Sunday Reflections

The disciples, especially in the person of Peter, do not want to hear about Jesus’ future suffering and death when Jesus talks to them about what will happen to him in Jerusalem. Peter’s criticism of Jesus—rebuking Jesus for what He has said—stands in defiance of Jesus’ own acceptance of the path of suffering that is characterized so clearly in our first reading. Here we meet the “suffering servant” of Isaiah, who is willing to accept the scorn and humiliations imposed on him by others as he remains faithful to God’s call for him.

I often like to make a distinction between ‘hear’ and ‘listen’.  Hearing is a physiological function, whereas listening implies that we have not only heard, but that the word has touched us, and we will respond to what we have listened to.  Isaiah prophesizes about the “ears of the deaf unsealed”.  In the gospel, we see Jesus opening the ears of the deaf man, and loosening his tongue to speak.  Jesus says to us “Be opened” – be opened to listen to his words of life, and to the grace that he gives us; be opened to new opportunities that come our way to build up the kingdo

It was a Sunday afternoon! Only one parking spot was available on a one way street. My friend Fr. Nino was driving (Mario Andretti style) and he was confident he could get into the spot. So, he backed up perfectly, got into the space - and a whistle blew. A cop (in Bolivia) cited Fr. Nino for going in the wrong direction. Fr. Nino explained that the only way to park was to first back up (remembering it was a one way street) and then pull ahead. Right? “Wrong,” said the man, “You are going in the wrong direction, even though that was the only way to do it”.

The second reading (Ephesians 5:21-32) is one of the most misunderstood passages about marriage in the New Testament. I have learned a great deal about this passage from Michael Lawler, and will summarize his article “The Sacrament of Marriage: Biblical Basis” in Marriage and Sacrament (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1993): 36-51 below.

To live well and healthy physically we need to eat well, a balanced diet that fulfills all our dietary needs.  To live well and healthy spiritually we also need to eat well, and in this the Lord Jesus has given us his Body and Blood to nourish us and fulfill our spiritual needs.  His flesh is real food, and his blood real drink.

In our world we recognize that we hunger for many things – for things beyond food.  We hunger for love, for forgiveness, for success, for recognition, for acceptance, to name only a few.

                 A common denominator in our first reading and our gospel reading is that people have a short memory and are never satisfied! In our first reading from the Book of Exodus, God has accomplished a marvelous deed of freeing Israel from Egypt, including the crossing of the Red Sea as Pharaoh’s chariots pursued the fleeing Israelites. Yet, no sooner have they began to enjoy their freedom, the Israelites begin to complain that they were better off in Egypt than to die of famine in the desert.

God has the power to make something out of (what appears to be) nothing!  That is what our gospel tells us!  Jesus took only a few loaves and fish and fed the multitude of (spiritually) hungry people who came out to hear his words of wisdom.  In the First Reading Elisha the prophet also experienced this intervention of God, making something out of nothing.  We can so easily underestimate what God can do in us.  We may see ourselves as weak, vulnerable, insufficient, and poor, yet it is in that very reality that God works.  We not only need to believe in God, bu

                As a young man, I was always inspired by the generous care that I saw embodied in the priests and brothers whom I had met.  Our family attended a parish that was ministered by Franciscan priests and brothers, my high school was staffed with many diocesan priests, and my college had Resurrectionists who served as administrators, teachers, and campus ministers.  At each stage of my life, I found that their generous service and care of others stirred something within me to want to do the same.   Later in life, I realiz

           At the very beginning of his public ministry, Jesus called others to come after him so that he could make them “fishers of men and women” (Mark 1:17).  He began to teach them, and sent them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.  Mark’s gospel reports that they enjoyed great success, as the disciples “drove out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them” (Mark 6:13).