Reflection for the Week

Even Jesus’ friends and followers did not recognize Him after the Resurrection. Shortly after finding the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene mistook Him for a gardener until He said her name. Two travelers on the Road to Emmaus had Scripture opened to them, but it took the Lord’s blessing and breaking of bread for them to realize that He had risen. Peter and half a dozen others unknowingly saw Jesus on the seashore, but their eyes were opened after He told them where to cast their fishing net for a big catch. What happens when we expect to encounte

Much can happen in a week. Riding on a colt through a jubilant crowd, Jesus approached the Mount of Olives. Ignominious death on a Cross soon followed. When Jesus told the Disciples that He would depart from them soon, Peter wanted to go, too, no matter the danger. Jesus answered that Peter would deny Him three times by morning. At the Last Supper, Jesus rose from the table to wash the Disciples’ feet—a chore for a servant. When his turn came, Peter objected, but Jesus said that inheritance with Him depended on the washing. Our Lord set an

Jesus saved a woman caught in adultery by saying that anyone without sin should cast the first stone at her. While challenging people to believe in His good works if they couldn’t accept the truth when He declared Himself the Son of God, Jesus narrowly escaped stoning, too. The Lord taught that sin enslaves people, while truth sets them free. Jewish people had divided opinions. Some refused to accept Him as the Messiah, but when Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead, many came to believe. The chief priests and Pharisees feared that Je

A royal official believed in Jesus, and the Lord cured his son from afar. A man who had suffered for 38 years had no one to put him in the pool called Bethesda, where people came in hope of healing. After the Lord said to pick up his mat and walk, bystanders accused the man of violating the Sabbath by carrying his mat. Controversy surrounded Jesus, who explained to people that His works testified to the Father sending Him. Knowing that Jesus came from Galilee evoked the argument that the Christ had to come from Bethlehem. The chief priests and

Like a patient gardener, God cultivates our faith so that it blossoms and bears fruit for us to share. We may feel that we get asked to forgive one too many times, and yet we know that God wants us to reply, “But who’s counting?” We might wonder how loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength would leave room for loving our neighbors. Then we realize that we can see the face of God in the people around us. Knowing that Jesus came to fulfill Mosaic law, not abolish it, do we view the Ten Commandments as just the starting point

Even when St. Joseph found out about Mary’s expected Child before they lived together, he did not want to subject her to shame. A message from an angel reassured him. The mother of James and John wanted Jesus to promise that her sons would sit at Jesus’ right and left when He came into His glory. Of course, she wanted to spare them being at His side in crucifixion. In a string of the Lord’s parables, a vineyard owner had a hard time collecting his share of the produce from the tenant farmers, a rich man ignored someone sick and impoverish

Jesus spent 40 days of fasting in the desert and overcame temptations. By His example, we know that in sacrifice, we find strength. Still, the Lord encouraged people to ask our heavenly Father for what they desire. God knows our needs but wants us to recognize our need for Him. Through His grace, we should reconcile with people instead of holding grudges, love people we would rather avoid, and willingly sacrifice to help others. If we knock repeatedly when God takes a while to answer prayers, does our impatience reflect a need to remind ourselv