings and heard messages of hope, inclusion and new forms of life in the Church that are needed to continue the…

Well, we have Jeremiah down at the bottom of a well, Paul exhorting us that we haven’t shed any blood yet in our effort to do God’s will, and Jesus telling us He brings not peace but division. Yes, this…