Let’s look at what today’s three readings have in common, shall we? In both the first and third readings, we hear of two widows. Other than orphaned children, widows were considered to be in the most vulnerable state a person could be in in the...
Listen to the bold statement that Mary initially makes: How sure she is that things would have turned out differently if only Jesus had been present. Mary states, without a doubt, that if Jesus had been present where she and her brother were, if Jesus...
I read all of today’s readings right before my overnight shift at the hospital began. The verses seemed rather appropriate since there were references to the Lord saving people (everyone comes to a hospital to be saved, right?) and of gathering all sorts: such as...
To me, today’s gospel reading is one of the scariest in the entire New Testament. Scary because the message seems to be that whatever we do in an attempt to please God will not be enough. And I also happen to loath “all-or-nothing” scenarios. You...
As mentioned last week, I’ve watched dozens of Forensic Files episodes from Season Seven onward. And in doing so, it didn’t take long to note a significant pattern to who gets killed most of the time: women. And it grieves me even more to say...
Throughout my life, I’ve noticed that a burning desire to watch a certain genre of tv show tends to correspond with deep seated needs of mine. In particular, I always have a need to see things analyzed and figured out, to observe the process of...
The first line that stood out for me was this: “They did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask.” Jesus’ disciples, by definition, are students who’ve chosen to hang out with Jesus for one purpose: to learn from him. One important...
When you dial the main number printed on a AAA card, one of the first questions asked is, “Do you wish to make a claim?” If so, press one. Secondly, a recorded voice will ask, “Do you need roadside assistance?” If so, press two or...
Because there’s so much content in today’s three readings, let’s see how the readings overlap. In Deuteronomy, Moses gives a speech recounting the history of Israel in an attempt to persuade God’s people to hear and observe instructions given to Moses. He pleads the case...
“This teaching is hard,” is exactly what the woman thought as tears began to spill from her eyes and roll down her cheeks. What the hospital pharmacist was saying out loud and the stack of papers she’d been handed reinforced were too much to bear...