Reflections

Prepare the way of the Lord: From the wilderness, John invites us to shape and participate in a world rooted in mercy. God is faithful to his promises, John reminds the people and rulers of his day, return to him and know mercy. Today, John’s message to us is the same, mercy transforms...

"If you want to be the greatest you must be the servant of all." These words echo in our ears long after Jesus says them. They do because we know he is right. This is what he asks of us in leadership. It is also what we would be wise to look for in those we choose to follow. It's an easy formula...

God loves all of us. Personally I never get tired of remembering that. I hope you feel the same. Life can be hard from time to time and remembering God's love for me helps a lot.  So why does God love me? Why does God love you? It seems an amazing fact considering all the people in the world; all...

What makes a great leader? How does one develop the ability to be a leader of people? What do you think? Jesus gives what today would be very unpopular advice this coming Sunday in our gospel lesson. He suggests that if you want to be the greatest you might consider being the servant to all. How...

Often in life, we find ourselves on the outside looking in and wondering if we belong. The account of the Gentile woman of Syrophoenician origin in Mark’s gospel is one of the starkest images of inclusion in the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus in all of the Christian scripture. Even Jesus seems...

For the prior four weeks we have heard Jesus speaking in a very long monologue. We have learned a lot in the meantime. This coming Sunday we will learn the response to what he had to say.  Scripture often paints things in black and white with little room for gray. I think this is one of those...

With what do we fill our hearts? What strengthens us when our journey of discipleship becomes difficult? When loving our neighbors, and ourselves, seems an overwhelming challenge? As we spend August with the Gospel of John’s bread of life discourse, Jesus offers an answer as simple as it is...

The gospel for this coming Sunday has a pearl within it that informs our lives personally and as a community.  All of us get caught up in our everyday lives, and for many of us, the "work of the church". Frankly getting caught up in the work of our everyday lives is understandable. It's what our...

The lessons this week remind me of a quote from St. Oscar Romero, “Wherever there is a baptised person, there also is the Church; there also is a prophet; there is someone who in the name of the truth illuminates the lies of the earth”.  The stories of Amos and John the Baptist tell us that it is...

"Were you afraid? Do you have no faith?" These are the words of Jesus as he sleeps while the torrent rages around the boat. Do you ever feel like that? Life is a mess and getting worse and where is Jesus? Is he sleeping? You could use a little help. It's feeling lonely and scary. Let's think about...