John 3:14-21 By Cassandra Smith God loves me! The full measure of His love is displayed on the Cross. I read in CS Lewis’ Letters to Malcolm that the image of Christ crucified was not popularized until those who had borne witness to the crucifixion were long gone. The agony, humiliation and horror of a… Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Sunday 14
Author: Elizabeth
What to do When Times are Tough
I had a million questions for Jesus when my husband lost his job. “Are you friggin kidding me?!” “Why are you doing this to us?” “Don’t you see that we have a house, three kids, and I’m unemployed?”
If You’ve Ever Let Your Past Hold You Back
Sometimes we feel tempted to let our past holds us back from doing good things in our future. We have to relinquish shame. Shame is not of God. God called Jesus back to Nazareth, and he went obediently. What will it take for you to get beyond wrongs of your past to live fully today?
Seeing the Gift
This smiling young man in his First Communion suit turns twenty-one today. Eighteen of those years he and his sister Sarah spent with us, fifteen of them as “official family” since we adopted them in 2005. Like many children with hard pasts, they were a handful. More than once I wondered if God was granting my exasperated mother’s wish, “One day may the Lord give you a child. Just. Like. You.”
Yep, It’s Hard – Forgive Anyway
Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disneyworld? If so, you’ve likely climbed into a boat and sailed through the puppeteering land of It’s a Small World. If you’re anything like me, you’re humming the song in your head right now, and in three hours, you’ll still be humming it. Sorry about that… Today’s Gospel contains a pretty famous line “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44). But why? Well, we have to keep reading. “For he makes the sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and unjust” (Mt 5:45). Indeed, it is a small world, and we all reside in this same world. As much as it might chafe our human understanding of fairness and justice, God’s care extends to every person, whether friend or foe.
What’s Wrong with the World Today
26 February 2021 Matthew 5:20-26 What’s wrong with the world today? Several decades ago, the London Times asked this question of essayists and orators – people who by that days’ standards were “influencers”. G. K. Chesterton, the famous writer, philosopher, and lay Catholic theologian, responded to the Times. He wrote: Dear Sirs:I am.Sincerely yours,G. K.… Continue reading What’s Wrong with the World Today