Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Tuesday – 13 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew 8:23-27 The Storms of Life Stormy Tennessee Morning Like most of the country, we have been experiencing some extreme weather lately.   Heavy thunderstorms and rain on Saturday night and most of the day Sunday!   And as we head toward 4 th of July on Saturday (and my Bday on Friday the 3 rd) , oppressive heat and humidity.   Ugh!   The heavy rains Sunday morning made for some tricky driving to Mass on Sunday.   Country roads are always a bit of a challenge, but when you add heavy rain, ditches turning into flooded rivers and water cascading down the hills onto the road, well driving is not for the faint-hearted! That’s where the disciples are in today’s Gospel.   This is no leisurely ride on the Sea of Galilee.   Storms pop up out of nowhere and this one is terrifying even for the disciples, most of whom are fishermen and should be used to it.   They are scared and fearful for ...

  Monday – Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul Gospel – Matthew 16:13-19 Who Are You? Church of St. Peter Primacy, Sea of Galilee Who are you?   No, I don’t mean the theme song from CSI!   I mean, if someone asked you who you are, how would you answer?   Some would respond simply with their name.   Others might say I’m a father, a wife, a son, grandma, cousin, or friend.   Still others might say teacher, police officer, carpenter, lawyer, nurse, student, bus driver, web designer, or athlete. No matter what the answer, each response speaks of a relationship, a connection to others.   Each response ties us to others in unique and personal ways.   None of us live in isolation; we all live in relationship with others. Jesus asks a similar question in today’s Gospel.   Who do people say I am?   Some say John the Baptist reborn, or Elijah or Jeremiah or a prophet.   Jesus then asks - who do YOU say I am?   And it’s Peter who respond...

  13 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel – Matthew 10:37 – 42 Simple Acts of Kindness Magdala Almost 2 years ago, Ginger and I moved into our new home down here in Tennessee.   It all started with a frantic car ride by Josh, our son-in-law, shuttling us and a few of our belongings from Chicago to Heiskell at the end of May. It was a move made not out of choice or comfort but out of necessity and circumstance. We then spent the next couple of months living with Jaime and the family as Jaime worked to manage Ginger’s health and I raced back and forth to Chicago to organize packing up and putting our Dakin house on the market!   Whew!   It was only mid-August that we finally moved into our country home!   It was/is a rollercoaster journey filled with daily worries and, at times, only a smattering of hope! But through it all, we were supported and cared for by our St. Robert’s family in Chicago and our St Joseph family here in Tennessee.   Countless deli...