Sunday Reflections

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

During the Last Supper, in the Gospel of Luke, the disciples are arguing among themselves as to whom is the greatest. Jesus points out that among the rulers of the world, people lord it over one another and make their authority felt. Jesus is disappointed in their actions and points to his presence in their midst “as the one who serves.” This is the model that the disciples are to embrace in their leadership: “let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant” (Lk 22:24-26).

We are quickly approaching the end of the Liturgical Year and our readings lead us to thoughts of the end time, i.e., The Day of the Lord is coming!  Our second reading 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 tells us that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  As labour pains come upon a pregnant woman so will be the cataclysmic Day of the Lord or perhaps first for many: our personal day of the Lord.  We are not called to be afraid of the darkness or not knowing the time or the hour but we are called to live as children of the light and children of the day.  Howev

When we think of God, most of us take God for granted.  No matter what we do, most of us expect God to be good to us!  This can easily give rise to a sloppy relationship whereby we take advantage of God and at times not even be aware of how unrespectful this is.  Oh, my God! How can I have done this so callously?? (Falling to my knees,) I pray, “Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for…”.

Use the above as the background and environment for the following thoughts.