Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-42 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14Lk 17:5-10 Faith and Service When we hear the opening words of this Sunday’s first reading from Habakkuk we may well think of our own society today and how many of us think and feel about what’s happening around us. “How long, O LORD?  I cry for help but you do…

Am 6;1a, 4-71 Timothy 6:11-16Luke 16:19-31 Complacency “Woe to the complacent in Zion!” This startling sentence is found in the first reading this Sunday. What if it was edited to say woe to the complacent in Pepper Pike, Euclid, Shaker Heights or wherever it is that you live? Could you be described as complacent when…

Amos 8:4-71 Timothy 2:1-8Luke 16:1-13  Shrewdness The opening lines from the first reading from the Prophet Amos set the tone for the day. “We must make use of everything we have and do everything we can to be part of the Kingdom when the time comes.” We’re also warned that there will be a day…

Ex 32:7-11, 13-141 Tm 1:12-17Lk 15:1-32 Images of God and Self Sunday’s gospel begins with the following words: “’Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” Hearing in Luke’s gospel is a sign of…

Wis 9:13-18bPhmn 9-10, 12-17Lk 14:25-33 Committed Discipleship Spend some time watching TV and you will be offered a plethora of suggestions to choose from to make your life better, more attractive, more entertained, more of whatever media implies you need to be happy and complete. The gospel reading for Sunday offers an idea that is…

Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29Heb 12:18-19, 22-24Gospel. Lk 14:1, 7-14 Humility The first reading from the Book of Sirach for this Sunday’s liturgy tells us, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” Jesus…

Is 66:18-21 Heb 12:5-7, 11-1Lk 13:22-30. The Narrow Gate I recently saw a cartoon about who will enter heaven. There were two lines at the door to heaven. The one on the left was labeled “preapproved” and it was filled with all sorts of animals quickly passing through. The one on the right was long and…

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10Hebrews 12:1-4Luke 12:49-53 Commitments We were warned by Jesus in last Sunday’s Gospel that our commitment to Jesus requires us to honestly look at our attitude toward material possessions. We are to change and take seriously our moral responsibilities for our relationships with God and others. This Sunday’s gospel encourages us to look…

Wisdom 18:6-9Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19Luke 12: 32-48 Readiness “Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”  These words from the Gospel Acclamation set the tone for Sunday’s gospel. Jesus wants us to share in God’s Kingdom but we have to be ready to do that. He tells…

Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23Col 3:1-5, 9-11Lk 12:13-21 Wealth and Detachment In Sunday’s gospel Jesus is teaching his disciple with a crowd around him.  Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator? ” Then he…

Gn 18:20-32Col 2:12-14Lk 11:1-13 Prayer and a Contemplative Attitude In today’s reading Luke provides us with the core of Jesus’ teaching on prayer. Jesus teaches the prayer we call the Our Father to his disciples. He then shares a parable on the persistent neighbor as way of understanding the need to be persistent in our…

Gn 18:1-10aCol 1:24-28Lk 10:38-42 Contemplation: The Importance of Listening Last Sunday we reflected on the Good Samaritan who acted with compassion on behalf of a person in need. Today we look at a woman who understood the importance of taking time to be quiet and listen to what God is asking of us. These are…

Deuteronomy 30:10-14Colossians 1:15-20Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan In today’s gospel Jesus is tested by a scholar of the law. In the gospels of Mark and Matthew it is Jesus who is asked about what is the greatest commandment, but in Luke Jesus asks the scholar which commandment is the greatest. He answers correctly when he…

Is 66:10-14cGal 6:14-18Lk 10:1-12, 17-20  The gospel from last Sunday spoke to us about being called. Today one of the main themes is about discipleship. We often hear stories about the twelve apostles but we know that Jesus had many more close followers beside the apostles. In the gospel for today Jesus sends out seventy-two…

Kgs 19:16b, 19-21. The LORD Gal 5:1, 13-18. Lk 9:51-62. One of the themes in Sundays readings is that of call. In the first reading from the Book of Kings Elisha is called to be Elijah’s attendant. Later in the same book, following Elijah’s death, Elisha takes his place as a prophet. His call is difficult but…