Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Wednesday – 22 nd Week in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 4:38-44 A (Luke)Warm Reception Peter’s House, Capernaum In case you hadn’t noticed, this week our daily Gospel readings have shifted from Matthew to Luke.   Tradition tells us that Luke was a Gentile and a doctor.   So it’s not unusual then that, when Jesus performs a healing miracle, Luke provides a bit more detail to the illness.   And so Peter’s mother-in-law is not just “sick”; she is sick with a severe fever.   In the days ahead when we go deeper into Luke, you will also see an emphasis on Jesus as the Savior of all people, not just Jews.   In fact, He shows a particular affection for the second-class citizens: the poor, the sick, the non-Jews, women and the oppressed. But today, consider what’s been happening ever since the week began.   In any other year, Monday’s reading would have been Luke’s account of Jesus being run out of Nazareth, His home town.   In fact, the people tried to throw Him off a cliff.  

  Tuesday – 22 nd Week in Ordinary Time Gospel - Luke 4:31-37 I Know You! Synagogue in Capernaum A few years ago, I was up at St. Benedict Abbey chaperoning/leading a Kairos retreat for a group of St. Pat’s boys.   One evening as we were sitting down for dinner, I heard a familiar voice behind me.   I didn’t even need to look around; I knew who it was.   Peter!   A teacher of mine from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola U!   It was almost 40 years ago since I was in his class and yet I recognized his voice right away.   Imagine that! We hear another voice of recognition in today’s Gospel.   A man possessed by a demon recognizes the voice of Jesus and calls on Him to leave him alone.   Now normally we would reflect on being able to recognize Jesus in His voice, His words.   But consider the setting here!   Jesus is preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.   And the man possessed by a demon is in the synagogue; he’s been sitting there the whole time.   And yet no

  Monday – Passion of John the Baptist Gospel – Mark 6:17-29 Speak The Truth Along the Jordan River In one episode of the long-running sci-fi series, Doctor Who gives what amounts to a closing speech to his companions.   The words that ring ‘true’ today are these:   “Speak the truth and be kind; above all else, be kind.” John the Baptist does indeed speak the truth but it certainly does not come across as kind.   He is blunt and to the point, telling people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.   It is a necessary part of his mission to call people back to repentance.   And that is what he is doing with Herod, telling him in no uncertain terms that marrying his brother’s wife is wrong! Herod seems to be on the other side of the truth, saying only what he thinks people want to hear.   He is interested only in his popularity and his power.   He is a prideful man, only concerned with his image and his reputation.   In the end, even though he seems to be dr

  22 nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 14:1, 7-11 Humble Pie 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 pride and self-importance ge

  Saturday – St. Monica Gospel – Matthew 25:14-30 Using Our Talents Wisely Chapel of St. Jerome, Bethlehem                                                                                                                             An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house,&