Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  31 st Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel – Mark12:28-34 Almost There - Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEwTXMLy-1E    Church of Holy Sepulchre Finally!   Today’s Gospel tells the story of a Scribe asking Jesus an honest question and actually agreeing with His answer!   The scribe asks Jesus what is the greatest commandment.   You think this must be a trick question.   There are actually 613 laws in the Torah.   How to choose!   And Jesus responds not with 1 but 2 commandments – love God and love your neighbor!   Jesus’ answer perfectly sums it all up.   Why obey all those other precepts?   Love, love is the answer.   I obey the law because I love the law-giver – God!   Because I want the relationship to be strong and to flourish! What’s remarkable is the scribe’s response.   “Well said, teacher.   You are right.”   He agrees with Jesus and he compliments Him for his answer.   Imagine that!   He even expands his compliment by saying th

  Saturday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke14:1, 7-11 Humble Pie Entrance to the Tomb, Church of Holy Sepulchre   We live in a very narcissistic, selfish ME society these days!   We see it on the news, in ads, in movies and in so many random interactions at the store or in line for food.   There is this singular drive to be #1 – to be the best teacher, athlete, politician, to have the most power or possessions, the biggest house and the most adulation, to have less wrinkles and more money!   And apparently it is all at the expense of others; it doesn’t matter who I have to step on or use in order to get there.   It’s all about ME! We see it in today’s parable!   Someone so full of himself thinking he deserves the place of honor at a wedding banquet, the best seat in the house where all can see how important and special he is!   And then the humiliation when someone more important arrives and he is relegated to a lower spot!   How embarrassing when we let our

  Friday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke14:1-6 On Any Given Day Praying at Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem   Being kind to a stranger – GOOD ! Visiting a sick relative – GOOD ! Donating to a food pantry – GOOD! Comforting a grieving friend – GOOD! Praying – GOOD! Forgiving someone who hurt us – GOOD! Doing something good based solely on the time of day or the day of the week (like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel) – BAD, VERY BAD!!!

  Thursday – Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles Gospel – Luke 6:12-16 Any Given Name Rosary Procession,, Nazareth So a simple question to start the day!   When you were little, how did you know that you were in trouble at home??   My guess is that Mom or Dad called you by name.   Not your nickname or familiar name!   Your given name!   And not just your first name, your whole name, middle name included!   That usually meant you were in trouble, big trouble!   William Joseph Frere Jr, come here!   Uh oh!   How worse can it get, unless they also included your Confirmation name? We celebrate today the Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude.   Simon, but not Peter!   Jude but not Judas!   And what do we know about them?   What stories about them do we find in the Gospels or Acts of Apostles?   Short answer –NOTHING!   All we have is their name, mentioned in today’s Gospel!   And that is it!   But that simple fact is so worthwhile and telling! But what we do know is this – Jesus c

  Wednesday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke13:22-30 A Tight Squeeze Caesarea Philippi Years ago, I took a weekend trip with some buddies of mine down to southern Illinois to Garden of the Gods, a beautiful state park with magnificent mountains, rock outcroppings and miles of scenic trails.   One particular path took us through “Fat Man Squeeze”, a very narrow gap between huge slabs of rock.   It was not for the faint-hearted.   The only way through was to squeeze through side-ways and holding your breath. It took courage and stamina and the willingness to suffer a bit for the experience.     I took a pass and bypassed that little adventure.   No thank you!   Jesus today talks about striving to enter through the narrow gate.   His intent is clear – entering the Kingdom will take effort and courage.   It is not a simple walk through the woods.   You have to work for it with faith and certainly a good dose of humility.   And not just once but all throughout our