Reflection for the Week

Jesus cured the sick who lay on mats outside in hope of touching a tassel on His cloak. When a Gentile begged Jesus to heal her daughter, He compared her request to giving children’s food to the dogs—an analogy that self-righteous Israelites would have applauded. The woman persisted, saying that even dogs get table scraps dropped by children, and Jesus worked the miracle. Scribes and Pharisees noticed that Jesus’ disciples skipped ritual handwashing before meals. On the other hand, the hypocritical leaders allowed pledging donations to th

Seeing the Child Jesus, Simeon recognized Him as the Christ. In His adult ministry, the Lord rewarded the faith of a synagogue official named Jairus by bringing his daughter back to life. On the way to Jairus’ house, a woman fearfully admitted that she had touched the Lord’s cloak in hope of healing without asking. Jesus did not take back the miracle she had received. The Lord sent the Twelve to teach and heal in His name. Knowing that God can work through us, why do we falter when events take an unexpected or fearful turn?

Jesus’ perfect sacrifice broke the hold of sin on humanity and replaced it with love to behold. From heaven, Jesus appeared as blinding light and spoke to Saul, a Pharisee bent on persecuting Christians. With his sight mercifully restored, Saul put his zeal into serving as a missionary known now as Saint Paul. Saints Timothy and Titus both worked with Paul directly or on separate missions at his request. We do not always understand how seeds of faith grow. Even with Jesus in the same boat with us, we flounder. Do we want the Lord to show us o

Pharisees and scribes served as taskmasters, insisting that people obey a long list of rules. Along came Jesus. The Lord pointed out that using new, unshrunken fabric to patch an old cloak would pull at the tear. Fermentation stretches even the tough leather of a wineskin, and new wine would burst an old skin. Religious leaders felt their hold weakening. Like a groom who wanted people to celebrate at the wedding feast, Jesus said that His disciples would fast later. Seeing a man with a withered hand in the synagogue, Jesus left Pharisees speech

At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon Him, and a voice from heaven called Him the beloved Son. In the early Church, the Holy Spirit came upon Gentiles at the home of Cornelius, prompting Peter to order their Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. People had sought out Jesus during His lifetime on Earth, or He found them. In Capernaum, a group of four men lowered a paralytic through the roof of a house to reach Jesus. A leper approached the Lord, sure that healing would occur if Jesus willed it. On the contrary, religious leaders challeng

God revealed to John the Baptist that the Holy Spirit would descend like a dove upon the One to come. Andrew heard John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God and told his brother Simon Peter. Introduced to Jesus and realizing that the Lord already knew him, Nathanael acknowledged Him as the Son of God. When Mary told her Son that the wine had run out at a wedding, He asked how that problem concerned Him. Nevertheless, Mary told the servers to do whatever Jesus said. After they filled six huge jars with water, Jesus changed it to wine in

Angels appeared in glory with news of the newborn Savior cradled in a lowly manger. Upon finding the Christ Child, shepherds relayed the heavenly message and then returned to their labors while praising God for what they had seen and heard. Little could Mary and Joseph imagine that a devout man named Simeon would recognize the Infant Jesus as the Savior or that magi would arrive to present the Child with gifts worthy of a king. Time went on, and John the Baptist revealed Jesus as the Light who came into the world. In Christmas greetings, gifts,