Reflections for Ordinary Time

Easter finished two weeks ago. Eventually we do have to come down the mountain, back to “ordinary” time. And what do we find when we get here?  Ordinary life, with its ordinary challenges – relationships between men and women, relationships within families.  Our first reading (Gn 3:9-15) tells the famous (or infamous) story of how […]

Lepers are the classic example of social outcasts. Today’s first reading (Lv 13:1-2, 44-46) sets it out very clearly, in stern legal language. That approach, in a world where disease was a complete mystery, and disfigurement was an obvious sign of god’s displeasure, was universal. It continued for a very long time. Mother Teresa’s first

Following on from last week’s reading, where we heard about Jesus in his public persona, teaching in the local synagogue, this week we move to a very domestic situation (Mk 1:29-39). Jesus is heading home with his new friends for dinner. I always find the reference here to Simon’s mother-in-law slightly jarring. It’s like –

Jesus clearly made an impression. So much so that many important and powerful people decided it was necessary to kill him. But that’s still in the future. For now we’ve heard how the impression he made on his first disciples was so strong that they were willing to put aside their lives and livelihoods and

This week we hear Mark’s version of the story of Jesus calling his first disciples (Mk 1:14-20). This includes the familiar line “I will make you fishers of men”. But it has the same sense of immediacy as we got from John last week. The picture of the fishermen just dropping everything and running after

One of the striking things about the story of Jesus calling his disciples is that there is no discussion, no questioning, they simply up and follow. In John’s version (Jn 1:35-42) it isn’t even Jesus who initiates the process. It’s John the Baptist who says something that triggers the first two disciples to turn and

The parable of the talents is always a bit of a head scratcher (Mt 25:14-30). Jesus so often asserts the value of the weak, the poor, the inadequate, and wants us to recognize that the typical values in any society which glorifies wealth and strength and power are not the values that will bring us

This week we have a nice simple parable: “Be prepared.” (Mt 25:1-13) But there is a little more to it. What are we to be prepared for? We don’t really know, when or even how whatever will happen will happen. Waiting overnight for the bridegroom is one thing. Waiting millennia for the return of Jesus isn’t

Over the last few weeks we’ve heard Jesus go back and forth with the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Herodians, and just about everyone who was anyone in the government of the time. Today we hear his summary (Mt 23:1-12). Basically he says, don’t trust them. They may talk the talk, but they don’t

Which of our laws are most important? Sometimes it’s easy – a law against murder is more important than a law about fraud, and we really don’t care much about a law regarding speed limits. Some tie us in knots. Is a law protecting freedom of speech more important than one that prevents riots, or