Sunday Reflections

One of the most beautiful images that Jesus gives us of himself in John’s gospel is that he is the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep, calls them by name, and is willing to lay down his life for them (John 10: 11).

Many years ago I was involved in a car accident, when another driver drove into us.  I was relieved when an independent witness came forward and said that the other driver drove into us (not as the other driver alleged).  It was great to have a witness.  Jesus tells us that "we are witnesses".  But, to whom and to what?  If we are truly DISCIPLES of Jesus we have seen, heard and experienced things at his side.  If we are then truly an APOSTLE of Jesus we share what we have seen, heard and experienced.  How can we keep it a secret?  We are called to be

This weekend’s Gospel presents us with a scene of the disciples after Jesus’ death.  They are afraid.  They are on their own.  So, they do what seems natural—they locked themselves in a room for protection.  They surmise that this will keep them safe.  This will keep them secure.  But, how will they ever continue Jesus’ mission in such circumstances?  It is like the verses from the song The Rose: “It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance; it’s the dream afraid of waking that never takes a chance.”  Left to their own insecu

Just last week on Passion Sunday, we heard the cry of Jesus from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk 16:34).  All seems lost in this haunting question.  Jesus has trusted in God to be with him as he sought to follow God’s will of showing compassion toward all and including all people.  As Jesus ministered this way in word and deed, he proclaimed that we are all God’s children, deserving of love.  The religious authorities, however, saw him as a deceiver of the people who must be put to death.  In the eyes of the world, the mission and ministry

I always think of this as ‘fickle’ Sunday.  It is the only Sunday in which we hear two Gospels – the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and the Passion.  In the first the people shout, “Hosanna”, “Blessed is he”.  They welcome Him, and put down their cloaks and palm branches to form a carpet for the King of Israel.  Yet, a few days later, the same crowd (with the influence of the Pharisees) are shouting, “Crucify him!”  With which crowd do we want to associate?

There was a woman who was often short of breath and she started having pains in her arms and chest.  She finally went to the doctor and after being admitted to the hospital, she was told that she was placed on the transplant list.  She asked what the criterion was for a new heart.  The doctor told her, “You need one!” 

St. Paul reminds us of the generous and gracious nature of God’s love for us. There is nothing that we can possibly do to earn, merit, or deserve this love. It is a free gift. As a free gift, it is given with no strings attached. God will never force or coerce us into this relationship. Indeed, God wants a companion who willingly and freely enters into this relationship. If we can only but catch a glimpse of this love that God has for us, we will be drawn and moved by that love with our whole hearts.

The gospel of today often makes people question, “Is this my Jesus?” It seems out of character for Jesus, an act that we may regard as angry and violent.  Jesus, as God-made-man, Jesus knows our human weakness, and he comes to us as our Lord and Saviour to give us His divine grace to help us to ‘perfect’ our humanity.  It is written at the end of the Gospel, “He understands human nature well.”   However, especially during this Lenten season, Jesus calls us to purify ourselves in keeping with God’s will, as was His intention in chasing out the money-changers and vend

On this second Sunday of Lent we are invited to do two things: Pray and Listen. In the first reading Abraham is invited by God to sacrifice his only son. In the Gospel narrative Jesus takes three of his closest disciples up a high mountain and, "he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them."

            The Preface I for Lent might take us by surprise. It begins by thanking God for giving us “this gracious gift each year” so that we can prepare for the paschal feasts “with the joy of minds made pure.” This phrase stands in sharp contrast to the images that we tend to associate with Lent: penance, fasting, abstinence, not singing “Al----ia,” and austere looking churches with no flowers. For some, the Lenten season is a bit of a “downer”; they can hardly wait until it is over.