Finding Your Spiritual Direction

Zechariah 9:9-10 Romans 8:9, 11-13 Matthew 11:25-30 “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened. “ Today's reflection is for all those who feel overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the pictures of apartment buildings and hospitals and schools reduced to rubble in places like Gaza, southern Lebanon and Ukraine. Overwhelmed by TV footage of body bags carrying victims of Ebola in Africa. Overwhelmed by the number of Ohio families who will soon see their healthcare premiums skyro

Jeremiah 20:10-13 Romans 5:12-15 Matthew 10:26-33 Examining the readings today, we should note that there are some striking similarities between what Jeremiah endures in the first reading and what the disciples are being prepared to endure in today’s Gospel. Jeremiah remarks that he hears “the whisperings of many, terror on every side!” Jeremiah was trying to warn the Israelites to change their ways - to honor the covenant they had made with the Lord - or they would sure

Exodus 19:2-6a Romans 5:6-11 Matthew 9:36-10:8 There is something about today’s readings that reminds me of part of a prayer I often say. It is a prayer of my own making, to the Blessed Trinity. During the part of the prayer that I specifically address to Jesus, I praise him as the Son of God and as my brother. At that moment, I think of him as a close friend and a sort of older and very much wiser brother. I think of him as my primary and most important teacher, helpin

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58 I once heard a story about a mother who was cooking dinner for her children. The family was of modest means, but the mother was careful to purchase and prepare food that was nutritious and included all the major food groups. One one occasion, when the young ones were complaining about what was being prepared for dinner, mom got a bit flustered and blurted out: “Look here now, I work hard to feed you good whol

Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18 I was the kid who asked a lot of questions. And when the grown-ups answered, “That is a mystery, “ I thought they just didn't know the answer… or they just wanted me to stop questioning! Now that I am an adult myself, I realize that there are things one cannot wrap one's mind around try though we may. There is such a thing as mystery. Today we celebrate the Trinity. And we are presented with a couple of m

Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Today the church celebrates our birthday, the feast of Pentecost, the day the church was born! Our scriptures record the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. The reading from Acts begins with a picture of the disciples “all in one place together. “ The gospel from John records the disciples gathered behind locked doors out of fear. They seek support and comfort from one another but they are inw

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20 Today's gospel from Matthew describes the Ascension of the Lord. I was intrigued to read, "When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.” They doubted! Exactly what was it they doubted? There have been multiple post- resurrection appearances of Jesus by this time as Luke recalls in the first reading. Forty days of appearances. Certainly they did not doubt that this was indeed Jesus raised from the

Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21 “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope…” Clearly, these words from today's second reading presume we are hope -filled! What do you think? Do you feel hopeful? The daily news can rob one of hope. Vulgar and demeaning language fills the airways. Violent action is applauded. The use of power and brute force is touted as the “real” world. The Earth is plundered f

Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7 1 Peter 2:4-9 John 14:1-12 “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these… “ As one who believes in Jesus, how do you feel about this challenge? Have you ever thought in terms of doing those wonderful works the gospel records Jesus doing? The feeding… the healing… the preaching of the gospel? Scripture says he fed the multitude with just a few loaves and fishes. How could you carry on his work of feed

Acts of the Apostles 2:14a, 36-41 1 Peter 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10 Am I hearing voices? That’s a question a person might ask themself in one of two situations. Either they are remembering a command they heard long ago from a parent or guardian, such as: “Look both ways before you cross the street” - or - they literally believe they hear someone calling out to them. In the case of today’s scripture passages, both of those conditions are true. We are hearing voices of people

Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-33 1Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35 Today’s gospel is one of my very favorite passages. There are several dynamic themes at work here. First, Jesus invites the two disciples to tell him all about what has been happening in Jerusalem. In the process, he gets right to the heart of what is going on in their minds and hearts. Then he proceeds to explain to them, in detail, why it happened and how it all relates to his earthly mission. Still, they d

Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47 1Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 In 1978, I entered graduate school in Pittsburgh. I met a young woman there who was a member of a small faith community of Catholics that was part of a Marianist small faith community of Catholics. Marilyn and I were looking for a spiritual home and we found it with this terrific group of people. Fast-forward to 1981 and we had relocated to Des Moines, Iowa. We were once again looking for a spiritual home. We

Readings will vary, depending upon which Liturgy you attend. Imagine a time in your life when you have read a book, watched a movie/TV show, or listened to someone tell you a profound story. Perhaps you walked away from that experience with a little extra “spring” in your step; because you were feeling inspired, motivated, energized - thankful for the gift of life, and thankful for the story you had just experienced. Perhaps you realized that the story meant something to yo

Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14 -- 27:66 As a child I disliked Palm Sunday. It was the day I had to stand for the long, long gospel. And I remember having to say the words of the crowd, "Let him be crucified! “ Why do we get the part of the bad guys, I thought? I'd never do that. .. And then I grew up. Fairly early in the gospel, before the crucifixion itself, we see two people betray Christ: Judas and Peter. And these were not casual bystanders. These we

Ezekiel, 37:12-14 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 Another long gospel today on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the raising of Lazarus. Because a tomb, an illness followed by death and a resuscitated body figure so prominently in the story, it is easy for us to focus on physical death. But let us look closely at the dialogue in the center of this event. “Martha said to him, ‘I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the lif

1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 Today's gospel, John 9:1–41, is quite long. A shorter option is offered but the longer version is well worth reading. We see a fascinating cast of characters each with their own degree of sightedness and blindness. We see a man who was born blind, is cured of his physical blindness by Jesus and comes to spiritual sight gradually. We see neighbors who suddenly do not recognize the same man they had seen begging earli

Exodus 17:3-7 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 Today's first reading begins,"In their thirst for water the people grumbled against Moses.“ The Samaritan woman in the gospel has come to the well alone in the heat of the day to draw water. In our own day, people all over the world are on the move to find water for themselves and their animals as climate change turns their home uninhabitable, without enough water. The need for life-giving water is so elemental that when Jesus

Genesis 12:1-4a 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 Matthew 17:1-9 Ah, Peter. Man of action. You gotta love him! "How about if I walk on water to meet you?“ (glug, glug, sound of water splashing). “I’ll never deny you!” (sound of cock crowing). And today's gospel."How about if I build three tents here?“ And while he is still speaking… “A voice from the cloud” said “Listen!” The church gives us a Transfiguration story every year on the Second Sunday of Lent. This year we hear from M

Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 Romans 5: 12-19 Matthew 4:1-11 Like many other people, I use the monthly periodical, "Give Us This Day,” as an aid to daily prayer. There, in reflecting on this weekend’s readings, Fr. John Kartje shared an insight I thought well worth passing on to you. He suggests that we "pay attention to (our) temptations, not just (our) sins.“ Our temptations reveal where we are vulnerable.Those words brought back to me an experience from my own life. A number

Sirach 15:15-20 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17-37 The gospel for today, Matthew 5:17- 37, is quite long. The second and longer portion of the gospel, which is offered as a stand alone option, includes the portion of Matthew’s gospel that elaborates on the commandments. Jesus quotes some of the Ten Commandments, "You shall not kill, “ then adds "But I say to you, “whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment… “ But before discussing the individual comm