Reflections for Ordinary Time

Today we come to the end of the readings from Paul’s letters to Timothy which we have listened to over the past few weeks. We hear someone who knows that the end of his life on earth is near, but he is OK with that. Paul is on the one hand a perfect example of […]

A couple of weeks ago we touched on the topic of perseverance. This week it comes front and center: ‘pray without becoming weary’ is the clear message from Jesus and the story of Moses. The example of Moses goes a little further and points out that it’s also good to have help. Clearly both Moses

Ten lepers were healed (Lk 17:11-19). How many were saved? One for sure, but the other nine – that’s not so clear. The story in today’s gospel does however make it clear that there is a difference between being loved and cared for by God, and being “saved”. Being saved requires that we respond. The

How long, O LORD?  I cry for help but you do not listen!I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene.Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery?Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Does Habakkuk’s complaint sound familiar? I read an article recently

This week more of the same? Amos denouncing the rich (Am 6:1a, 4-7); Paul encouraging Timothy (1 Tm 6:11-16); Jesus pointing out how the poor will end up in heaven, and the rich maybe not (Lk 16:19-31). But there is something more – in the last comment Jesus makes: “even if someone were to rise

Today’s Readings are about wealth and how to use it, or at least not to abuse it. Amos thunders against those who gain wealth by exploiting the poor (Am 8:4-7). We hopefully are not amongst those, but there clearly is exploitation of the poor as much in our society as there was in Amos’ 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