Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

Thursday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 13:31-35 Out of the Darkness Halloween Celebrations As most of you know, I am a sci-fi/fantasy fanatic – Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, you name it!  And on most Halloween evenings, I will answer the door to trick-or-treaters dressed in my Star Trek uniform and armed with my phaser.   Or perhaps as the wise old Gandalf!   But this is a different Halloween out here in the country and I can’t imagine we will get many, if any, little ones knocking at the door.   It would certainly take more of an effort on their part (and their parents) to navigate their way to our home in the darkness of the Tennessee hills.   I would worry about their safety.   But we can only hope!   And yet worry is exactly what happens in today’s Gospel.   Some Pharisees are actually concerned for Jesus’ safety.   And they are warning Him to stay away from Jerusalem because Herod wants Him dead. ...

  Wednesday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 13:22-30 A Tight Squeeze Entrance to the Church of Holy Sepulchre   Let me share with you the meaning of old age.   It means I can still get down on my knees and crouch while working under the kitchen sink.   But it doesn’t guarantee I can get myself back up!   It means I can’t squeeze myself in-between those piles of boxes to reach my tool chest!   It means that, when I was teaching World Religions and putting myself in a lotus position to teach meditation, nowadays I can’t assume I won’t find my legs permanently locked in that position! Jesus talks a lot today about tight places and narrow gates.   In His time, the gates of Jerusalem would be closed and locked at night.   Only one gate would be left open and it was small – narrow and low!   And yet Jesus cautions us to enter through the narrow gate.  His meaning is clear!   In order to enter the Kingdom of He...