Spiritual Reflections

Acts 5:12-16 Revelations 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 John 20:19-31 Several years ago, during the Easter Vigil Elaine Prevallet quoted a phrase from a poem of Wendell Berry’s.  He used the expression: “Practice resurrection.”   In the last month, the daffodils and jonquils…

I came to Loretto on Sept. 15, the feast of our Sorrowful Mother, and it went over my head. But back then our other major feast day, the celebration of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, happened on…

Isaiah 43: 16-21 Phil. 3: 8-14 John 8:1-11 “Being forgiven by someone is nothing short of an amazing grace.“ In today’s readings we hear from the prophets Isaiah and Paul and from Jesus, the source of divine revelation. All reveal…

Luke 15: 1-3; 11-32 The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the most famous parables of Jesus.  Many of us could repeat this story almost verbatim.  The traditional interpretation is that the two brothers represent two extremes of…

Exodus 17:3-7             Romans 5:1-8             John 4:5-42 When speaking of the Scriptures, there is always a choice to be made between the familiar and a search for fresh perspectives.…

In all three cycles of Lenten readings the first Sunday is always the temptation in the desert, and the second Sunday is always the Transfiguration. They are like bookends: the beginning of Jesus’ mission and pointing to the end of…

The readings for this first Sunday of Lent are much too familiar to us. We have heard them over and over again throughout our lives. This is true especially of the Gospel where we read that Jesus is led by…

Today’s readings are full of sound advice. The same way we wait until the pot comes out of the kiln, we listen to the whole speech. Don’t rush to judgment. Wait. Listen. Then judge. That’s Sirach. Give thanks to God…

Sam.26:7-23 6:27-38 A drawing in the Missalette for this Sunday has Jesus speaking to the disciples. Jesus has his hand raised pointing at them as if to say, “I have a message for you, and you had better listen.” In…

The first reading is a timely reminder that in tough times we still have what we need, just like a deeply rooted tree planted near water, and we can effectively continue to live out our commitments to work for peace…

Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 5:1-11 Today’s readings — the Isaiah reading and the section from Luke’s Gospel — present us with two people, Isaiah and Peter, at the very beginning of what will involve them deeply and completely for the rest…

Mary and Joseph stand before Simeon who holds and blesses their infant son. Then he turns to Mary and tells her that her heart will be pierced with a sword of sorrow. Mary ponders his words, wondering what this will…