Sunday Reflections

                 We were a hockey family growing up.  We moved when I was 13 years old, and in our new neighborhood I met teenager boys who played soccer.  Soon, I wanted to play soccer as well, but it took some convincing of my father.  I am sure he was thinking that it was just one more sport that he would have to drive one of us to play, but, in any case, he was not very enthusiastic.  His last stab at dissuading me was the comment he made with his most serious looking face: “I sure

This weekend our gospel speaks to us of the virtue of humility.  This is a significant virtue in the kingdom of God - at the top of our list - but in our society it is seen as a weakness, and is at the bottom of people's list.  Pope Francis has shown us what humility looks like in our time.  Whereas in the world people are told to 'look after number one', and that to be proud is essential, the life and teachings of Jesus show us that humility is the way to holiness in our relation with God, and  solidarity in relation to others.  Whereas pride creates ob

A man had a nightmare.  He awoke to find himself at the “pearly gates”. St. Peter asked him if he would like to look around first.  He said, “Yes.”  But as he looked around he saw some people in heaven who he thought should not be there – what a surprise!  And then he looked for some people he knew.  They were not there. What a surprise!  And then, to his surprise, HE WAS THERE!

                 The readings this Sunday remind us of how difficult it can be to follow God’s ways, especially when God’s ways do not seem to conform to our way of seeing and doing things.  Like the princes who complained to King Zedekiah about Jeremiah, we may even want to—as we say today—shoot the messenger.  At times it is easier to criticize or sabotage the one who is making God’s ways more apparent to us than it is to listen intently and to discern how we are called

A popular developing theology in the Church today is that of Stewardship.  In the gospel today Jesus speaks to us about being responsible stewards.   His examples call to our attention the need to be vigilant and responsible.  We are entrusted with gifts, talents and treasure to be used not only for our good, but for the good of others.  Sometimes we may think that we do not have much to share, however the Lord tells us that "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." &n

The parable about the friend going to his neighbor late at night to ask for bread provides an interesting image of God if we think that we are the “friend” and God is the “neighbor.”  If this is the case, then it seems that we need to “bother” and “bug” God for what we need.  While this schema seems to fit with the first reading where Abraham “bothers” and “bargains” with God to save the town, it does not fit with the rest of the gospel passage.  Here, Jesus asks: “What father among you would hand h

The persons of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, make me think of these famous lines of Shakespeare’s Hamlet – “To be or not to be”.  Martha is hoping Jesus will support her in telling her sister Mary to help her with the hospitality towards the many guests in their home.  Instead (much to her disappointment, I can imagine) Jesus tells Martha that Mary “has chosen the better part”.  Mary is all about ‘being’, and Martha is all about ‘doing’.  Mary is the image of the classical disciple, seated at the feet

Jesus sends the disciples out in pairs to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand.  The disciples are preparing places for Jesus, who is, indeed, the presence of God.  So, God’s reign or God’s presence is near at hand for all these people, as it has been for every person that Jesus has healed of sickness, freed from a demon, or welcomed back into God’s people from the margins of society.  Interestingly, the disciples experience much joy in this proclamation.  Like the disciples, the earth itself is rejoicing, something which is reflected in the resp