“Morning by morning God wakens, wakens my ear to listen…The Lord God has opened my ear…I did not turn backward…the Lord God helps me; therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame…” (Isaiah 50:4b, 5, 7)

This passage from Isaiah used on Palm Sunday gives me encouragement, hope, and desire to seek God.  Each day I can begin anew for God “wakens” my ear, rouses me, gives me a little (or big) shake.  Will I listen today?  If I do, I realize God is my rock.  I will stand erect and walk forward, not backward.  God will sustain me in my search, on my journey.  My desire will be strong “like flint,” and when it strikes the Rock will create a spark lighting the fire in my heart, revealing God’s love in a new way–often totally unexpected.  This is God’s promise.  During the sacred days of Holy Week may our sparks light up the world filling it with new life and peace.

Gospel: Luke 22:14-23

The Church’s title for this Sunday summarizes the liturgy quite well: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. The Liturgy begins with the joyful singing, “Hosanna, Hosanna to the King, the King of Israel.” The people process in to the church waving their palm branches. Less than ½ hour later, we are standing for the Passion joining with the crowds’ chant of “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Continue Reading

Before you begin reading, pretend to pick up a stone. Hold it in your hand as you read. You will find out at the end of the reflection what to do with it!

Paul tells us, “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” How different that exhortation is from the adulteress’s scene in the Gospel! The Scribes and Pharisees have brought before Jesus an adulterous woman, and they mean business. They are ready to stone her to death.  She is trapped. No getting away for her. Continue Reading

GOSPEL (John 8:1-11)

John’s Gospel for today is one that is well known and often discussed.  The questions that arise, however distract us from the real meaning of the Gospel:  What did Jesus write in the sand…and where was the man who was involved in the adulterous act? Both are interesting questions but they do take us from the heart of the Gospel which is the forgiveness, compassion, and love of God. Continue Reading

This past week I have been taken by the scriptures at Lauds each morning.  Throughout Lent we read the Exodus journey from the escape from Egypt to the Promised Land.  The Israelites are just escaping Pharaoh and the 10 plagues are over.  Moses and the people are in the desert wandering around. Continue Reading

GOSPEL (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32) ( Ist  Reading Joshua 5:9a, 10-12;  2nd Reading 2 Cor 5:17-21)

Webster’s definition of PRODIGAL: To drive away, squander, recklessly extravagant, wasteful expenditure, lavish, yielding abundantly

This Gospel challenges us to align our lives with each of the three persons in Luke’s passage, the Father, the runaway son and the stay at home son. Continue Reading

In this Sunday’s readings we hear about the call of Moses and how God’s presence was revealed in the “burning bush.” God cautioned Moses to tread lightly and reverently for he was on “holy ground” in God’s presence. The “burning bush” was God’s intense love for us. We also hear Jesus tell the parable of the fig tree. The owner wanted to cut it down, but the gardener pleaded to be given a chance to cultivate and fertilize it so that it might bear fruit. Continue Reading

My week has been totally preoccupied, in a prayerful way, with the Transfiguration scriptures from last Sunday. Sr. Catherine has given a very insightful reflection about these scriptures earlier this week. Continue Reading