Sunday Reflections

Today’s first reading (Job 7:1-4, 6-7) is taken from the Book of Job that deals with the very difficult topic of the undeserved suffering of the innocent and just.  The author describes the human condition in somber tones:  We have a hard service on earth.  Like a slave who longs for the shadow.  We are allotted months of emptiness (read: living through a pandemic).  Our days are swift and come to their end without hope.  Ouch!  Lastly, he says: “my eye will never again see good.”  This reading may very well speak to us in the context of life with Cov

The Pandemic continues and the Sacred Text calls us again to reply appropriately today.  “Our God…gather us from the nations to give thanks to Your holy name and make it our glory to praise you!”  This probably irks us because we have been struggling since the end of last year! God, we have been really deeply struggling to do so!

In our Baptism we began a life with God.  That life has been nourished in so many ways, some that we may not even realize.  In each of our lives there has come a time when we more consciously began to follow Jesus – in earnest, with a sense of purpose.  We do not follow Jesus ‘by accident’, but it must be very intentional.  This faithful following leads us to be transformed – little by little – in Christ, “repenting and believing the Good News”.  However, our following Jesus is not just for ourselves, but is to be shared with others.  Jonah, in the First Readin

We have two powerful stories of people being called into God’s service. Our first reading tells the story of the young Samuel who is instructed by Eli to respond: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Our gospel from John narrates the story of Jesus’ calling of the first disciples. Interestingly, someone in each story helps another to hear God’s call. Eli, realizing what is happening, provides instruction to Samuel so that he will be able to hear and respond to God. Simon, now called Peter, is led to Jesus by his brother Andrew.

Today draws the Christmas Season to an end so that the Christmas Season ends.  Tomorrow we move into what is called Ordinary Time where Jesus Christ starts His personal ministry.  Like us, Christ’s Baptism prepares Him for (God’s) ministry and now Jesus Christ is ready for ministry.

I like the saying “What you will find (or receive) will depend on what you are looking for”.  The Wise Men were following a star, which they believed would take them to the “infant King of the Jews”.  And, indeed, they did find Him!  This leads me to reflect on which star we are following, and what we are looking for – which will determine what we will find.  We can follow a star that leads to fame, success, power, possessions, and riches.  Many follow this star!  But there is another star – that is Jesus Christ the Lord – and leads us along a different path to

In our first reading (2 Samuel 7) God, through the prophet Nathan, promises to do a wonderful deed for David. Nathan tells David that God will make a “house” for him, a lineage from which David’s offspring will follow. God tells David that this house, and the kingdom that will emerge from this house, “shall be made sure forever.” 

The Advent Liturgical Readings are a veritable feast of rich sustenance for us!  The readings for Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent) certainly do not disappoint and they invite us to have that joy, joy down in our hearts!  

Advent! Great! Advent is here again! What a great time of the year it is! What I really like about it is its “newness,” especially what it reveals to us about our loving God. This starts our liturgical year. We start again with the Season of Hope, glad that the Messiah Jesus Christ comes to us (again)! Another chance to start the special gift of another liturgical year realistically!

As some of us get older we may find the words “If only I had …”, entering more and more into our conversation.  Hindsight is 20/20, and we can easily see how opportunities have been missed, and we have failed to respond to the grace – and the need – of the moment.  The message of Advent is to be more conscious of our daily lives as followers of Jesus, and being awake and alert to His presence, so that we do not miss out on occasions of grace – of love and service – here and now.  The prophet Isaiah, in the First Reading, leaves no doubt in our mind that God is with us, and th