Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Tuesday – 22 nd Week in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 4:31-37 Inner Demons Synagogue in Capernaum With 40 years of teaching high school religion under my belt, that adds up to thousands of students.   And even after all this time, it seems I never forget a face.   It’s a running joke with Ginger that we can’t go anywhere without us running into a former student.   If that wasn’t odd enough, as soon as I see them, I recognize them and know their name.   Then I proceed to tell Ginger – You remember them, they were… they did, they were in that class… and Ginger’s pat answer – I don’t remember !!   But I do!   I remember them!   I know them! That’s what happening in today’s Gospel – Jesus is preaching in Capernaum and the people are amazed at His teaching.   But there is a man there possessed by a demon.   And it’s the demon who recognizes Jesus and calls Him by name – You are the Holy One of God!!   He recognizes Him not merely as a preacher but as the Son of God.   Says

  Monday – 22 nd Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 4:16-30 Going Home Mt. Precipice, Outside Nazareth    (revisited) A father passing by his teenage son’s room was astonished to see that his bed was neatly made and everything picked up off the floor. Then he saw the envelope propped up prominently on the pillow. With a sickening feeling he moved in closer to investigate. The letter was addressed to him. With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope with trembling hands to read what was within.   Dear Dad, It is with great regret and sorrow that I’m writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend, because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I’ve been finding real passion with Stacy, and she is so nice. However, I knew you would not approve of her because of her piercings, tattoos, and tight motorcycle clothes. Also, she is so much older than me.     Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for t

  22 nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel – Mark 7:1-8,14-15, 21-23 A Recipe For Success? Dinner Time, Mediterranean Sea One Sunday morning at a small Southern church, the new pastor called on one of his deacons to lead in the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, “Lord I hate buttermilk.” The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going. The deacon continued, “Lord I hate lard.” Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, “Lord, I ain’t too crazy about plain flour. But after you mix ‘em all together and bake ‘em in a hot oven, I love what come out – I love biscuits.” In the end, it doesn’t matter what ingredients go in; what matters is what you do with those ingredients.   What matters is what you do with what you are given.   That’s the message of today’s Gospel when Jesus continues to call out the Pharisees for focusing on the wrong things.   They complain about the disciples eating with unwashed hands, thereby making t

  Saturday – St. Augustine Gospel – Matthew25:14-30 Using Our Talents Wisely Street Musician, Jerusalem His first 30 years of life were full of less than admirable qualities.   He was a very difficult child for his Christian mother and his pagan father.   In his teen years, he ran around with a not-so-savory crew who called themselves the ‘destructors’, full of mischief and hijinks   He tells the story that they once decided to steal the pears off a tree.   It had nothing to do with hunger; they just felt like doing it!   In fact, they took all the pears and threw them away to some pigs.   He grew up to be an atheist and spent much of his early life in debauchery and misadventures.   At the age of 17, he began a long-term relationship with a young woman, living together and fathering a child.   He was always an extremely intelligent and educated young man.   Finally at the age of 31, he converted to Christianity His name is St. Augustine of Hippo, whose feast we celebrate