Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Fri day – Feast of Guardian Angels Gospel – Matthew18:1-5, 10 God Bless The Child The Streets of Jerusalem It was only Tuesday that we observed the Feast of Sts. Michael, Raphael and Gabriel and reflected on the special place and role of angels in our lives.   So today as we celebrate our Guardian Angels, let’s take the time to remember all the ‘angels’ who have looked out for us, sheltered us, protected and encouraged us throughout our lives. Jesus says in today’s Gospel ,“whoever receives one child such as this receives me.”   Guardian angels serve as a model of how we should behave as Christians.   When we see a child hurting or sorrowful, separated from their family, and confined to a cage, what do we do?   When we hear the horrors of native children torn from the families and sent to boarding schools, forced to turn away from their language, their dress, their customs and beliefs, it breaks our hearts.   As adults, as Christians, we are calle...

  Thur sday – Feast of St. Therese Lisieux Gospel – Luke 10:1-12 Life’s a Journey Ruins of Sepphoris, Galilee Life’s a journey.   I can’t begin to count how many times I have heard that line and how many people have voiced those words.   But after all these years, I guess I have to admit that it’s true.   And not just for me.   Just think about all the different paths we have all taken, all the twists and turns we have made, deliberate or not.    All the many roads we could have stayed on but instead turned left or right or even stopped and just turned around. I could never have left my home in the countryside of Southern Maryland and taken over Dad’s store.   I could have stayed in the seminary.   I could have finished college at University of Maryland instead of re-entering the seminary and continuing my education at Loyola U Chicago.   I could have continued my job in retail at Kmart and not become a teacher!   I could n...