Angela For Today

Isaiah 35:4-7James 2:15Mark 7:31-37 Deaf and Blind I begin today’s reflection with almost the entire first reading from Isaiah. It sets the tone for the thoughts and feeling I have from the gospel. “Thus says the Lord: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God,he comes with vindication;…

Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8James 1:17-18,21b-22,27Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Interior Motivation In the first reading Moses instructs the Israelites about the commandments. He tells them to, “Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a…

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18bEphesians 5:21-32John 6:60-69 Leaving or Staying For decades the Israelites have been traveling from slavery toward the promised land. As they approach the end of their journey Joshua asks the people, “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served…

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeProverbs 9:1-6Ephesians 5:15-20John 6:51-58 Belief Picture yourself in the crowd of people gathered around Jesus. You are attracted to him and his teachings and impressed at the miracles he has performed. Then he says these words, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of…

1 Kings 19:4-8Ephesians 4:30-5:2Gospel – John 6:41-51 Hopefulness Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt less confident or hopeful, a time when you lost your enthusiasm or zest for life? This is what depression or discouragement is and how it tends to bring darkness rather than light to our lives….

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15Ephesians 4:17, 20-24John 6:24-351st Reading – Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Hunger Hunger is a terrible thing. Every night all over the world untold numbers of people go to bed hungry. The pangs of hunger are feelings that some children know on a daily basis. Parents go without their own food to feed their children….

2 Ephesians 4:1-6Kings 4:42-44John 6:1-15 Generosity In the first reading the prophet Elisha foreshadows Jesus by feeding a hundred people with twenty barley loaves and then has some left over. In the gospel we find the famous story of Jesus feeding a huge crowd with five barley loaves and two fish. These readings encourage us…

Jeremiah 23:1-6Ephesians 2:13-18Mark 6:30-34 Change of Plans In the first reading from Jeremiah we are told that God “will appoint shepherds for [the people] who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing.” This verse correlates with last Sunday’s reading when the disciples were sent out…

Amos 7:12-15Ephesians 1:3-14 or Ephesians 1:3-10Mark 6:7-13 Simplicity “[God] chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.” What a statement that is! It is found in the second reading from Ephesians. Notice the purpose for our creation – to be holy and without blemish. We…

Ezekiel 2:2-52 Corinthians 12:7-10Mark 6:1-6 Rejection Last Sunday the gospel was about Jesus healing the woman with a hemorrhage and bringing the daughter of Jairus back to life. In today’s gospel Jesus returns to his home village. On the Sabbath he goes to the local synagogue to read the scriptures and teach those present. The…

Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13Second Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15Mark 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35-43 Courage and Faith When the gospel is proclaimed Sunday the presider has a choice of a longer or shorter version of the reading. I am using the longer version because it includes the story of the woman with…

Fear and Faith Job experienced many storms in his life and some were devastating. In the midst of complaining to God, God answer him with questions. The questions point out the greatness of God’s creation and how all the wonders of the world are subject to God’s command. When we hear the gospel story we…

Ez 17:22-242 Cor 5:6-10Mk 4:26-34 The Kingdom of God The Easter season has ended. The liturgy for this Sunday is a return to Ordinary Time in the Church’s calendar. In the three synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus uses parables to teach about the Kingdom of God. A parable is a short story to teach a lesson, usually about something spiritual. A…

Ex 24:3-7Heb 9:11-15Mk 14:12-16, 22-26 Eucharist This feast day is formally known as The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In the first reading Moses received the commandments and comes to the people to ratify the covenant between God and them. “Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,…

The Most Holy Trinity Dt 4:32-34, 39-40Rom 8:14-17Mt 28:16-20 Mystery Each year we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity, June 7th this year. When we read the gospels, we find Jesus calling God his Father. Jesus often spoke about the Father who promised to send us the Holy Spirit. Here we find three persons,…