This reflection is based on Luke 9:1-24.
Have you ever googled yourself? It’s scary stuff. You never know what you’ll find–or if you’ll like what you actually find. Take your pick: Which of the following would you consider the worst-case scenario?
(a) Reading the rant of someone disgruntled with you (and we all know how the illusion of anonymity emboldens netizens)
(b) Beholding the last photograph of yourself you want the world to see
(c) Finding nothing at all!
This reflection is based on Luke 7:11-17.
In our Gospel story today, our Lord performs one of his more awesome miracles: He raises someone back to life. He’s done this before: The daughter of Jairus comes to mind, a twelve year old girl whose hand Jesus held and to whom he said, “Little girl, get up!”
In lieu of a homily on this feast of the Corpus Christi, I invite you to read the words of one of the greatest mystics and doctors of the Church, St. Teresa Avila. Her words are so true and so moving; any commentary is but footnote.
Christ has no body now,
but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth,
but yours.
Yours are the eyes
through which He looks
with compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet
with which He walks
to do good.
Yours are the hands
through which He blesses
all the world.
Yours are the hands,
yours are the feet,
yours are the eyes,
you are His body.
Christ has no body now on earth
but yours.
If you wish, listen to the words set to song by David Ogden.
This reflection is based on John 16:12-15 on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.
We could talk theology as usual, resorting to the familiar formula of the three divine Persons in one God. Or we could opt to discuss its spiritual message–how community life among us is perfectly exemplified by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And if you prefer, we could also simply wax poetry because there is so much poetry in this mystery in the very concrete and visual way it suggests how God, by His very nature, is love.
This reflection is based on John 13:31-35 for the Fifth Easter of Sunday.
I begin with a confession: I had to read today’s Sunday Gospel several times before I managed to get into it. Don’t get me wrong. I do not disagree with the words of our Lord. On the contrary, these are, in fact, some of his most important–and at the time, revolutionary–teachings.
Just listen:
“I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”