Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Wednesday – Visitation of Mary Gospel - Luke 1:39-56 In Awe! Hills of Judea near Bethlehem Ever met someone famous, a moment that left you in awe, dumbfounded?   Maybe it was life-changing, life-altering.   Perhaps it was a movie star or sports legend or a religious figure like the Dalai Lama.   Most of you know how much of a sci-fi nut I am – movies, tv shows, books.   And my all-time favorite novel – DUNE – and all its sequels!   Written by Frank Herbert, it is a sprawling epic of science fiction, religious undertones and adventure.   I was lucky to meet Frank once at a book signing.   I brought along my first-ever copy of Dune and he signed it!   Wow!   And what did I say to him; what did I say to this master of the written word, to this sci-fi giant?   Not one word!   Nothing!   I was so in awe that I couldn’t even blurt out a simple thank you! We read today of another historic meeting, although one on a scale far beyond any book-signing encounter .   This is the V

  Tuesday – 8 th Week of Ordinary Time Gospel – Mark 10:28-31 Sacrifice! Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem My Dad began working in a little country store at the age of 16 and retired from that same store over 50 years later.   It was part gas station, part ice cream stand, part deli and liquor store, post office, supermarket and local gathering spot.   After hours, it was also home for a long string of brotherly games of poker.   During all those 50 some years, my Dad ran the store on his own, hardly ever took a vacation, and worked roughly from 5 in the morning to 10 at night, at least 6 days a week.   During the school year we basically say him only at dinnertime for about an hour.   In the last 10 years of the store’s existence, he was also doing double-duty as the postmaster.   And yet in spite of all the hardships, somehow out of that tiny little store, he managed to put all four of his children through high school and college.   I have yet to figure out how he manage

  Monday – Feast of Mary Mother of the Church Gospel – John 19:25-34 Help Me, Mom! Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth   I can’t begin to count, much less remember, all the times my mom has come to my aid when I needed it.   Caring for me when I was sick, helping me with that difficult math homework, supporting me when I moved into my first apartment, listening to me when life got difficult, protecting me when I fell and skinned my knee.   Most of the time, it was a dirty, thankless job but she did it anyway and she never looked for thanks or recognition.   She did it all out of love. We celebrate today the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church.   It is a reminder to us all that Mary is not only Jesus’ Mother, but our own.   Today’s Gospel tells us the same story.   At the cross, Jesus tells John that Mary is now his mother and he is her son.   By extension, we have all become Mary’s children and Mary truly is Mother of the Church. And if we run to our o

  ======================================================= Sunday – Feast of Pentecost Gospel - John 20:19-23 Acts of Apostles 2:1-11 Church of Dormition, Jerusalem So just a little background!   In today’s first reading, the Jews from all over the world are gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.   We are celebrating today the Feast of Pentecost.   But they are not the same!   For the Jews, there are 3 feasts known as pilgrimage feasts, days when they travel to the Temple in Jerusalem.   One is Sukkoth, a fall harvest festival also known as Feast of Booths/Tents, remembering when the Israelites traveled in the desert.   Another is the Feast of Passover, celebrating leaving their lives as slaves in Egypt.   And then 50 days after Passover, Pentecost!   Also known as Shavuoth, it was originally a spring harvest festival where the Jews would bring first fruits of their harvest up to the Temple as an offering of thanksgiving!   Later on it became a celeb

  Saturday – 7 th Week of Easter Gospel – John 21:20-25 Me!   Me!   Me! Salads, Jerusalem style! Two pieces of pie left on the plate, one decidedly bigger than the other.   Two brothers looking at the pie!     What could possibly go wrong?   Mom seizes the moment for a moral lesson. You know, if Jesus was here, He would let his brother choose first.   So the older brother says to the younger one “You be Jesus.”   None of us really wants to be Jesus, much less follow Him.   It’s too hard.   And you know why – because deep down we are all too human.   We think too much of ourselves.   We envy others.   We are jealous of others.   We are selfish and want only what’s good for ourselves. We think we have to come first. We see this in today’s Gospel.   Peter basically is asking Jesus – you like him better than me, don’t you?   Jesus’ response – so what, don’t worry about others.   Don’t be jealous.   Don’t be envious!   Focus on following Me!   Focus on all I have taught