Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Wednesday – 31 st Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke14:25-33 What’s Your Plan! Ruins of Caesarea Maritima                                                                          I consider myself an expert at pretty much nothing at all.   Packing for a trip definitely falls into that category.   I will just pile things into the suitcase and hope the bag stays closed. So it is rather refreshing to see experts at work!   And I have certainly seen my share of experts over the last few months.   Packing up 40 years of possessions at our Chicago house was not something I was looking forward to.   But the movers were so focused, so locked into their specific roles that it was amazing to watch them work.   The simple act of taking each item, wrapping it in heavy duty paper and then carefully placing it into a box was amazing.   And then loading up the dozens of boxes into the truck became a live-action game of Tetris!   I was convinced the truck was way too small for the jo

  Tuesday – 31 st Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 14:15-24 Excuses! Lunch, Old City Jerusalem     I’m too tired!   I don’t feel well! It’s too far!   It’s too late!   I won’t know anyone!   I have a project I must finish!   My car broke down!   I don’t have a thing to wear!   I lost my keys!   I’m grounded! Excuses!   If we’re honest, we use them a lot and most of the time they have no basis in reality.   We just don’t want to go to that party, that family gathering, that formal dinner!   Maybe it’s laziness or lack of interest!   Maybe we’re upset with the host or we don’t get along with some of the other ‘invitees’!   Whatever the reason, we make a lot of excuses! Today’s Gospel story of the Great Feast should be very familiar; just a couple months ago, we heard Matthew’s version.   Back then we focused on the guests, some who came unprepared and many who refused to attend. But today let’s turn our attention to the host!   We have all hosted great dinners, cele

  Monday – Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo Gospel – Luke 14:12-14 RSVP Magdala Last night we were watching one of our British murder mysteries (so many mysteries, so little time!) and one of the characters was an elderly woman, a very proud, self-important busy body. The sort of person who believes the life of the entire village revolves around her.   She’s miffed that the new vicar’s wife hasn’t invited her over for tea.   Such an insult!   Of course, it’s not at all about the tea; all she wants is to spread some gossip afterwards.   And she certainly has no intention of ever returning the favor! It reminds us of today’s Gospel where Jesus has been invited to a leading Pharisee’s house for dinner.   And you have to wonder what was the Pharisee’s motivation – prestige, popularity, gossip?   So Jesus reminds His host that a real honest invitation has no expectation of repayment.   In the Kingdom of Heaven, there is no gossip, no social-climbing!   There is only LOVE, with