Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Malachi 3:19-20; Psalm 98:5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19) Joining All Creation in Praising the Lord Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 98:4) Rivers “clapping their hands.” Mountains “shouting for joy.” What extraordinary images these poetic descriptions of nature evoke for us! These […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-3:5; Luke 20:27-38) Living in “this age” while awaiting “the Coming Age” He is not God of the dead, but of the living. (Luke 20:38) The Gospels are filled with accounts of how Jesus’ enemies tried to trap him […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Wisdom 11:22–12:2; Psalm 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2; Luke 19:1-10) Loving Others as Jesus Has Loved You He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner. (Luke 19:7) When Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, he made it clear that it […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Luke 18:1-8) Saying Yes to God’s Plan and Mission for Your Life … so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:17) Imagine that you wake up one morning to find […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19) Allowing Jesus to Heal us of Spiritual Leprosy Jesus, Master! Have pity on us! (Luke 17:13) Until recently, a diagnosis of leprosy was a death sentence—a long, slow sentence marked by physical deformity, social isolation, poverty, and […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95:1-2,6-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14; Luke 17:5-10) Living in the Power of God and Not the Power of Fear Stir into flame the gift of God. (2 Timothy 1:6) Did you know that fear is a gift from God? It helps us protect ourselves […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Amos 6:1,4-7; Psalm 146:7-10; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31) What it Means to be Christ to Others Lazarus … would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the … table. (Luke 16:20, 21) There are two issues at the heart of today’s Gospel […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113:1-2,4-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13) Being Wise Stewards of God’s Gifts and Graces The master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. (Luke 16:8) That’s right. The “hero” in this parable is a dishonest man who cheated his way out of a tough […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 32:7-11,13-14; Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,17,19; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32) Experiencing More Deeply Our Heavenly Father’s Mercy, Love, and Grace Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love. (Psalm 51:3) One of the very first things we do at every Mass is celebrate the Penitential Rite. We […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Wisdom 9:13-18; Psalm 90:3-6,12-17; Philemon 9-10,12-17; Luke 14:25-33) What it Means to Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes three very demanding statements. He says […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117:1-2; Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13; Luke 13:22-30) The Importance of Seeking First the Kingdom of God Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23) These are perhaps the scariest words in Scripture. Embedded within this fellow’s question is the fear that many will not […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Jeremiah 38:4-6,8-10; Psalm 40:2-4,18; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53) Running and Finishing Well the Race of Life Persevere in running the race.” (Hebrews 12:1) Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter who holds the record as the fastest person ever. Nicknamed the “Lightning Bolt,” he has won many Olympic […]
The Holy Trinity Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Proverbs 8:22-31; Psalm 8:4-9; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-1) Sharing in the life of the Trinity and Sharing our Lives with One Another In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Every time we make the Sign of […]
Pentecost Sunday Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23) Experiencing More Deeply the Power of the Holy Spirit They were all astounded and bewildered.” (Acts 2:12) If there’s one truth we should take as our anchor on this great feast day, it’s this: Pentecost is […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 15:1-2,22-29; Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8; Revelation 21:10-14,22-23; John 14:23-29) Being Drawn into the Life of the Trinity Peace I leave with you. (John 14:27) Rarely is a passage from Scripture as Trinitarian as these few verses. This passage comes from Jesus’ farewell address at the Last Supper: the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-13; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35) Loving Others as Jesus Has Loved Us I give you a new commandment… . As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. (John 13:34) They say couples who have been married a long time start […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 13:14,43-52; Psalm 100:1-3,5; Revelation 7:9,14-17; John 10:27-30) Heaven, Our Inheritance as Beloved Children of God They were … wearing white robes. (Revelation 7:9) Jesus, I can’t wait to get to heaven and put on my white robe. It’s going to be so exciting, experiencing the greatest […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 5:27-32,40-41; Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19) Experiencing the Grace of Repentance and the Grace of the Holy Spirit We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29) Is this the same Peter who had denied that he even knew Jesus? Doesn’t it take years—if ever—for […]
Divine Mercy Sunday Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 10:34,37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23; John 20:1-9) Divine Mercy, Jesus’ Gift to Each One of Us My Lord and my God! (John 20:28) When a child is conceived in the mother’s womb, one cell is knitted to another. The parents’ genes combine in […]
Easter Sunday Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Acts 10:34,37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23; John 20:1-9) Jesus is Alive, We Are New Creations in Him He saw and believed. (John 20:8) Alleluia! Christ is risen! Father, we exult in your glory! We rejoice, turning our thoughts to the One who lives, who is […]
Palm Sunday Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14–23:56) Allowing the Power of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus to Transform Us It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you. (Luke 22:28-29) Today […]
Fifth Sunday of Lent Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126:1-6; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11) Receiving God’s Mercy and Forgiveness Neither do I condemn you. (John 8:11) Every day, we face condemnation, whether it be from an enemy, from a friend, from the devil, or from our own guilty consciences. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 34:2-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3,11-32) Answering the Call to be Ambassadors for Christ We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. (2 Corinthians 5:20) During a high school trip around the world, William Borden, the heir of the Borden […]
Third Sunday of Lent Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Exodus 3:1-8,13-15; Psalm 103:1-4,6-8,11: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12; Luke 13:1-9) Receiving Jesus’ Compassion and Giving it to Others I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it. (Luke 13:8) The parable of the fig tree tells us that God is constantly at work […]
