Reflection for the Week

Walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus invited Peter, Andrew, James, and John to become Apostles. They left their boats then, but Scripture tells of future fishing trips. People can do the will of God anywhere, among anyone they meet, and anytime in prayer. After all, Jesus’ ministry combined teaching, having heart-to-heart talks, healing, and praying to the Father. After giving the Twelve authority to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven and to cure sickness in body or spirit, Jesus sent them forth. The Lord provided a solid foundation and wants

Two small coins placed by a poor widow into the Temple treasury hardly seemed worth a glance, but the Lord saw the offering of all that she had. Jesus said that the richly adorned Temple itself would fall, and so it happened when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The Gospel of Luke, probably written ten to twenty years later, gives historical context to Jesus’ sacred teachings but reminds the faithful that much about God’s plan remains hidden. God has not revealed when Jesus will come again. The timing doesn’t matter anyway. Calam

Filled with symbolism during persecution of the early Church, the Book of Revelation admonishes lukewarm Christians to become fervent in good works, acceptance of the Word, and repentance. People told a blind, roadside beggar to stop shouting for Jesus to have pity on him, but Jesus called the man over and cured him. A wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get a look at Jesus. After calling him down from his perch, Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ house, telling the disgruntled crowd that He came to seek the lost. Under Mosaic law,

In a rare display of fury, Jesus made a whip, slashed it around, and overturned tables to drive merchants out of the temple area. Asked for a sign, He said that if people destroyed the Temple, He would raise it in three days. Bystanders thought He meant the building. He meant His Body. Some Pharisees asked when the Kingdom of God would come, and Jesus said they stood in its midst. The Lord’s ministry had its up’s and down’s. He cured ten lepers, but only one returned to give thanks. Jesus instructed the Apostles, privileged in their calli

In a parable, invited guests made excuses not to attend a feast. The host then had a servant gather people off the street—the poor, crippled, and blind who would gratefully attend. Jesus welcomes anyone to come to Him. He also searches for the lost and rejoices to have repentant sinners with Him. Another parable described a rich man’s wily steward who reduced the amounts on promissory notes to earn the gratitude of debtors who might later help him out. The Lord knows about kindnesses offered without calling in a chit and rewards such genero

Jesus saw a crippled woman in the synagogue, called her over, and cured her on the Sabbath. God does not always wait for us to ask before rendering His help. At the home of a Pharisee, Jesus asked the assembled leaders and scholars of the law whether He could lawfully heal someone there on a Sabbath day. No one answered, and Jesus healed the sick man anyway. Then Jesus asked if anyone would fail to rescue a person or animal trapped in a cistern on the Sabbath. No one answered that question, either. After a night in prayer, the Lord chose the Tw

God creates each person for good works and provides everything needed for salvation. Scripture recounts the parable of a man who plans to live it up for years after a bountiful harvest but does not live even one more day. Jesus told the story, challenging the faithful not to store up earthly treasure at the expense of what matters to God. This week’s readings use various images for the Lord and His Church. Picture Jesus as the top, wedge-shaped stone that holds an arched entranceway together, central to the faithful who become part of a Churc