Liturgy Reflection

Reflections on the Weekend liturgical readings

Reflections on Sunday's Mass: August 1 2010

Posted Mon, 07/26/2010 - 18:16 by gary.marvin

August 1This is the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
“Teacher, tell my brother to share my inheritance with me!” Perhaps Jesus, as he framed his response, was thinking of the passionate outburst of Qoheleth in the Book of Ecclesiastes, in response to the same issue: “Vanity of vanities!” We can all recall examples of the family distress that can accompany such matters—and the irony of a precious life that has been misdirected in the acquisition of earthly treasure. As Paul writes to the Colossians, let us take care to avoid “the greed that becomes idolatry.”

Readings for this Sunday:

Reflections on Sunday's Mass: July 25, 2010

Posted Fri, 07/16/2010 - 21:17 by gary.marvin

July 25This Sunday is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The theme of “persistence” is evident in our Hebrew and New Testament Scriptures: persistence in seeking justice and persistence in our prayer.

Gen. 18: 20-32 It is obvious that Abraham had a strong relationship with God that enabled him to question God around the balance of justice. Our Hebrew scripture reading conveys a generous, forgiving and compassionate God. What is your concept of God?

Colossians 2: 12-14 Our living the Paschal Mystery, our daily dyings and risings happen due to our faith in “the power of God” symbolized by the cross of Jesus Christ. Christ’s life, death and resurrection has freed us.

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: July 18, 2010

Posted Thu, 07/08/2010 - 09:14 by gary.marvin

Mary and Martha with JesusThis is the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week’s gospel is the famous (infamous?) story of Martha and Mary. It’s one that may cause those who pay attention to details or serve others to cringe a bit while encouraging contemplatives. In it, Jesus tells Martha not to be so concerned about serving, then compliments Mary since she chose “the better part” i.e. listening to Jesus.

Yet, last week we hear about the Good Samaritan, the passage directly preceding Martha and Mary’s story. Today’s first reading tells of Abraham’s hurry to provide refreshment for his heavenly visitors.

How do we reconcile the double message? Are we to be servants or are we to spend time with Jesus? As is often the case, when connected to the rest of the scriptures, the message is one of “both-and” instead of “either-or.” Our call is two-fold. We members of Christ’s body are to be people of prayer so that, refreshed, strengthened by our communion with Jesus, we are equipped to joyfully serve strangers and friends alike.

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: July 11, 2010

Posted Mon, 07/05/2010 - 18:20 by gary.marvin

July 11This Sunday is the 15th Sunday Ordinary Time. We can read these three scripture selections as a meditation on our deepest call—to love as image and likeness of God. We Christians are taught that the divine command to love is embedded within the human heart—it is a law that is an intrinsic part of our nature. In Deuteronomy, Moses insists that the divine law is “not too mysterious and remote for you… (but) already in your mouths and in your hearts—you have only to carry it out.”

Jesus’ response to the scholar of the law illustrates this truth, through his parable… some harden their hearts to the clear and simple claims of love, while others respond to the movement of love within.

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: June 27, 2010

Posted Sun, 06/20/2010 - 17:50 by gary.marvin

June 27This Sunday is the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today’s gospel is a turning point for Jesus. Literally. From this point on, Jesus’ travels takes him to the cross. Luke writes that Jesus “…resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem…” How resolute are we in our own journeys? When our paths turn tough, debilitating illness, devastating loss due to economy or natural disasters, betrayal by family or friend, even death itself, we may cling to the reality that Jesus not only travels with us but has been through it all. And, most importantly, because of Jesus’ gift of himself, we know resurrection follows.

How resolutely do we remain on our specific path? The rest of today’s gospel offers a simple way to check: Put God first. Always. Above all. No matter what.

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: June 20, 2010

Posted Mon, 06/14/2010 - 13:32 by gary.marvin

June 20This is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our readings this weekend:

  • Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1. Do we recognize the spirit that is poured out over us? Without a spirit purified by grace, death and sin are final, the “one who is pierced” is nothing more than a cause for mourning.
  • Galatians 3:26-29. Paul implies that our baptism in Christ purifies us of all false divisions, and he challenges us to a profound understanding of one-ness in Christ. This one-ness is at the heart of why we claim friendship and kinship with a community on the other side of many borders—because Christ constantly challenges us to recognize and celebrate and act upon the truth of our shared identity as the Beloved.
  • Luke 9:8-24. “Who do you say that I am?” This is a crossroads question for Jesus’ disciples, and for us. Who do we say that Jesus is? Do we say Jesus is the Christ? The Anointed One, whose presence and life and teaching are the mark against which we measure everything: all our desires and hopes and needs, all the realities of one another’s lives? If we say Jesus is the Christ, is he the measure of our relationships, of our response to the poverty and suffering around us? Is our One-ness in Christ so compelling that it changes everything?

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: July 4, 2010

Posted Wed, 06/09/2010 - 15:16 by gary.marvin

July 4This is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our readings focus on one’s journey as a “faithful” disciple. “Rejoice” is a word/theme running through our readings.

  • Isaiah 66: 10-14c “Rejoice – Jerusalem will be rebuilt.” As with any refugee group, returning to one’s homeland after years in exile and seeing the land ravaged leaves the heart “heavy”. Yet the Word of God encourages us to never forget that God is always nourishing and comforting us in our journey. What wonderful things has God done for you recently?
  • Gal 6:14-18 Paul glories in the cross, a symbol the world does not accept. For Paul what’s important is our faith in Christ and the power of his cross.
  • Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20 Every weekend at the conclusion of our liturgy we are sent forth to spread the Word of God in word and action. Following Jesus is demanding work like harvesting a field. We like the seventy two disciples in today’s gospel can be instruments of bringing others to Christ. Our reward will be found in heaven.

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: June 13, 2010

Posted Thu, 06/03/2010 - 16:41 by gary.marvin

ForgivenessThis is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Naming sin, naming grace and gratitude are the themes present in our readings this weekend. When we recognize our need to be forgiven and seek out the One who forgives we are freed to love deeply.

  • 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 David experiences many blessings from God and yet chose to do wrong against his family and his God. Nevertheless, God puts away his sin.
  • Gal. 2: 16,19-21 We are not saved through the law but through Christ Jesus. Forgiveness is not earned. It is a gift from God. Salvation comes through the person of Jesus Christ.
  • Luke 7:36-8:3 Our gospel setting puts us in the home of a well respected Pharisee by the name of Simon. An unnamed woman known to be a sinner enters. Immediately, guests are making judgments. Jesus uses this tension to explain to Simon the true meaning of repentance, forgiveness and love.

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: June 6, 2010

Posted Tue, 05/25/2010 - 18:47 by gary.marvin

Last SupperThis weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Happy 39th birthday to our beloved Epiphany Community!

I wonder if anyone present at the Last Supper mentally flashed back to today’s gospel of the meal for the hungry crowd. At the last supper, Jesus commands “Do this in memory of me.” Today, he commands them to feed a huge, hungry crowd – with almost nothing! At the last supper, did they recall this other blessing, breaking and sharing? When did the apostles realize that being one with Jesus they were not only commanded to serve all but have what is necessary to serve?

Reflections on Sunday’s Mass: May 30, 2010

Posted Mon, 05/24/2010 - 15:35 by gary.marvin

TrinityThis Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Rublev’s Icon of the Holy Trinity (to the right) conveys profound theological insight. In contemplation of this icon, we encounter God as pure relationship between three persons who are portrayed without gender or any other distinction between them. The emphasis is on the movement of love among them. Finding the three persons seated at a banquet table, we note that the seat not yet taken is open to us. Reflecting on the poetic language of all three of this Sunday’s readings

we are drawn into this relationship of love.

Click on the image to find a larger version for your reflection time with these readings.

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