Finding Your Spiritual Direction

Isaiah 58:7-10 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Matthew 5:13-16 One of the most beautiful parts of the Easter Vigil for me occurs at the very beginning. The Easter candle, having been lit outside with the New Fire, is carried into the darkened church. The light of Christ. That light passes from the Christ candle to us as we share the light with each other. And soon the whole church is alive with light. We are living in dark times. Today’s gospel tells us that we are to be li

Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 1Corinthians 126-31 Matthew 5:1-12a As I write this reflection, world leaders are gathering at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Because I have been reflecting on today's gospel, the words of our president jumped out at me. He described our country as, “rich, powerful, and strong. Again, I looked at the gospel, the Beatitudes, which Pope Francis described as "the Christian’s identity card. “ I saw very different qualities: poor in spir

Isaiah 8:23—9:3 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I must repeat a theme from today’s readings that has been prevalent in recent weeks: The good news of Jesus Christ is for all people, not simply the Hebrew people. If repetition is a form of emphasis, God really seems to want us all to understand that. The message is for all people, no matter their race, color, nationality, social status or creed. That is important.

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 John 1:29-34 Three little words can be used to summarize all three of today’s readings. And they are very powerful indeed! They are: “called to testify”. In the first reading, Isaiah is called to testify, as he is commissioned to be “a light to the nations” (Isaiah 49-6). He realizes that he is called, not just to deliver the news of the coming of the Messiah to the people of Judah and of Israel, but to the people of the whole wor

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38 Matthew 3:13-17 Today’s first reading, from Isaiah, Chapter 42, is the first of four passages in Isaiah that are referred to as Servant Songs. For us, as Christians, these are very important passages. They foretell of one to come - not as an earthly king, but as a servant - who will “bring forth justice to the nations” and establish a new covenant between God and humankind. We understand this special servant to be none ot

Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Today’s readings are filled with challenging and intriguing concepts, designed to prompt us to think intently and act decisively. The more we study them, the more we will receive from them. As usual, the messages are relevant, not only for the people of biblical times, but for all of us. For myself, I am particularly challenged and intrigued by the theme of “inclusivity”. Isaiah’s passage begins with a reference to t

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 Colossians 3:12-21 Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Today's scriptures do indeed reflect the theme of the function and the spirit of family. In the first reading, we read of the call to respect our elders - especially our parents. In the gospel passage we see Joseph, taking responsibility for the safety of the family in what is indeed a perilous time for them. He does so, based on strong intuitions he receives in dreams - two of them! Dreams are amazing things

Isaiah 7:10-14 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24 This reflection is a "re-post" of one that I posted three years ago, on the 4th Sunday of Advent. I think is bears repeating, and I hope it leads you into deep and meaningful prayer. If you follow these scripture reflections, you might know that I am a big fan of Christian music. I like many of the songs we sing from the hymnal and the songbook we use at Mass; and I also like many of the contemporary Christian songs you can

Isaiah 35:1-6a,10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 Once upon a time, I was asked to do a webinar on the spirituality of “Shaping the Future of Catechesis” (Religious Education). I was given about 45 minutes and asked to talk about important spiritual qualities to bring to such an endeavor. After considerable thought and prayer, I decided to focus on two in particular, Hope and Joy. Imagine my surprise when I read the readings for this Third Sunday of Advent - and found that t

Isaiah11:1-10 Romans 15:4-9 Matthew 3:1-12 Advent - A Time to Reflect Today’s readings are chock full of important messages from the Lord for all of us. They all merit a bit of extra “reflection time” - especially during this season of Advent. The gospel, relating the story of John the Baptist preaching in the desert, is often featured in homilies of the day…and rightly so. However, today I will focus on the first reading, from the prophet Isaiah. It is particularly no

Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44 And so it begins again. The First Sunday of Advent begins the Church’s liturgical year. We remember the coming of Jesus in time as we walk with him from his birth through his ministerial life, his death, resurrection, ascension and his life now in the community he left behind. But our gospel reminds us that he will come again, "the coming of the Son of Man, “ at the end of time. Because we have no idea when this future event

2 Samuel 5:1-3 Colossians 1:12-20 Luke 23:35-43 One of my kids was a real night owl. Bedtime was always a struggle. I recall the day she announced defiantly, "When I'm a grown-up I can stay up as late as I want! “ Ha! Little did she realize that being an adult means you go to bed when your responsibilities are taken care of and sometimes, by then, you’re exhausted! But who of us has not wanted now and then to be “in control”, to have the power to do whatever we want, to

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...