Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Friday – Feast of St. James, Apostle     Gospel – Matthew 20:20-28 Sons of Thunder Mass on Mt. Tabor Years ago when our daughter was in grade school, I remember some sort of honors ceremony where she was hoping to get an award (don’t remember what) but she didn’t.   And she was upset!   So like any loving dad, I went out and bought her a generic trophy to help her feel better.   Yeah, I was one of those parents!   But let’s face it – we all want the best for our kids; we would do whatever it takes for them, and I still do!   But, in reality, there is only so much we can do for them; most of the time they need to learn and to grow from their successes and failures on their own. As we celebrate today the Feast of St. James, Apostle, we see in the Gospel a mother who demands that Jesus give her 2 sons, James and John, thrones of authority to rule the Kingdom alongside Jesus.   Jesus shows incredible restraint and calmness with her...

  Thursday – 16 th Week in Ordinary Time   Gospel – Matthew 13: 10 Let Me Tell You a Story! Town of Magdala My very first semester of teaching was a complete disaster. I knew all the material; I had all the training and education I needed.   I was prepared – or so I thought!   And nothing worked!   I presented the notes but all I got back was a classroom full of blank stares.   There was no engagement; it was like we were on 2 different levels or speaking two different languages.   And that, in the end, was completely true.   I was teaching the material at them but not to them!   I realized I needed to speak to them where THEY were at, not at a level where I was at!   And so I began to weave in stories to make my point, to throw out some corny jokes or stunts to catch their attention. Go figure – it worked for 40 years! Every time we read the Gospel, it seems as if Jesus is always being followed by an immense crowd.   Whene...

  Wednesday - 16 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew 13:1-9                  Voices Carry! Sea of Galilee I remember one fishing trip years ago, sitting in the boat on a very calm lake and, way off in the distance, I could see a couple standing on the shore.   Amazingly, I could actually hear their conversation even though I was a few hundred yards away.   Science tells us that it’s a fact that voices and sounds carry over a long distance of water.   It involves the fact that water doesn’t absorb sound and that there is nothing to deflect/block the sound waves, like buildings or trees. Jesus certainly must have understood that principle in today’s Gospel.   A great crowd has gathered to hear Him speak.   And what does He do?   He gets into a boat, pushes off a bit from the shore and then proceeds to teach the crowd!   And that makes His last few words ev...