Category Archive

I hope you also delight in hearing the readings from Acts and John during this post-Resurrection season. Last week we heard the powerful story of Saul’s conversion – from murderous antipathy of Jesus’ followers, to Paul, of belief and bold proclamation. And today, this passage with Peter restoring life to a woman shepherd, a “pastor” beloved by her community. These readings dispel my impatience with Peter – in the Gospels always jostling to be closest to Jesus; and his attestations of loyalty – that collapse into betrayal, at the worst possible moment. In last Sunday’s Gospel, Post – resurrection Peter …

John 19: 25-27 ‘Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.’ In Montauk, New York there is a collection of sculptures by German artist Suse Lowenstein. The sculptures represent mothers, sisters, spouses, and relatives of the 259 people …

3rd Sunday of Lent, March 23,2025                                     Isaiah 55:1-5; 1 Corinth 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9                       Anyone else have whiplash? First Isaiah’s lovely invitation to feast and rest in safety, and our assurance of the Holy One’s nearness… then the jolt of Corinthians. Paul bluntly recounts how ourancestors in faith, despite having been protected on their journey to freedom; and having kept the spiritual practices taught to them; were found unpleasing to God… with many of them struck down in the desert. Then we heard Jesus, responding to an incendiary – if uncorroborated- rumor, of Galileans slaughtered by Pilate’s men. Word was, their bodies …

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21  “…rend your hearts and not your clothing.”  “…whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to God who is in secret.”  This year, when I read these familiar injunctions from Joel and Matthew, I flashed back to a 5-day silent retreat that I attended some years ago.  At the beginning of the retreat, the leader reminded us to maintain silence at all times and also to practice “custody of the eyes;” that is, not to make eye contact with other retreatants and to try as much as possible …

Transfiguration • Exodus 34:29–35 • 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2 • Luke 9:28–36 • 3/2/25  Today is a turning point in the liturgical calendar, a hinge between Ordinary Time and Lent. And so our Gospel looks back to Jesus’ baptism as the Beloved and forward to his final journey through Jerusalem to the Cross. Where our translation has Moses and Elijah speaking of his departure, the Greek calls it his exodus, invoking the Israelites’ forty-year journey through the wilderness. In turn, that journey evokes Jesus’ forty-day sojourn in the desert and the temptations he faced there after his baptism. The divine Voice …

Co-Creators of Abundance Wedding feasts in ancient Israel were often week-long events. I have never come close to hosting an event of that scale – but many of you know that I work at the Pres House campus ministry and apartment community at UW, and a couple times during our monthly apartment dinners, as 100 students rush down to consume our home-cooked meals, we’ve had moments of frantic lemonade shortage, and our pitchers of Arnold Palmer ran dry. It’s nothing close to running out of a week’s worth of wine at a wedding celebration, but I’m sure we’ve all had …

February 16, 2025                                    Luke 6:17-26                      Lynne Smith, OSB             I admit to feeling uncomfortable when I read this passage. I think I am more like those described in the woes than the blessings. I notice that those who are blessed are vulnerable, needy and rejected. I don’t want to be poor, destitute, rejected or have needs I can’t full myself. Matthew spiritualizes the Beatitudes, but not Luke. Jesus is speaking to his followers who are truly poor, outcast and needy. Isn’t there another way, I wonder?             Several details in this reading catch my attention. First of all, Jesus …

The Solemnity of Scholastica – Who are my mother, my brothers, my sisters?February 9, 2025 Today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark has always seemed harsh to me; an unfair judgement and rejection of family and friends doing their best to look out for someone they love.  In some interpretations of this Gospel, Jesus’ family has come to speak to him and, perhaps, bring him home.  They are worried; his teachings – the stand he has taken for the outcast, the poor, the sick, the lame, and even sinners, has caused a stir and upset religious and political authorities.  Jesus’ …