Reflections
4th Sunday of Easter ~ May 7, 2017
Posted by Ray Lodato
“The Shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
These words from today’s Gospel hold both comfort and challenge! Can we hear Jesus calling us by our name? Are we willing to respond to what Christ asks of us? We are not asked to “go it ... Read More »
4th Sunday of Advent ~ December 18, 2016
Posted by Ray Lodato
"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus." Joseph heard these prophetic words in a dream. They were words of anticipation, of what was to come. And in a sense, they ushered in a kind of Advent for Joseph. With this divine message, Joseph began ... Read More »
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ August 14, 2016
Posted by Ray Lodato
"From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three." What a sad image Jesus paints in today's Gospel. Causing family strife - fathers against sons and mothers against daughters - is not the effect we like to imagine Jesus having on ... Read More »
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ July 31, 2016
Posted by Ray Lodato
"Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." This isn't a message that gets much advertising. On the contrary, just about every advertised message we hear comes from someone who wants to make money by selling us ... Read More »
Feast of Saints Joachim and Anna ~ July 26, 2016
Posted by Ray Lodato
July 26 is the feast of Joachim and Anna. Who are they and what do we know about them?
Joachim and Anna are the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus, yet there is absolutely no biblical reference to them whatsoever. So where do we get their names, and ... Read More »
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ July 17, 2016
Posted by Ray Lodato
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing." Martha was caught up in a whirlwind of her own making. She stressed herself out with all the tasks and chores she thought she had to do to host Jesus, but Jesus ... Read More »
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ July 10, 2016
Posted by Ray Lodato
"He replied to him, 'You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.'" In today's Gospel a scholar questions Jesus about how to gain eternal life. In case anyone ever wonders whether heaven is within reach, one only needs to refer to this ... Read More »
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ July 3, 2016
Posted by Ray Lodato
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." Can we be counted among the laborers? Are we ready and willing to work for the sake of our faith, or are we looking for the ... Read More »
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Ray Lodato
"Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him..." The first line of today's Gospel presents a strange image. Jesus was both by himself and with others. He was somehow experiencing the solitude of personal prayer, but was also close enough ... Read More »
10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted by Ray Lodato
"When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her."
A survey of the Gospels reveals many ways in which Jesus upheld the dignity of women. In a culture where women were considered second-class citizens, Jesus was ... Read More »