Sunday Scripture: Reflection for July 21, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: July 21, 2024 - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary time Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34 Jesus invites His disciples to “come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” Jesus knows we need quiet and rest, physically and spiritually, to better hear and see God’s movements in our lives. The invitation extends to us. Retreats are excellent for this. My closest encounters with Christ have been when I was on a retreat. But we may do well to have incorporated in our daily lives times of quiet and rest in order to be with God and become aware of His Presence. In this invitation Jesus is being the “Good Shepherd.” Shepherds, as we hear in Psalm 23, take great care of the sheep. Their sheep “want for nothing.” A good shepherd provides protection and sees to all the needs of the sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He cares for His sheep and thinks only of them. Even when He needed rest with His disciples “He is moved with pity on the crowd” and shepherds them. Jesus is our Good Shepherd and will provide for us in our needs. So, let us take some time to rest in the Lord each day and allow Him to shepherd us. Loretta Ortego Flowers of the Prairie Community, Eunice, LA
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Sunday Scripture: Reflection for June 14, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: July 14, 2024 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 6:7-13 Imagine you being one of Jesus’ disciples during biblical times. Then hearing Jesus give you clear instructions to go out on your first mission trip, with no food, no sack, no money?! Oh, but its okay to bring a walking stick and wear your sandals. I don’t know about you, but I don’t leave home without snacks and water in my vehicle. You never know when you might be stuck in a lengthy traffic jam. And I may not have money with me, but I can always rely on that credit card which is approved so fast it makes my head spin. I have always considered this passage as the “Go Forth” request. Jesus asks us to go forth, spread the good news, testify, evangelize. When we leave mass every Sunday, aren’t we supposed to go forth, live our lives as a good Christian, show others our love for Jesus, and let our actions demonstrate our beliefs? As we go forth, just like the disciples did, we may face a lack of welcome or reach out to others who will not listen. But this should not discourage our efforts. Discouragement will certainly not lead to success. Jesus stated to “leave and shake off the dust”. Go forth with determination; witness to the kingdom with your actions, your faith, and your message of the love that Jesus has for all those who follow him and truly believe. GO FORTH! Eileen Eskew Petals of Faith Community Jennings, LA Sunday Scripture: Reflection for July 7, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: July 7, 2024 - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ezekiel 2:2-5 Ps 123:1-4 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6 My daily morning prayer time is spent reflecting on the readings of the day, especially the Gospel. I try to walk away from my contemplative time with a word or phrase that will carry me through the day. As I reflected on these readings, the word that came to me was conviction. Ezekiel was strong in his conviction of hearing the word of God and having the strength and courage to stand up and walk into a “hard of face and obstinate of heart” people. Jesus walked into his hometown, with folks who wrestled with the mystery of who this home grounded boy became! Jesus too, was met with resistance and disbelief. His teachings and healing were not received well. Jesus’ call was to preach everywhere he went. Maybe he was convinced that a few people were open to hearing with their hearts and listened attentively. Maybe a few people encountered Mary’s Son who shared a touching message that transformed how they lived their daily lives. The question is how do I, you come to listen to the words of Scripture? How do the words transform you/me? Sister Ginny Heldorfer OSF Women at the Well Dubuque, IA Sunday Scripture: Reflection for June 30, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: June 30, 2024 – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24 Mk 5:21-43 In this Sunday’s readings Jesus said to Jairus, the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid, just have faith”. Really? Just have faith? I want to Just have faith, but I don’t always know how. I am not always able to JUST DO IT, as they say. Many, many nights I lay awake in the dark of night worried for my children. My only solace is prayer. I pray for God to help my children through their pain. I ask God to give me rest, to quiet my mind. I pray the Our Father, I pray the Hail Mary, I recite the Serenity Prayer. I say these prayers to myself over and over again. And you know? I surrender, I relax, I sleep (most of the time). And on some mornings, when I haven’t slept, I am still able to enjoy my day. I walk in the garden, barefoot. I see the light of the morning. I see how the plants have changed since the day before. I am filled with gratitude. Grateful for the willingness to pray, to surrender. “At night fall, weeping enters in but with the dawn, rejoicing. I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me. You changed my mourning into dancing. O Lord, my God, forever I will give you thanks.” Bernadette Patten Anam Cara Community Houston, TX Sunday Scripture: Reflection for June 23, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: June 23, 2024 – Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary time Jb 38:1, 8-11 Ps 107:23-31 2 Cor 5:14-17 Mk 4:35-41 Today we are reminded that God creates all and has power and control over all of creation. God questions Job and asks, “who was there when I set limits and who shut within doors the sea?” (Jb. 38:8) God addresses Job to remind him of God’s power over creation. In the Gospel Jesus also speaks of this power. While the disciples were in a boat a storm came up and tossed them about. All the while Jesus was asleep in the boat. They woke Him and He said to the sea, “Quiet! Be Still!” and the wind ceased (Mk. 4:39). Only Jesus can calm the storms in our lives. So, when we are tempted to think we can control the storms in our lives we must remember that God has all of this in His hands. We must be “Quiet! Be Still!” and trust that God will calm the storms in our lives. Loretta Ortego Flowers of the Prairie Community Eunice, LA Sunday Scripture - Reflection for June 16, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: June 16, 2024 – Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. Psalm 92:2 I love the beautiful imagery captured in this Sunday’s readings.
But it’s the responsorial psalm that stirred my heart. I recently listened to an interview with Julie Andrews where she shared that, when she recorded, “My Favorite Things,” she sang it as a meditation on the goodness of life and those things for which she is most grateful.
It reminded me of who I strive to be. A person who notices how God is Good and showers me/us with a multitude of gifts that I want to see and acknowledge throughout my days. My husband and family, of course, but all the other things, too.
I could go on and on, and I bet you can, too. What’s on your list? For such a time as this, Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. Heidi Clark Wildflowers Community League City, TX Sunday Scripture - Reflection for June 9, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: June 9, 2024 - Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Genesis 3:9-15 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 2:20-35 Three words came to mind during my reflection on this Sunday’s readings: Family, Disappointment and Abundance. The first family of Adam and Eve followed by the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. And my family from a societal point of view is composed of my immediate family as well as my extended biological family. However, I know I have other family members in my Theresian sisters, both in my community as well as nationally and internationally. These sisters support me in both the happy and sad times of my life. I wonder if Mary was disappointed when Jesus said, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?” As a Mom myself, I think she was happy that Jesus had found a family in all those who were doing the will of God. Adam and Eve disappointed God by deciding they wanted to experience that specific “forbidden fruit” even as He had provided them with a garden that would provide them with everything they needed. I know, at times, I have disappointed my family and friends and it’s hard to ask for forgiveness. But it’s possible to reconcile, even when I realize my wrong and am hesitant to take the next step. I find that it is possible to reset the connection by asking for a friend’s/family member’s forgiveness. Just as it is with God. Sharon Staffel Anam Cara Community Houston, Texas Sunday Scripture - Reflection for June 2, 2024![]() The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Exodus 24:3-8 Hebrews 9:11-15 On this solemn feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the first two readings are about blood. The Hebrew people saw blood as the life force of a person or animal. They would sacrifice animals and offer the blood, the life, of the animal back to the creator. In the first reading from the Book of Exodus, following the LORD’S ordinances, Moses took half the blood and splashed it on the altar. The other half was splashed on the people to signify the covenant the LORD made with his people. The people must have known the LORD was not like the other gods. These gods would have wanted all the sacrifice to themselves, but the LORD used their gift of blood and turned it into something to show the LORD’S love for the people and to help sanctify them. I bet the people thought it couldn’t get any better than that, but the LORD was preparing them for something much greater. The letter to the Hebrews tells us that the LORD himself became one of his people and with his own blood, through the Holy Spirit, became the offering and obtained eternal redemption for his people. We remember this (anamnesis) at every Mass, when Jesus tells us to take this chalice, the blood of the new covenant and drink. As Catholics today, we are fortunate to be able to receive the fullness of the sign of the Eucharist. We can take and eat and take and drink. Lynda Knoche Women at the Well Community Sugar Land, TX Sunday Scripture - Reflection for May 26, 2024![]() MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY ADULT CHILDREN - A REFLECTION OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TRINITARIAN GOD "... in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) I believe in a loving God. A God who is parent, sibling, and friend – Father, Son & Holy Spirit - rolled into one. In an imperfect way my relationship with my own adult children is a metaphor for my relationship with God. GOD THE PARENT. In my children’s life experience, I am the one who gave birth to them. When I held each one of them for the first time, I loved them completely. Like God, the parent, I rejoiced in their birth. I have been there holding them, caring for them, loving them, disciplining them, guiding them, listening to them, waiting for them to come home, delighting in time spent together. When they were children, my primary role was as mother. There were times when they were angry with me because I disciplined them. At times they came to me because they were hurt and needed a kiss or to climb into my lap for a hug and a quiet moment with my arms around them. When they accomplished something, they would shout out the name they called me, “MOM”, to make sure I saw them. As adults they still call me and need me as Mother. They will always be my children, but they are now adults and they don’t need a mother as much as a sister-in-Christ. GOD THE SIBLING. I believe that God has no grandchildren. Through our Baptism, we are sons and daughters of God. Therefore, when God grants us the privilege of having a child, we have the responsibility and honor of raising a "sibling" to be part of the Kingdom of God as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Consequently, when each of my children turned 18, I began to think of them and walk with them as a “sister-in-Christ.” I now conclude letters I write to them with “love, Mom, your sister-in-Christ”. Seeing those words written on paper helps me to also work on living it out in life. I am an older sister who has life experiences they can tap into. Often as adults, they need me as someone who will listen to them, care for them, talk through ideas, directions, and possibilities. They can turn to me as someone who has walked the walk, knows the feeling, and can relate to them. But then there are those times when my children call, they just need a trusted friend. GOD THE TRUSTED FRIEND. My good friends are those people I’ve laughed or cried with, and walked with through various adventures. They’re the people who know my good side but also challenge me, to be the best I can be. They are the ones I can sit with in silence admiring an amazing sunrise or contemplating the flames in a campfire. Even when I have not spoken to them for a while, I know they are there for me if needed just to listen or come over for a game night or assist in a project or situation. I am blessed with a husband whom I consider my best friend. Together we had the privilege of raising 4 children into adults with whom we now enjoy spending time. I love it when they call just to talk or ask to spend time with me, not as mom, but as a trusted friend. I love that we can accompany each other and challenge each other to be the best versions of ourselves as we walk together and make memories that solidify our friendship. Our Trinitarian God responds as we pray! My children calling on me as Mother or Older Sister or Trusted Friend, depending on the circumstance and their need, is an imperfect metaphor and reminder of how I can call upon God in my need. Reaching out, in prayer, to God the Father or God the Son or God the Holy Spirit. One God, present to us all, in three almighty ways. Sara Fontana Wildflowers Community League City, TX Sunday Scripture - Reflection for May 19, 2024![]() Scripture Reflection: May 19, 2024 – Pentecost Sunday 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13 As a college student back in the late 60s and early 70s, I was introduced to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, a movement that sought to help Catholics be more fully aware of the gifts that were given to us at our Baptism and Confirmation. In this passage I am reminded that we are “given individual manifestations of the Spirit for some benefit.” That benefit is not for us, but rather for the care of the Body of Christ. I can’t help but think of Saint Mother Teresa who selflessly gave to the poor all the gifts given to her by Our Lord. We are taught that the eternal Love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit. Since this is true, then it makes perfect sense that the greatest of all of God’s gifts is Love. This Easter Season has seen many of our Catholic youth receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. My prayer is that they, and we, daily place our gifts at the feet of Jesus to be used for the building up of His kingdom here on earth. Beth Eason S.I.S.T.E.R.S. Community Lake Charles, LA |
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