Brothers and Sisters
There is often no escape from illness. And, sometimes an illness is considered socially unacceptable and those afflicted cannot escape the injustice and the judgement that can accompany the condition. Our weekend readings focus on leprosy, but they could be about any disease or condition that evokes fear, alienation or condemnation. Those who suffer are urged to turn to God for healing. All of us are called to imitate Jesus, who throughout his life, embraced and healed the sick and outcast. It is a hard challenge to ignore and an even harder one for many of us to accept, but through the grace and prompting of the Holy Spirit we are strengthened to accomplish our Father's will. May we always say yes to God!
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Brothers and Sisters
To those who suffer, words (and actions flowing from them) really do matter. In our readings, God hears suffering and heals the brokenhearted. That is what Jesus was about in his ministry. That is what the disciples and all his followers have always been about. That is what we, too, are called to be doing. Hearing, preaching and living the Gospel are ultimately about life, love and healing. There are as many ways to do this! Let us vow to bring the love of Christ to all we meet and to the world! Brothers and Sisters
Throughout his ministry, Jesus responded to and addressed the needs around him. In our weekend readings we hear of his early teaching and confronting evil with authority through an exorcism. We recognize his profound actions as miracles. We, too, are called to respond to the needs around us with compassion. We rely on him for the support we need to address what we see, including dark and difficult issues. Doing that is a kind of miracle in itself! Let us continue to show the love and care of Christ to all we encounter! Brothers and Sisters
When God works with the world, it involves a call to repentance. Over the centuries, that call has been issued by many, from prophets to Jesus himself. And the call continues today. Wonderful new things happen in the reign of God, and that always involves our acting in new ways. “The time of fulfillment” is always at hand, because we are not yet totally there; and we are invited once again to be a part of it. My prayer is that we all accept the best invitation ever! Brothers and Sisters
What does it mean to be called, and how should we respond? Today we hear two powerful stories about God’s call and those who heard it. In both stories, the call comes without warning, offers no explanation, and requires openness and risk from the ones called. It is safe to assume that we, too, will be called over and over again. When, where, how and why remain unknown. But we can also assume that God is behind it. The rest is up to us! Brothers and Sisters
In this time of increased tension around the world, this feast calls us to a powerful counter-message. Our field of vision and inclusion must be much larger than that of the status-quo. It must have been shocking to learn that God’s love extended not only to the Gentiles, but to the whole world. It may be equally shocking to realize that our boundaries are also too narrow. This feast is an epiphany about God’s will for Christ’s impact on the world and his desire that we live out our baptismal promises. Let us continue to be a beacon of Christ's light! Brothers and Sisters
Family life is always a challenge, and our religious ancestors had advice about how to make it work. Though many cultural values were different, we realize how family life was interwoven with faith. We don’t know much about Jesus’ family, but we hear in our readings that they followed traditional Jewish laws. We tend to think of them as so different from our own families; but, like us, they would have struggled to understand what they were being called to. We are more alike than we think! Brothers and Sisters
This last week of Advent is brief, but the message is profound. The fulfillment of God’s promises is about to happen! This single day places us in a long line of yearning people. Christmas is upon us, yet the task of endless anticipation is a sacred reality we need to embrace. Just as with those who are inches away from relief, rescue or reversal of any kind, still hang on. All of life is like this. Let us continue to stay on course and truly celebrate the miracle of over two thousand years ago! Wishing you all a joy-filled Christmas Season! Brothers and Sisters
Our weekend readings place us in the rhythm of both gratitude and yearning. Between the two, there is great space for hope. We are learning to be a patient people, continuing on in hope, though grateful but also impatient. We don’t give up hoping just because some of the things we long for in God’s reign of peace and justice have not happened. We’re there, and yet we’re not. So much remains unfinished; so many have not yet experienced what has been promised. Let us pray to be a people of hope, confident in the promise God has made. Brothers and Sisters
Our readings urge us to prepare for and be open to God’s presence in our lives. We have been taught that this presence is ongoing, yet it doesn’t always seem so. We need to work to overcome fear and doubt, especially in challenging times, but the task need not be a frantic effort. These readings carry warnings and longings, but the operative words are comfort, tenderness and hope. We wait and prepare because of the promise. |