Gospel Reflections for Challenging Times

  Tuesday – Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles Gospel – Luke 6: 12-16 Any Given Name Rosary Procession, Nazareth So a simple question to start the day!   When you were little, how did you know that you were in trouble at home??   My guess is that Mom or Dad called you by name.   Not your nickname or familiar name!   Your given name!   And not just your first name, your whole name, middle name included!   That usually meant you were in trouble, big trouble!   “William Joseph Frere Jr, come here’!   Uh oh!   How worse can it get, unless of course they go the extra mile and also include your Confirmation name? We celebrate today the Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude.   Simon, but not Peter!   Jude but not Judas!   And what do we know about them?   What stories about them do we find in the Gospels or Acts of Apostles?   Short answer –NOTHING!   All we have is their name, mentioned in today’s Gospel!  ...

  Monday – 30 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 13:10-17 Standing Tall Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem A few years ago, when I was still teaching at St. Pat’s, I remember meeting a Muslim mom and her son as they were touring the school.   I greeted her with the traditional “ As-Salaam-Alaikum” – peace be with you!   She had the biggest smile on her face as she returned the greeting.   And it led to a wonderful conversation on faith and shared beliefs.   A simple gesture but such an opportunity to share one’s faith! When was the last time when you had the chance to stand up for something, to make a difference, to profess your faith?   Maybe we stood our ground against a bully.   Or we saw an injustice, and we called out for a change.   Or it could be as simple as just being an honest person when someone unknowingly drops a $20 bill on the ground.   But what about standing up for our faith?   What about a time when we professed our b...

  30 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel – Luke 18:9-14 Dirty Laundry Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem   A young married couple are sitting in the kitchen of their brand-new home having breakfast.   The wife looks out the window and sees her neighbor hanging her laundry on the clothesline.   That laundry isn’t clean, she said, it’s still dirty.   Someone should teach her how to wash her clothes.   She has a lot to learn.   This happens again a few days later, and again a few days after that.   Each time the wife complains about the neighbor and her dirty laundry.   Finally one morning she looks out the kitchen window and, in surprise, she says, Wow, someone must have taught her how to wash clothes; someone must have finally said something to her.   Her husband looks up at her and says, No dear, actually I got up early this morning and washed our window. Don’t judge unless you want to be judged.   Quit finding the fault in ...