Reflection for the Week

Manna provided food, but people groused to Moses that they still felt famished. Moses, in turn, complained to God for expecting what really seemed like too much from him! Saint Peter miraculously walked on water until fear got in the way of faith, but Jesus saved him. Our Lord understands our fears and our need for His help! Having received the authority to forgive sins—one of the keys to heaven, Peter did not want to hear about Jesus’ impending Passion and death—the master key to our salvation. Peter, James, and John saw the Transfigurat

When Moses returned with the Commandments engraved by God on two stone tablets, he discovered the Israelites worshipping a golden calf! When Jesus returned to His hometown, people took offense that a carpenter’s son would presume to teach in their synagogue. Martha became exasperated as she did the work of a busy hostess while her sister sat and listened to Jesus. Later, the Lord rewarded Martha’s faith in Him by bringing the siblings’ brother back to life. Small gestures can have great worth in heaven. Jesus compared the Kingdom to a tin

When Pharisees and scribes challenged Jesus to give them a sign, the Lord suggested that they look instead to Jonah, a reluctant prophet who had three days in the belly of a huge fish or whale to contemplate doing God’s will. People of Nineveh heeded the warning spread by Jonah to repent or perish. Rather than preaching complex theology, Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables that used everyday images. Growth of seeds, like words, depends a lot on where they land. Comparable to weeds cropping up in a sabotaged wheat field, evil and goodness ex

Jesus told the Apostles that even family members would experience division over whether to have faith in Him or not. Believers had to put Him first, but even small acts of kindness to support disciples of the Lord would get rewarded. Miracles did not always lead to repentance, and educated leaders did not always realize the ranking of priorities that Jesus set. For example, He put mercy above manmade rules when allowing the Disciples to pick and eat heads of grain while walking on a Sabbath day. Jesus also taught love of neighbors. Why do we pu

In Old Testament readings this week, Joseph encounters and forgives his brothers, who had sold him like chattel and told their father that he had died. With God’s help, Joseph went from slave to prisoner to Pharaoh’s right-hand man. In His expanding ministry, Jesus sent the Twelve to proclaim the Kingdom of God at hand and heal in His name. Taking no provisions with them, the Disciples had to believe that they would find welcome. If persecuted, Jesus said they should rely on the Holy Spirit to tell them what to say and then head out of town

God had promised Abraham not to destroy Sodom if He found at least ten righteous people there. Angels came, leading only a few of Abraham’s family members out of the city before its destruction. God revealed to Isaac’s wife that the firstborn of their twins (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob)—not the usual way of things, and she got actively involved. Jesus could seem harsh at times as He said what people needed to hear. When we feel swamped by fears or worries, does our desire for God’s intervention ignore His desire to help us do o

God promised Abram (Abraham) land to establish a new nation and descendants as numerous as the stars. His wife, Sarah, laughed at the notion of an elderly woman like her having a son to begin the grand lineage. Later, an angel proclaimed that Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child in their old age, too. Because of his skepticism, Zechariah lost the power of speech until after naming the newborn in accordance with the angel’s message. Their son became John the Baptist. Jesus taught people to believe His words and act on them. Fo