Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
“Lord”, the Canaanite woman said, “help me.” Jesus replied: “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.” She retorted: “Ah yes, Sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.” Matthew 15: 21-28 Way back in the early 1950s during my days […]
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
At once, Jesus called out to them, saying: “Courage, it is I! Do not be afraid.” It was Peter who answered: “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.” “Come” said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus across the water, but as […]
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
When it was evening, the disciples approached Jesus and said: “This is a deserted place, and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”…Taking the five loaves […]
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said: ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied: ‘…I am a very young man unskilled in leadership…Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great.’ […]
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
“The kingdom of God may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat…The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed…the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants…The kingdom of […]
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
The disciples came and asked Jesus: “Why do you talk to them (the crowd) in parables?” He replied: “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever a person has a ready heart for this, the insights and […]
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
“You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and have revealed them to little ones…” “Take up my yoke and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart…” Matthew 11, 25-30 For an understanding of both the significance and meaning of the gospel-reading for this fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary […]
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and those who welcome me welcome the God who sent me. Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will have a prophet’s reward and anyone who welcomes a holy man because he is a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. If anyone gives so […]
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
“Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destroy the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” Matthew 10, 26-33 After hearing today’s first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, I suggest that we would all do well to stop and spare a […]
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – a reflection on the Sunday readings
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. Matthew 9: 36 – 10: 8 One does not have to look very strenuously to discover just how closely the Church’s liturgical calendar is aligned with the seasonal cycle of the Northern […]