Blog Archives

Frost Rocks

27/9/2024

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark
9.38-43, 45, 47-48

After Jesus had finished teaching the disciples, John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.

“For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.

“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

As I read Jesus’ words about cutting off a hand or a foot, or plucking out an eye, I pause. In speaking with such conviction and force, Jesus is making it clear that what He wants His disciples, including us, to understand is of utmost importance. Whatever causes us to sin must be removed from our lives.

A few years ago I heard a woman tell a story that provides a good analogy for Jesus’ teaching. The woman had grown up on a farm where, as the land shifted from freeze to thaw, the family would notice “frost rocks” emerging. Each spring, the family had to remove these frost rocks in order for the soil to become rich and fertile, capable of producing its crop.

Each of us have “frost rocks” to contend with. They could have many different names: envy, bitterness and un-forgiveness, to name a few.

In this Gospel passage, Jesus identifies two potential frost rocks. The first is judging other believers – the “we versus them” mentality. For a number of years I have been attending a LIFT Retreat. LIFT stands for Ladies in Fellowship Together. Praising, praying and growing side by side with women who attend Catholic churches and women who attend Protestant churches is a beautiful thing. What unifies us is our love for the Lord and His love for each of us.

The second frost rock Jesus warns His disciples to look out for is speaking words or acting in ways that may cause another believer to stumble. May love be what motivates our thoughts, words and actions.

I am thankful to the Holy Spirit for bringing to the surface these frost rocks that have had to be removed from my life.

What are the frost rocks in your life right now? Take a moment to allow the Holy Spirit to highlight them.

As the Holy Spirit reveals these frost rocks, remember that we are called not to step over or walk around them, but rather to remove them. The beautiful thing is we are not to do this alone. Instead we accomplish it with His loving aid, and this allows the Garden of our Life to produce fruit in abundance.

Lisa Wing

2 Comments

Rich in Hope

26/9/2024

4 Comments

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

James
5.1-6

Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire.

You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Well, this is a cheery Second Reading.

Actually, it doesn’t seem so bad when I first read it. It’s easy for me to skim through this reading and think, “Wow, glad I don’t have a yacht or anything. I’d hate to be one of those people Jesus is talking to here…!” (Cue the “wiping my brow with relief” gif.)

Like the rich man in the temple, it’s so easy for me to find comfort in my smug dismissal of this warning as being for “those people.” Because it’s a lot less comfortable to consider to whom Jesus is actually speaking in this passage.

Of course, it sounds pretty straightforward: He specifically addresses “you rich people.” But does God actually hate or distrust those with material wealth? Does having money or worldly property make you inherently sinful or incapable of goodness? We don’t have a God who would dislike or dismiss those who have success on earth.

When Jesus preaches against “rich people,” He’s not actually disparaging their material wealth. He’s condemning their devotion to their wealth, their belief that money and material possessions are the most important thing in the world, something for which we should strive above all else. We’ve probably all heard the scripture (mis)quote, “Money is the root of all evil”; the actual quote (from 1 Timothy 6:10) is, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” Money is not the problem – the love of money is the problem. Wandering away from the faith in the pursuit of richness is the problem. If we really want to get down to brass tacks, wandering away from the faith in pursuit of anything else is the problem.

Oof.

I know that I’m quite rich by global standards, living as I do in comfort in a developed nation with significant social supports. But even if that weren’t the case, I would be a long way from being “safe” from this passage. Jesus is not condemning people with a certain bank balance. He’s condemning prioritizing things other than His love and the building of the Kingdom of God. He’s condemning acting in ways that don’t support a professed devotion to Him. He’s condemning lots of things that, yes, I unthinkingly do all the time.

But, as always, I can take comfort in knowing that He is not condemning me. I can take comfort in knowing that we have a merciful God who wants what is best for me and won’t rest until He calls it forth. This reading seems bleak, but hope is not lost. Jesus is our hope, as long as we choose to pursue and rely on Him.

Elizabeth Craig

4 Comments

Heart Deep: Joy in God's Word

25/9/2024

0 Comments

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 19

R. The precepts of the Lord are right, and give joy to the heart.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple.

R. The precepts of the Lord are right, and give joy to the heart.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

R. The precepts of the Lord are right, and give joy to the heart.

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect unmindful errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

R. The precepts of the Lord are right, and give joy to the heart.

Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

R. The precepts of the Lord are right, and give joy to the heart.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

As we reflect on Psalm 19, we are invited to meditate on the beauty and depth of God’s Word and His commandments. The repeated refrain, “The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart,” calls us to recognize that God’s laws are not burdensome rules but a source of true joy and inner peace.

This passage reminds us that the law of the Lord is “unspotted, converting souls.” God's Word is perfect and pure, capable of transforming us from the inside out. When we allow it to penetrate our hearts, it brings wisdom even to those who feel small or insignificant. In a world that often tells us our worth is tied to our accomplishments or status, God’s Word assures us that true wisdom comes from His teachings, available to all who seek it with humility.

The Psalm also speaks of the “fear of the Lord” as holy and enduring forever. This fear is not one of terror but of reverence and awe – a recognition of God’s greatness and goodness. It is a deep respect that leads us to trust in His judgments, which are “true” and “justified.” As women seeking to follow Christ, we find in God’s commandments a solid foundation, an unwavering truth that stands firm even when life feels chaotic or uncertain.

Furthermore, the psalmist acknowledges the challenge of understanding our own sins: “Who can understand sins? From my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord.” Here, we are reminded of our need for God’s mercy and the importance of regular self-examination. We all have hidden faults, areas where we fall short, often without even realizing it. But God, in His infinite love, offers us grace and cleansing when we come to Him with open and contrite hearts.

Finally, the psalmist prays for protection against sin: “If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot.” This prayer reflects a desire for God’s strength to overcome the temptations and sins that try to rule over us. It’s a humble plea for God’s intervention, acknowledging that we cannot do it on our own.

As women walking together in faith, let us find encouragement in these verses. Let us cherish God’s Word, knowing it has the power to transform, guide and cleanse us. May we continually seek His wisdom, trusting that His precepts will indeed bring joy to our hearts and lead us toward the abundant life He desires for each of us.

Theresa Langley

0 Comments

Being a Prophet

24/9/2024

4 Comments

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Numbers
11.25-29

The Lord came down in the cloud, took some of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

“Would that all the Lord’s people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”

When I encountered these words, I thought, “Moses, I’m totally with you on the second bit there — would that all the Lord’s people would be filled with the Holy Spirit — but I have some reservations about the ‘being a prophet’ bit.”

Prophets have always had a tough row to hoe. When Dale Carnegie wrote his famous book How to Win Friends and Influence People, he never once advised his readers, “Just act like a prophet!” The prophet’s role, from ancient to modern times, has been to speak out when others are not acting as they should — “Pardon me, but I feel I must warn you against continuing on this particular path” — and then encourage them to mend their ways. The problem is that most people dislike being told they’re wrong. So, prophets get on people’s nerves. And, when they get on people’s nerves bad things tend to happen to them. The Bible has quite a few examples. We have Jeremiah, who was cast into a muddy well and left to die; Isaiah, who was sawn in half; Zechariah, who was stoned to death; and John the Baptist, who was beheaded. To be fair, some prophets did die of old age, but few ever won a popularity contest.

So why then — getting back to Moses’ comment — should all the Lord’s people be prophets? Furthermore, can we all be prophets? It seems reasonable to assume that Moses is not suggesting that every believer is suited to a prophesying career. After all, if everyone was a prophet, who would do the farming, the teaching and the building of homes? Perhaps, instead, what his exhortation means is that we are all called in certain ways and at certain times to be a prophet.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis defined the modern prophet as a witness of God’s truth and “a reflection of Christ’s light on the path of [her] brothers and sisters.” It is the prophet’s role (and, as baptized people, our responsibility) to challenge the status quo when it fails to align with the will of God and to invite others to repentance. Those called by God to hold governments, lawmakers and educating bodies accountable may find prophesying a full-time job. But the rest of us are simply called to light the path for our friends, family or parish community in the way Pope Francis identifies and to “welcome other Christians in their identity as prophets.” This is why it is so important for us to live a holy life, praying, connecting with the Holy Spirit, reading Scripture and living in loving community — because these practices help to prepare us for times when God calls us to shed Christ’s light on the paths of others and others to shed light on our path. So, whether we’re a “capital P Prophet” or a “small p prophet,” when the call comes, we must at the very least, reply, “Not ready, Lord, but willing.”

Donna Davis

4 Comments

<<Previous

Frost Rocks

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Rich in Hope

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Heart Deep: Joy in God's Word

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Being a Prophet

​A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Archives

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, September 29th, 2024:
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time