Reflections for Ordinary Time

Today our Readings start with an account of Moses arguing with God (Ex 32:7-11, 13-14). There are a number of occasions like this in the Hebrew Scriptures which may seem a little odd to us (e.g. Abraham negotiating over Sodom and Gomorrah Gen 18:20-32). We don’t really see an all-powerful God as being like someone […]

Some things in life require total commitment. If you want to be an Olympic athlete, or climb Everest, or play at Carnegie Hall, you had better be totally dedicated and be certain you have your priorities fixed on exactly that and nothing else. Family, friends, whatever, may help, and if so that’s great. If not

A theme of humility started to emerge in our readings last week. This week it comes front and center (Lk 14:1, 7-14). Jesus starts with a very clear illustration of why it’s a good idea to avoid overreaching, simply to avoid embarrassment – nothing very spiritual about that!  So there’s nothing complicated here. The objective

The need to separate ourselves from those we consider different and inferior must be a very strong human motivation. It seems to be present at the beginning of human history and it remains true today. The Jewish people started with a strong sense of difference and superiority. The prophets, most notably Isaiah, pointed out that

It would be nice to imagine that the church was a happy family, always united in bringing the saving message of the Gospel to the world. Of course we know that this is far from the truth. For every individual Christian that has succeeded in living the Gospel and demonstrating the love of the Father

I sometimes think we’d be better off if somehow we could read our readings backwards! Inevitably we are left with the strongest impression from what comes at the end. If these were speeches or homilies that would be appropriate – any experienced speaker knows to finish with the thought that she or he wants to

Recently I received a message telling me that a friend I had known for 30 years had gone out for a bike ride, as he often did, had a heart attack and died. He was not old and was in good health.  Such events can shock us into a reappraisal of our expectations and priorities.

Today in Luke’s Gospel (Lk 11:1-13) we hear how Jesus taught his his disciples to pray – the prayer we use every week at mass, and on many other occasions, privately and publicly. This prayer is also given in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 6:5-15), with slightly different words, but in a very different context. Matthew is

Do you feel like maybe Martha was rather badly treated? After all she was the one who welcomed Jesus. (Lk 10:38-42) When Abraham welcomed the Lord he got a son by way of recognition for his efforts. (Gn 18:1-10a) When Martha asks for a bit of help in the kitchen (and who hasn’t been in that

Yup, it really is that simple! Love God and love your neighbor and, by the way, everyone is your neighbor. It’s not complicated. It may not be easy, but it’s not complicated… Moses himself pointed out (Dt 30:10-14) that the law of the Lord wasn’t away in the sky or in some far off place.