Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Saturday – 25 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 9:43b-45 Pay Attention! Basilica of Annunciation, Nazareth I was sitting in the family room yesterday afternoon and then I got up and went into the kitchen to get………….something.   I still don’t remember what I went there for!   Let’s be clear; our home has an open floor plan and the distance I walked was barely 10 steps.   And yet somewhere between the 2 rooms I lost my train of thought.   Old age?   Perhaps!   But I also think it has more to do with all that is on my (our) mind.   We juggle so many responsibilities, so many appointments and chores, so many stresses and concerns that it’s a wonder we can think straight.   Of course, all too often, it has much to do with sheer daydreaming.   One thought leads to another after another after another until we get to a point where we don’t remember where we started! I have certainly had many experiences of students ‘lost in thoug...

  Friday – 25 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 9:18-22 Making Time Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Gethsemane. What would we do without our Google calendar? I mean seriously; how would we know where we should be and when, much less realize how little free time we actually have.  It's a weekly routine on Sunday night for Ginger and I to look at our schedule for the week ahead and figure out if/when we have any free time together, beyond church commitments and medical appointments.  So much to do and so little time!  I wonder - do any of us deliberately add 'me time’ to our calendar?  Do we block out time just so we have a moment to catch our breath?  Does it work?  There is such a difference between 'taking time for yourself' and 'making' time for yourself. We see that in today's Gospel!  "Jesus was praying in solitude."  Imagine that!  The Son of God!  Di...

  Thursday – 25 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 9:7-9 Hide and Seek Caesarea Maritima, along Mediterranean Sea   Growing up in the country and farmland of southern Maryland, playing hide and seek was more than just a game; it was a safari.   And I always enjoyed being the one who got to hide – so many places, so little time!   But I admit I didn’t really enjoy being the ‘seeker’.   I would be excited and energetic for a while.   But after looking in all the obvious places, I quickly got bored and tended to walk away from the game.   Given our present Tennessee home, I doubt I could ever be bored playing hide and seek these days! Which brings us to today’s Gospel.   Herod keeps hearing all these stories about Jesus and he is perplexed!   Who is this guy?   John the Baptist reborn?   A prophet?   A miracle worker?   And so he decides to go looking for Him! Which makes me wonder!   How much effort did h...