Reflections on the Sunday Readings

As we begin our reflection on the gospel, this second Sunday of Lent, it may be of importance to note that in the previous chapter of Matthew's gospel, Chapter 16, Peter has both claimed that Jesus is the Messiah, and the Son of God, when Jesus asked the apostles “Who do you say I am?””  But also encountered in that same chapter, Peter objects forcefully, when Jesus said that he was headed for Jerusalem and there he would be scourged, crucified, and die, to which Peter said,” No Lord, this will never happen to you.”                                                                                                    ...

    Our readings on this first Sunday of Lent, call us to reflect on our own identity before God and to ponder to whom do we belong?                                                                            In the gospel, Jesus enters the desert, following his baptism by John the Baptist. Remember in his baptism how the power of God descended upon Jesus and said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”    In Matthew’s gospel, J esus immediately goes now into the desert, following his baptism, to discern what these words mean-“This is my Son...”     So also, in Lent we are called through prayer and meditation to discern what it means to be baptized “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” For these were the words that were pronounced ...

This weekend we continue with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  In these words, he focuses on light (i.e., illuminating) and salt (i.e., flavoring).                                                                                                        “In the early nineteenth century, long before photography was common, an inventor discovered a way to capture light on a surface, (i.e., film) and preserve what that light revealed. For the first time, light could leave an image that could be seen again and again. What began as a simple attempt to record what the eye already perceived became the foundation for something far larger. Over time, that same basic insight—light exposing material objects—expanded into modern, medical imaging...

                                                                  Our gospel this week presents us with interesting thoughts about the call of the early apostles and the call to discipleship for all of us.    If we were to compare the different gospels, this call can be different.  For example, in Mark and Matthew’s account it happens similarly to this Sunday’s gospel.  In Luke’s account though the men are fishing and catching nothing and Jesus ‘s instructs them where to find the fish.  They do and catch an abundance of fish.  Peter leaves the boats, falls at Jesus’s feet, and ask him to depart because Peter is a sinner.  Jesus tells Peter from now on he will begin to catch men.  Then he and others leave their nets and follow Jesus.  In John’s gospel, the apostle John and Andrew f...