The Turning Point
22nd Sunday Ordinary Time – A – September 3, 2023 Today’s Gospel passage is part two of last week’s and is the turning point for Matthew’s entire Gospel. From here on, the way leads directly to Jerusalem and the cross. … Read More
The Hidden Path
21st Sunday Ordinary Time – A – August 27, 2023 Today and the last two Sundays make up a Matthean story arc that begins and ends with parables about separating wheat from weeds and desirable fish from everything else caught … Read More
Great faith and determination
20th Sunday Ordinary Time – A – August 20, 2023 Although the unnamed Canaanite woman says little, it is enough to expand Jesus’s perspective. Matthew’s Gospel was originally written for a Jewish Christian community that was becoming more Gentile in … Read More
The promise given to all God’s children
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – A – August 15, 2023 Many paintings and sculptures depict a seated Mary and, on her lap, the child Jesus, no longer an infant at her breast but a man-child … Read More
Weathering the storms
19th Sunday Ordinary Time – A – August 13 2023 It’s natural to jump to the conclusion that Peter’s mistake was losing his focus on Jesus. However, Peter was sunk even before his feet got wet. To test the apparition … Read More
Closer to God
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord – A – August 6, 2023 In Scripture’s symbolic language, mountains aren’t just places. They are experiences that put us closer to God. Think of Moses going up Mount Sinai to receive the … Read More
The hidden path
17th Sunday Ordinary Time – A – July 30, 2023 Today and the last two Sundays make up a Matthean story arc that begins and ends with parables about separating wheat from weeds and desirable fish from everything else caught … Read More
Increasing and flourishing
16th Sunday Ordinary Time – A – July 23, 2023 Attuned by last week’s commentary to go beyond merely judging the soil, we are ready to avoid a superficial reading of today’s parable that simply pits “us against them” in … Read More
Seeing ourselves in the sower
15th Sunday Ordinary Time – A – July 16, 2023 Most of today’s parable is about the soil. In the longer version, Jesus even gets into the weeds explaining the meaning of each type of ground. Clearly, we are meant … Read More
The measure of true discipleship
14th Sunday Ordinary Time – A – July 9, 2023 Just before Jesus offers his praise of the Father, proclaimed in today’s Gospel, he gives a long reproach of hypocritical and superficial disciples. These range from those who sought John … Read More