Spiritual

Today is a day of contradictions. Our 1st Gospel reading recounts how Jesus is hailed by the crowd as he rides into Jerusalem. They wave flowers or palm branches and call him the Son of David. Then we are reminded by the great prophet, Isaiah, what happened to the Suffering Servant of God, foreshadowing Jesus’ humiliation […]

The prophet Ezekiel comforts the Israelites with God’s promise of becoming a united nation and dwelling peacefully in the Promised Land. Being an old farm girl, the image of tending a piece of land surrounded by friends is a heart-warming image. Where I live now, my husband and I tend a row in a community

‘All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep,’ laments poor Jeremiah today. He really had a terrible life! Sometimes it is hard to find true friends; we get hurt or let down by those we thought were friends. We may feel like they are likely to pounce on any misstep.

In today’s reading from Genesis, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham. In his culture, a name was very important. The new name makes him a new creation. We were all given a name at our Baptism and another one at Confirmation (those of us who have celebrated these Sacraments) making us new creations. Think about

The excerpt from the book of Daniel today tells us about three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and how they will not bow in worship of the king’s idol at the sound of any musical instrument. They refuse even though the punishment is death in a fiery furnace. I believe music should be a way

A good and righteous man is honored today, St. Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus.  Joseph was a wonderful example of fidelity and fatherhood… but he never speaks a word in Sacred Scripture! St. Francis of Assisi is reputed to have said, “Preach always; sometimes use words.” St. Joseph didn’t need words; his

Today we have two trapped women. In both cases the crowds are all too willing to believe them guilty of adultery, and feel a trial is unnecessary. Yet in both cases, an advocate steps forward. This should make us stop and examine our consciences. Do we judge without all the facts? Are we intimidated by

Jeremiah, in the 1st reading today, promises we will no longer need to teach others that we are God’s people. They will just know it because we have been forgiven. God no longer remembers our sins. They have been driven away! How perfect! Today commemorates St. Patrick, who supposedly drove the snakes out of Ireland. Satan,

  ‘No prophet arises from Galilee’, the Pharisees attest today. Jesus is accounted as nothing because he is not what they are looking for and worse, he is from a backwater nothing of a town. This passage gave me pause. I wonder how often I ignore folks and what they say because they are not ‘learned’

The book of Wisdom is describing a God-fearing person today. That person makes everyone else uncomfortable because they don’t measure up in comparison. Ever call someone a ‘Goody Two Shoes’ or ‘Teacher’s Pet’? Didn’t like them much, did you? Why? No, doubt it was because the mirror they held up toward you (not intentionally, mind