December 2, 2023: The Eve of the First Sunday of Advent. This evening, we stand on the brink of Advent. Before us stretches three weeks, twenty-one days where we will journey into the mystery of Emmanuel, God-with-us in the person of Jesus, the Gift of the Father. In the centuries before Jesus' coming among us, the world was much as is it today: there were wars, hatred, self centeredness, greed…
November 26, 2023: A Reflection for the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Matthew 25:31-46 Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Mt 25:29) “In the evening of life we will be judged on love alone.” So says the great Spanish mystic John of the Cross. The past few Sundays, the Church has been focusing our attention on Jesus’ Gospel message: the Kingdom of…
October 15, 2023: A Reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Matthew 22:1-14 My friend, how is it you came in here without a wedding garment? (Mt 22:11b) We’ve all been invited to celebrations and parties and one of the first questions we need to resolve when we receive the invitation is, ‘What do I wear?’ Is it formal or casual or costume? Today’s parable is about…
October 8, 2023: A Reflection for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Matthew 21:33-43 There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. (Mt 21:34) I don’t know how many of you have noticed the sign on I-10 announcing Sonoita to be the viticulture area of our high country. As most of you know,…
October 1, 2023: A reflection for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Matthew 21:28-32 ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. (Mt 21:23-24) Today’s readings speak of ways of living, ways of thinking and remind us of how we can change our minds or how we live, for the good or for…
September 10, 2023: A Reflection for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr A Matthew 18:15-20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Mt 18:20) “Love is the fulfillment of the law,” we hear in today’s second reading from St. Paul (Romans 13:10). At first glance, we can wonder how it fits in today’s readings. It seems to…
September 3, 2023: A Reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr A Matthew 16:21-27 For those who wish to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Mt 16:29) Jesus, you made us in your image and likeness – which is to say, I guess, that we’re hard-wired to be love in our world. It’s in our spiritual DNA…
August 13, 2023: A Reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr A Matthew 14:22-33 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” (Mt 14:27-29) You can hardly blame the disciples for being terrified. There they were, out…
July 30, 2023: A Reflection for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yr A Matthew 13:44-52 The kingdom of heaven is like … ( Mt 13:44a) Jesus, your kingdom is like the air breathe. It permeates our existence. It is offered to every person, bidden or unbidden. We recognize your kingdom not by external appearances but by a person's choices and actions. The helping hand when someone is down. The…
July 9, 2023: A reflection for the 14th Sunday in OT, Yr A Matthew 11:25-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light. (Mt 11:16-17) Who doesn’t appreciate rest?! Even God is all for it. In the creation story, it explicitly says that on the…
