Finding Your Spiritual Direction

Malachi 3:19-20a 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Luke 21:5-19 Just when you try to keep your spirits up in spite of the evening news with its reports of natural disasters and violence between countries and peoples, you get today's gospel! “Nation will rise against nation.” “There will be earthquakes, famine and plagues.” Hardly anybody's idea of good news! At first, today’s psalm seems out of step. “Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it;

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17 John 2:13-22 Today we celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Pope’s church, the cathedral church of Rome. An unusual feast day. You may notice each of the readings talks about a building. “Surely, the church doesn’t ask us to reflect on brick and mortar today,” you say. And you would be right. Rather, pay close attention to the presence of the Divine in each structure under consideration. Note especially

Wisdom 3:1-9 Romans 8:14-23 Luke 7:11-17 Like many of us, I keep a list of people I pray for every day. That list begins with my friends and family who are in palliative care, nearing the end of their life on earth. While visiting a friend a week or so ago I told her that she has been one of those three people. We smiled at each other as I said with a twinkle in my eye, “The other two people have already graduated, if you get my drift. “ Today is All Souls’ Day, the

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14 [Note: You may have read this story of mine in a scripture reflection I wrote several years ago; but it bears repeating, in a somewhat different form.] When our daughter, Laura (now 42 years old), was a baby, I had a favorite lullaby that I would sing to her as I held her. I made a point to sing this particular song when she was agitated or having trouble going to sleep. I would sing, “ The Cry of the Poor ” by J

Exodus 17: 8-13 2 Timothy 3:14---4:2 Luke 18:1-8 While there are often numerous themes to be found in the Scripture passages we hear on Sundays, I want to focus today on three themes that are intertwined in all of today’s readings. They are: Faithfulness, Persistence and Community. Moses demonstrates faithfulness in his battle with Amalek. St. Paul implores his listeners to be faithful, and emphasizes the power of sacred scripture to help them; as it provides both inform

2 Kings 5:14-17 2 Timothy2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19 Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! What beautiful words those are. And how important...

Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14 Luke 17:5-10 I never cease to be amazed by how timely our readings from Sacred Scripture...

Amos 6:1a, 4-7 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 When I was on the pastoral staff, I enjoyed interviewing the students who were...

Amos 8:4-7 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 Everything we have is gift. The time and place and family into which I was born, my skills...

Numbers 21:4b-9 Philippians 2:6-11 John 3:13-17 Let's talk about love. Today is the Feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The...

Wisdom 9:13-18b Philemon 9-10, 12-17 Luke 14:25-33 For twenty years it was my privilege to direct the Catechumenate at my parish, to...

Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a Luke 14:1, 7-14 Humility - our readings today teach us about this wonderful, often...

Isaiah 66:18-21 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Luke 13:22-30 There are at least two different (but complimentary) themes at work in today’s...

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 Hebrews 12:1-4 Luke 12:49-53 Several years ago, Elizabeth Nagel, writing a commentary about today’s readings...

Wisdom 18:6-9 Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Luke 12:32-48 or 12:35-40 I imagine each of us has certain specific biblical passages that we...

Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Luke 12:13-21 “ Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich,...

Genesis 18:20-32 Colossians 2:12-14 Luke 11:1-13 It's all about prayer in today's scripture readings. From the bold bargaining...

Genesis 18:1-10a Colossians 1:24-28 Luke 10:38-42 Pity the priest who has to preach on today's gospel; it tempts us to take sides and...

Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Colossians 1:15-20 Luke 10:25-37 Today's gospel gives us the parable of the Good Samaritan. This is such a...

Isaiah 66:10-14c Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 Remember those bracelets we wore years ago with the letters WWJD? Remember...