Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Thur sday – Feast of St. Jerome Gospel – Luke 10:1-12 Life’s a Journey St. Jerome’s Cave (home), Bethlehem Speaking strictly as a certified sci-fi geek, I love my Doctor Who.   And one of my favorite lines in the decades-long series is when the Doctor complains to his intelligent time machine (it’s a long story) that it never takes him where he wants to be.   And the Tardis’ response?   Yes, but I always take you where you need to be! Looking back on my life, I could have stayed home in the countryside of Southern Maryland and taken over Dad’s country store and post office.   I could have stayed in the seminary and served as a priest in Mississippi or Alabama.   I could have finished college in Maryland instead of moving out to Chicago.   I could have continued my job in retail sales (ugh).   Different life, different wife!   And you all have similar stories!   So many forks in the road; so many choices!   And yet here you are; here we are! I truly believe that, as

  Wednesday – Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels Gospel – John 1:47-51 Angels Among Us Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth A few years ago, I learned that one of my favorite teachers from my high school years in the   seminary, Fr. Brendan, was suffering from terminal cancer.   It was very sad news; Father Brendan was my English teacher, our theater director, my spiritual guide and mentor.   Luckily I was able to get in touch with him in those last few months and we had a phone chat reminiscing about our time together.   It was an opportunity for me to thank him for being such a role model and inspiration to me, especially in those moments of doubt and hardship.   He truly was an angel in my life. We celebrate today the Feasts of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael the Archangels.   Michael the guardian and protector from evil and harm!   Gabriel the messenger of God!   And Raphael the healer!   We all grew up with that appreciation of having our own perso

  Tuesday 26 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 9:51-56 Impatience Traffic in Jerusalem Face it, over the past year or so, we have all lost our patience, probably more than once.   Maybe it was that guy who cut us off in traffic, that person who jumped the long line at the grocery store, that parent who couldn’t control their kid’s tantrum at the store, that friend who just wasn’t listening when we poured out our heart to them or that child of ours who has yet to figure out how clothes hangers work!   We have all pushed that “I’ve had enough” button! For myself, I admit it – I am becoming a bit of an impatient driver!   How is it possible that there are so many “drivers” out there so in need of a refresher course in driving etiquette?   And you know what puts me over the edge?   Drivers who insist on passing cars on the right, especially in the city at stop lights! I mean, really, how dare you try to pass me and get ahead of me.   Wait your turn; slow down!   Sound

  Monday 26 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 9:46-50 Childlike Wonder St. Kateri Pow Wow 9/25/21 My computer crashed out on me Friday right in the middle of working on my reflections!   Every time I tried to restart it, I still couldn’t recover my files.   I felt that they were lost and I would have to start all over from scratch.   It was a good (?) old-fashioned meltdown.   I was not a happy camper; and Ginger can certainly attest to that, unfortunately!   It was the closing to a very stressed-out week, some things going from bad to worse, one big ball of stress! And then Saturday happened and everything changed, everything brightened!   We, the St. Kateri Center, held our first Pow Wow in almost 2 years.   An outdoor festival of music, dance and food!   Finally an opportunity to gather together with friends and family to celebrate and to commemorate all those children who lost their lives and their innocence in the tragedy of the residential school system in Can

  26 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 That Was Harsh! Wailing Wall, Jerusalem What’s your favorite Christmas movie?   Yeah, I know, we have just barely entered autumn and Halloween is still a month away.   But there is a point to this!   For me, Christmas Story has to be in my top five!   And if there is one line that stands out, it is this:   You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!!!!   For a family comedy, that’s a pretty grim image to conjure up, particularly for children.   Today’s Gospel is filled with all sorts of stark images and language – plucking out your eyeball, cutting off your arm or foot.   It’s the sort of imagery that seems destined for a very gory horror movie, not suitable for children.   And yet through it all, there are notes of tenderness and compassion, words of mercy and grace. We are reminded that sin begins, not with our actions, but with our thoughts, our intentions.   Years ago, George Carlin had a comedy sketch about s