Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  First Sunday of Advent Gospel – Matthew 24:37-44 Be Prepared Advent Wreath at Home Little Johnny wanted a red bicycle for Christmas. But he knew that he was not that much of a ‘good boy’ this year, always getting into trouble and not minding his parents.   So, he didn’t think writing a letter to Santa would do the trick.   So, he decided to skip the middleman and go straight to the top - a letter to Jesus! He went upstairs and started writing. Dear Jesus, I’ve been a great boy this year and I would really like a red bike for Christmas.   Well, that wouldn’t work; so he crumpled it up and threw it away. “Dear Jesus, I’ve been a good boy Some of the time this year.” Crumpled up. Thrown away. And he tried again.   Dear Jesus, I COULD be a good boy if you would only give me a red bike for Christmas.   Again in frustration, he tossed the letter into the garbage can. Finally he decides to go for a walk to clear his head.   So Little Johnny went and...

  Saturday – 34 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 21:34-36 Sleepy Head! Outside Capernaum My guess is that the one word that stands out for all of us in today’s Gospel is “drowsy.”   Is there any of us who did NOT nap after their Day of Giving Thanks feast?   I doubt it!   Once I sat down (after my second dessert) and tried to watch the last football game of the day, I crashed!   So say we all!!!   Today’s Gospel reading is Jesus’ last words we hear for this liturgical year.   Tomorrow is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new year!   So Jesus’ words should have special importance to us all in terms of how we will begin this new year! Jesus warns us in today’s Gospel NOT to get drowsy, to stay awake and alert.   He reminds us not to get so involved in this life, not to be distracted by the lures, the distractions and the worries of this life that we are caught unaware when the King returns!   Considering today a...

  Friday – 34 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 21:29-33 Words, Words, Words   St Jerome’s Chapel, Bethlehem Back when I was a Sophomore at the University of Maryland, my Dad and I had a ‘little’ disagreement.   It was the height of the Vietnam War; it was the year of Kent State, protests and the Moratorium and my draft number was 115 out of 365 (not good).   I told my Dad that I was against the war and that, if I was drafted, I wouldn’t serve.   His response: “that’s fine but if you do that, you are no longer my son.”     I was never called up so we did not have to go down that road any further.   Many years later, he and I were on the phone talking about nothing special – the weather, football, family.   And out of the blue, he says “you know that whole Vietnam War thing; well, you were right and I was wrong.”   And that was that!   Words!   Simple and direct!   But even after 50 years, they hold such ...