July 25, 2021: A Reflection for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Ephesians 4:1-6 John 6:1-15 There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many? (John 6:9) “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many?” In one sense, a very practical sense, your…
February 28, 2021: A Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent, Year B Mark 9:2-10 … he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” (Mk 9:3, 8) Jesus, it was done unto to you. You…
February 21, 2021: A Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent, Year B Mark 1:12-15 The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert. (Mk 1:12) Into the desert. The Spirit drove you there, Jesus. From deep within, you experienced the imperative – for what? You are like us in all things but sin. Did you also, like us, feel the pull to connect with God and abide there? To descend…
February 14, 2021: A Reflection for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Mark 1:40-45 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him… (Mk 1:41) He sat by the side of the road, looking into the faces of the passers-by for some shred of recognition and maybe a coin or two that would provide sustenance. Most hurried by, eager to be as far as possible from…
February 7, 2021: A Reflection for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Mark 1:29-39 Jesus approached her, grasped her hand her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her. (Mk 1:31) You hear our hearts, Jesus, even when we can’t find words. Maybe it’s better that we don’t flood you with words… Maybe we just need to come to you as we are: poor, needy children…
January 31, 2021: A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Deuteronomy 18:15-20 1 Cor 7:32-35 Mark 1:21-28 I know who you are – the Holy One of God! (Mk 1:24b) Everything living has roots of one sort or another. We’re used to seeing it in the plant world: trees, grass, flowers, etc. Our thoughts, our emotions, our personal histories. All these have roots deep within us,…
January 24, 2021: A Reflection for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Mark 1:14-20 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men and women.” (Mk 1:17) The waves lapped against the shore as the two fishermen sat in their boat mending their nets. It was very familiar work and in this familiarity they found comfort. You might even say they found…
January 17, 2021: A Reflection for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B John 1:35-42 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” (Jn 1:38) Imagine following a stranger you had heard about and with whom you really wanted to speak, and that person turned, looked you in the eye and asked, “What are you looking for?” Quite the question! No…
January 10, 2021: A Reflection for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Year B Mark 1:9-11 You are my beloved Son . . . (Mark 1:11b) It was among the first inspections when we began construction of our monastery. To look at the work that lay at our feet, you would wonder why you needed anyone at all to check out these deep trenches lined with re-bar. Yet,…
January 3, 2021: A Reflection for the Feast of the Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12 Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage? (Mt 2:2) Where is the newborn king? That is the question that lies in the depths of every person. You have hardwired us to desire to find you in our depths and in all creation,…
