Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Lord teaches us to pray, but in the end, seems to say it is not as much about how we say it, but rather that we be persistent and it be in line with God's will. God is good, and He desires us to be in relationship with Him, so we continue to grow in prayer.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Martha and Mary are often depicted as two forms of Christians, the active and the contemplative. In reality, though, neither is sufficient on their own - the one caught in activity needs to spend time with Jesus, but the contemplative also needs to do something. In the case of Mary, however, she is active listening to Jesus! How necessary both forms (especially in Religious life) are needed!

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that being a neighbor is not necessarily about sharing a language, culture, or style of dress. In fact, the Samaritan would not have lived anywhere near the (presumably) Jewish victim, but simply recognized the man as in need of help, and he acted in mercy. That's what a neighbor is - the one who is need, and the one who shows mercy!

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"The kingdom of God is at hand", the message that Jesus sends these 72 out to proclaim. It is a message that is still to be proclaimed. Perhaps it was because of the urgency of the message that Jesus sends them out with the instruction to take nothing with. How we can get weighted down with too much 'stuff', and perhaps we should lighten our loads and get back to the message!