Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Wednesday – 2 nd Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Mark 3:1-6 Going Public Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem I got a phone call Sunday afternoon from a good friend in Chicago.   He was facing his 4th surgery in 10 months and was not in the best of moods – tired, anxious, more than a little fed up and worried.   Besides the conversation and pep talk, he asked me for a blessing, a blessing for the sick!   Of course, I offered him my prayers and blessings.   But it reminded me of how often, even on a daily basis, opportunities present themselves for us to put our faith into action, to actually practice what we preach, what we believe! It reminds me of an old thoughtful question!   What if we were living in a world where being Christian was illegal!! And what if you were arrested and put on trial for that ‘crime?    Would there be enough evidence to convict you? We see that in today’s Gospel.   Jesus does not shy away from His ministry.   He g...

  Tuesday – 2 nd Week in Ordinary Time   Gospel – Mark 2:23-28 Sabbath Work Dad’s Store, Maryland What you see is my dad’s little country store set in the farmland of Southern Maryland surrounded by forests and tobacco/corn fields, with our home just a few steps to the left.   It was not just a grocery store; it was a gas station, post office, deli, meat market, ice cream shop and liquor store for the countryside.   That front porch was a regular meeting spot, outdoor café if you will!   And somehow that modest establishment got my brother, 2 sisters and myself not only through Catholic high school and seminary but college as well.   I still can’t figure out how he did it. There was a sign posted on the door listing hours that he was open.   But I always thought they were more suggestions than hard and fast rules.   It didn’t matter to Dad whether the store was open or not or if it was the dead of night; if someone came by and needed some...

Monday – 2 nd Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Mark 2:18-22 Celebrate! University of Tennessee, Knoxville Today’s the day!   A special day!   A day worth celebrating!   Our grandson Tyler begins his last semester at University of Tennessee, graduation in May!   And our other grandson Nate begins his first semester at University of Tennessee, heading for a degree in Horticulture/Plant Science!   After all this family has gone through these past 6 years – Covid, loss of friends and family, separation, illness (one after another), selling/finding new home, moving to new life/new state) and new beginnings.    In spite of all that, despite the state of the world today, this is a day to celebrate!!   OK, actually the first day of school is tomorrow but, what the heck, we’re celebrating early!! In today’s Gospel, the people are complaining to Jesus – why aren’t your disciples fasting and atoning for sin?   That is when Jesus sets them ...