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Sister Rea McDonnell, SSND, offers daily reflections on the Liturgical Readings for each day. If you wish to share your own reflections or have comments or questions, please feel free to email Sister Rea. For information about Sister Rea's publications, visit our online gift shop.
Jun 18-24
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Jun 04-10
May 28-Jun03
May 21-27
May 14-20
May 07-13
Apr 30-May 06
Apr 23-29
Apr 16-22
Apr 09-15
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Mar 26-Apr 01
Mar 19-25
Mar 12-18
Mar 05-11
Feb 26-Mar 04
Feb 19-25
Feb 12-18
Feb 05-11
Jan 29-Feb 04
Jan 22-28
Jan 15-21
Jan 08-14
Jan 01-07
Dec 25-31
Dec 18-24
Dec 11-17
Dec 04-10
Nov 27-Dec 03
Nov 20-26
Nov 13-19
Nov 06-12
Oct 30-Nov 05
Oct 23-29
Oct 16-22
Oct 09-15
Oct 02-08
Sep 25-Oct 01
Sep 18-24
Sep 11-17
Sep 04-10
Aug 28-Sep 03
Aug 21-27
Aug 14-20
Aug 07-13
Jul 31-Aug 06
Jul 24-30
Jul 17-23
Jul 10-16
Jul 03-09
Jun 26-Jul 02
Jun 19-25
Jun 12-18
Jun 05-11
May 29-Jun 04
May 22-28
May 15-21
May 08-14
May 01-07
Apr 24-30
Apr 17-23
Apr 10-16
Apr 03-09
Lent 2005
Feb 02-08
Jan 25-Feb 01
Jan 16-20
Let our mantra be, "My eyes are ever fixed on the Lord."
Today's Gospel shows us how truly human Jesus was. He was infuriated at the money changers in the Temple area and at those selling goods there. He threw them out and overturned the tables. It must have been quite a mess. Jesus had passion for His Father's house and as the first reading admonishes us to "honor your father and mother that you may have long life in the land which the Lord your God is giving you."
Can you name one issue you are passionate about?
Will you share this passion with others?
Our mantra for today... "I will sing forever the promises of the Lord."
Mary and Joseph were in the caravan returning home after being in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover and after a while realised that Jesus was missing. They returned to Jerusalem only to find him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the teachers asking questions and listening to them. Can you imagine the look on the faces of Mary and Joseph? I imagine that their anxiety showed and maybe they were a bit annoyed with Jesus and yet overjoyed that they found him safe and sound. I wonder about the teachers. Why didn't they shoo him out and send him on to catch up with his mother and father? They were probably mesmerized by his knowledge of scripture and captivated by his presence.
Jesus' reponse to his mother and father seems a bit sassy but I think that Jesus was so at home in the temple he would assume that his parents would understand why he had to stay behind. In the end he left with them for Nazareth.
Have there been times in your life when you had to "stay behind" because you felt
such a strong calling from God?
How did you handle the questions people asked of you? Were you obedient to those
in authority over you?
"Your ways O Lord make known to me."
"Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan." Earlier in the week I spoke of living a passionate life. Well here we are listening to a master who was passionate about justice. The servant he forgave forgot very quickly the pity shown to him and the master became angry with him because of his lack of compassion toward a fellow servant. Of course the first servant paid dearly for his lack of compassion.
Are there times when I think I am being taken advantage of because of my
compassionate side?
When have I limited my forgiveness? Why?
"Lord, direct my steps."
Both Moses and Jesus valued those who taught God's ways. The Jewish people put a massuseh on the doors of their houses and inside their houses with the passage from Deuteronomy encased in a pouch. This is to be a reminder to them that they are to teach their children the ways and commandments of the Lord and never forget them. And they pass this on from generation to generation. Jesus gives us the same command. Teach God's ways.
How will I teach God's ways today? Who will I tell about the goodness of the Lord our God?
"Let me be a gatherer not a scatterer."
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house."We human beings seem to be divided from the inside out. Men don't admit to their feminine side. Women don't admit to their masculine side. We have divided loyalties. We tend toward both good and evil, light and dark. But Jesus shows us that unless we find a common ground, a way to reconcile all phases of our life, we will destroy ourselves. This is pretty scary. However if we always try to gather rather than scatter then we will be closer to reconciliation. A concrete image comes to mind. Everyday, I watch the parrots in the palm tree outside our house. They are quite gregarious and watch out for one another and keep their eyes and ears open for any inclement weather or predator. They are a good lesson for me on how to work together for the good of all.
"Whoever is not with me is against me and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
Is my heart divided? Am I a gatherer or a scatterer?
What do I need to ask Jesus?
"Lord you are great and do wonderful things."
To love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself, is a greater thing than all the temple sacrifices. Mk 12:23.
How can I show my love in some practical way today?
"I have come to do your will O God."
Christ comes to dwell in us when we like Mary say, "Yes."
How will my YES invite Christ to live in and through me today?
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