Spiritual

Today we hear one of the four Suffering Servant Songs from Isaiah. https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  The prophet calls this un-named servant “my chosen one.” And in today’s Gospel from John, Jesus is anointed with costly oils. Scripture Scholars have pointed to Jesus as the un-named Servant from Isaiah. The Servant who speaks eloquently, teaches well, and has commission from […]

The letter to the Philippians, which may have been a Christian song before Paul used it here, speaks of Christ emptying himself out. And we see to what extent that emptying out went in Mark’s account of the Passion. I’m wondering if I have anything in life for which I would give my all. Just

We are about to enter Holy Week and our scriptures are pointing to the story of this coming week. https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  Ezekiel prophesied that we will be united under one Shepherd and we shall be God’s people. The Psalmist reassures us that we will be gathered under the protection of the one true Shepherd. Jesus is identified as

Today’s readings are full of fear and hate. https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  Jeremiah fears for his life because even his friends are waiting to pounce on him. Jesus is about to be stoned because of his words. The hate is palpable. But the psalmist reassures us that the Lord God is a rock of refuge, our salvation, our stronghold and

Only nine months till Christmas! https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  Today’s feast celebrates the Annunciation to Mary that she will bring forth our Savoir. In the midst of Lent, we are reminded how our salvation began. It began in a young woman of no great significance. Even Elizabeth who is also expecting a baby in a miraculous way is also insignificant.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are threatened with death by King Nebuchadnezzar if they don’t kneel and worship his golden idol at the sound of every musical instrument. https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  That’s quite a threat. There is music all around us—the laughter of children, family, and friends, the singing of birds, the sigh of wind in the trees, the sound

The Book of Numbers tells us the well known story of the Israelites grumbling about wretched food. https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  Moses once again comes to their rescue after they were plagued with biting serpents. He asks the people to look upon that which has harmed them. The first step to healing is to acknowledge that you need help. The

The readings today deal with a taboo subject—adultery.  https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  We seldom talk about it today but it was, and still is, a big deal. The penalty was stoning then as it is now in some countries. Jesus is not interested so much in the fact that this was sinful and that she had been “caught”. He seems

Jeremiah, in a more tender moment, speaks these words to us from God, “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God and they will be my people.” https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  Much like yesterday’s reading, we are special to God. We are his people! Picture a grandfather and grandmother enveloping

“Yet I, like a trusting lamb…” says Jeremiah. https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar.  I am I so trusting? Lambs are often depicted as stupidly trusting, to the point of putting themselves in peril. But we know that if we place our trust in the Lord, we will not be putting ourselves in peril. The Lord is the only entity deserving of