The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

October 1, 2023 – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 21:28-32

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method.

Like so many others I have spent a good part of my life using words to communicate my thoughts and feelings. Most of my education took place through the words of lectures and books in the many subjects I studied. I made my living mostly through the words I said in the classroom and the books and articles I wrote for publication. These Nazareth Pages are constructed with words that are placed in my laptop and find their way around the world. The story of my professional life, and much of my personal life, is almost totally created out of words.

And words also play an important part of today’s culture. The words of government turn on the words of elected officials. Talk programs and podcasts delve into the major issues of our time. The rise of mass media and computerization is largely due to their ability to spread words and other symbols that can be communicated to virtually to every corner of the world.

But in today’s gospel Jesus boldly asks which is more important, words or deeds (actions).

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

September 24, 2023 – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 20:1-16

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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I grew up in a family where there were four children. Three daughters and one son. That was me. We were a family of limited resources and our parents tried not to favor one of us over another. My mother was especially adept in matters where being fair was at play. Take for example desserts.

One of our favorites was chocolate pudding – the kind you cook and pour into equal portions in bowls. Naturally, my sisters and I each wanted the largest portion. If my mom poured a portion into each bowl, there was a good chance that one would have a bit more pudding than others. Thus, a stampede would ensue to get that larger portion.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

September 17, 2023 – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 18:21-35

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method.

A well-founded tradition notes that before Matthew left his occupation to follow Jesus, he was a tax collector. Those serving the Romans, who ruled Palestine in the time of Jesus, depended on tax collectors to support them by gathering sufficient funds from the locals. The Romans wanted exact population counts and precise records of how much was expected and how much was acquired each year. The health of the Roman Empire survived on precision. Its roads were straight, and its coffers were full.

This year we are reading excerpts from the Gospel of Matthew. This Sunday we learn about the teaching of Jesus regarding forgiveness. And we benefit from the precision with which Matthew recalls the specifics of the directives of Jesus as to exactly how much we are to forgive those who have offended us.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

September 10, 2023 – 23nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 18:15-20

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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“Wherever two or three are gathered … .” You likely know the rest. These words of Jesus remind us of the simple fact that we are not created to be alone. Nor are we to live alone, although we know that close to a third of us do live alone in our primary dwelling. For some this is a choice. For some it is a necessity.

I also noticed that most people seem to drive their cars alone. I rarely do because my wife thinks I might get lost if I drive by myself. I think the same about her. We would qualify to drive in HOV lanes in big cities although where we live in rural Montana, we don’t have those road features. We’re lucky to have two full-size lanes.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

September 3, 2023 – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 16:21-27

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method.

Everyone’s existence is rooted in a presence and power that lives outside us. We are not the cause of our own being. We are given living existence as humans. And we are also given the ability to freely choose a direction for our lives. Sometimes this is referred to as “God’s plan for us” or “God’s will.” To use language drawn from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, we are then challenged to “discern” the path we chose to walk.

The teachings of Jesus help guide our choices. Today’s gospel reminds us that the best way to live is to imitate the life of Jesus, which as he notes, involves carrying a cross. Not his, but ours. This may not be a direction that we would prefer, but there it is, in plain view in his recorded words. Take up your cross and follow me. These are not words that would get extra votes if one was running for political office.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 27, 2023 – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 16:13-20

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method.

On most every night, when the sky is clear, I step outside into our backyard to gaze up to the heavens above and try to imagine all that I am looking at. Being a very amateur astronomer, I know that the extent of my seeing is very limited. For example, all of the stars and planets I see exist within our own galaxy, the Milky Way, which is but one of millions, or perhaps billions of similar star collections in the universe. Even on a clear night, I can see only a very small fraction of all that we know exists.  

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 20, 2023 – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 15:21-28

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Cheer, cheer, cheer for the home team – a line common to most of us. Around the world stadiums, sports arenas and fields fill with local fans urging their local teams to victory. In similar fashion, various regions, even whole countries stand in support of local citizens in pursuit of victory over “outsiders.” And unfortunately, this favoritism of locals can create battles and even wars over foreign enemies. And lastly, this “tribal” hostility and aggression can infect religions. We are all familiar with the concept of “religious warfare.”

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 13, 2023 – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 14:22-23

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method.

This Sunday we hear one of my favorite gospel narratives. It invites us to imagine what it might have been like that dark night when some of the disciples of Jesus decided to cross the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was not with them. Matthew mentions that he was busy praying.

Maybe they thought they might get in some fishin,’ which was their primary occupation before Jesus told them to leave their nets and follow him. Well away from shore, the wind suddenly howled, the waves rose and the boat rocked. Even being seasoned sailors, they suddenly became very afraid. I find it interesting that even today they say that the Sea of Galilee can at times become quite turbulent and dangerous.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 6, 2023 –Transfiguration of the Lord- Matthew 17:1-9

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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The account of the transfiguration of Jesus is one of the more challenging episodes recorded in the gospels. Its inclusion in the gospels suggests its importance, although its precise significance can be somewhat elusive. Here’s what I think is worth some thought on our part by reflecting on the experienced of a transfigured Jesus on the mountain with his closest disciples.

One of the most respected American psychologists was Abraham Maslow, born the same year as my parents, 1908. He wanted to make available insights from his research to assist ordinary people make their lives healthier and more vital. He was especially interested in the life experience of mentally healthy people.

In his writings he described the importance of what he called “peak experiences.” These were momentary events that were more intense than ordinary day-to-day living. During such moments people felt more alive and more alert to aspects of life that were never experienced before. He said that we should value such experiences that teach us about part of the deeper truths of human existence.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

November 13, 2022 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 21:5-19

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method.

We are all accustomed to the inflated promises of politicians seeking our votes. Historians note that in 1928 Herbert Hoover promised to deliver a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage. There have been countless variants of this kind of talk, including what’s being “promised” in current election claims.

Religious leaders have also offered claims of better times ahead to lure followers to their cause. In our day some preachers advocate what’s called “the prosperity gospel.” In brief, if you join their brand of Christianity, you will be rewarded by amazing success, financial and other wise. Was this based on solid evidence that this was the approach advocated by Jesus? Today’s gospel suggests it isn’t.