Reflections

The Greatest Commandment (Matt 22:34-40)It was an attempt to start an argument with Jesus, to disconcert him, when one of the Pharisees asked for his opinion on the greatest commandment. Jesus cut through all their commentaries and debates with a simple and challenging answer. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,…

Religion and Politics (Matt 22:15-21)In today’s Gospel, the enemies of Jesus try to trap him in the political minefield of paying taxes to the Romans.  “Is it permissible to pay taxes to the Romans or not?”  If he opposes paying taxes, the Romans will take a political case against him in the civil court.  But…

The Way of the Cross (Matt 6:21-27) As we advance in our readings from Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus leaves Galilee and heads south towards Jerusalem.  He tries to make it clear to his disciples that Jerusalem would mean his rejection, his death on the cross but also his rising on the third day.   This is a…

Today’s Gospel is a story of new names.  In the bible a new name meant a new mission.   First of all, Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say the Son of man is?” Names of former heroes such as Elijah or Jeremiah were recalled.  “But who do you say I am?”  Simon son of Jonah spoke up.  “You…

Loneliness, Hunger of the Heart (Matt 14:13-21) When Jesus received the news of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, he withdrew by boat with the apostles to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. Another name for loneliness is the hunger of the heart.  A popular film years ago was called…

Treasure in the Heart (Matt. 13:44-52) In today’s gospel Jesus continues the seven parables about the kingdom of heaven in our lives.  What is this kingdom?  In the gospels, the kingdom of heaven has several different shades of meaning.  In today’s parables it refers to the hidden treasure in the heart.  “The kingdom of God is…

“The reason that I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding” (Matt 13:13). Jesus knew that people would listen to stories and remember them.  A parable is a story that runs parallel to life, like a mirror that travels beside you in which you can see…

Jesus prepared his apostles to carry on his mission after his departure.  But it would be costly at times.  Sometimes great personal sacrifices would have to be made.  One might be called to leave family comforts.  He described it as taking up your cross to follow him.  He spoke of losing your life in order…

Today’s Gospel is taken from John Chapter 6 which tells us about three kinds of bread… bread for bodily hunger, bread to nourish faith, and the divine bread of the Eucharist.  With the first bread Jesus fed a multitude through the miraculous multiplication of five loaves and two fish. Next day, people came back to…