The Nazareth Page  - A gospel meditation for your home

October 5, 2025 – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:5-10

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Jesus seemed to have a particular interest in mustard seeds partly because it was a very small seed that, if everything went well, became a large bush that produced quite a few seeds. When Jesus mentioned such seeds, he didn’t only see the tiny seed, but its potential. What was small and easily overlooked became a wonderful bush whose seeds after processing became a spicy ingredient for various foods. Today I ask, what’s a hot dog without mustard?

Back to today’s gospel. I read it as a gospel calling for great effort and achievement, of encouraging us to try harder to do what’s best. But there is also a focus in the gospel that might be missed. Jesus talks about servants (very common in his day) and what they are called to do. As I reflect on this, Jesus basically acknowledges that there are “callings” that each of us receive. And it is within those settings that we are to live and “produce good fruit.”

The Nazareth Page- A gospel meditation for your home

September 28, 2025 – Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 16: 19-31

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We know very little about life after death.

But Jesus did give us some ideas to guide our lives that connect us with the hereafter. Like in the story found in today’s gospel. All I need to do is mention is that there was once a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus who was ignored by him, although starving at the doorstep of the rich man. Most of us know the rest of that story.

And what’s at the heart of this tragic tale? I think it’s this. There’s a direct connection between what we do here on Earth and what we experience after we die. I recall something I learned in a New Testament class as a young student. My professor said that this parable was included in Luke’s gospel, “To comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

Although when you think about it, Jesus was not so much teaching us about the next life, but our lives here and now. It is an awakening story to help us understand the life we are now living and its responsibilities. The underlying truth is that it is not God’s job to feed the hungry or give drink to the thirsty. Rather it’s ours! 

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

September 21, 2025 – Twentieth-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Luke 16:1-13

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Currently I am part of one of the largest groups in the United States, perhaps even in the whole world. I am retired. Unemployed.

Some think of this chapter as being no longer active. After all, I work for no company. My days are no longer bounded by nine to five. Yet I continue to do a small amount of teaching and writing. But I belong to no formal business of organization. I have no boss although at times my wife plays that role.

Today’s gospel talks about the role of stewardship. In today’s world this usually involves working for a business or any organization or operation where one works for others. Some build things. Some deliver what’s built. Some sell it in stores. Or one is self-employed and might work mostly online. In my own life stewardship had meant teaching at universities. Or writing books for publishers. Of course, there are a million other ways one might be employed. And like many retirees, I guess I can be called a part-time worker.

One question we might ask about today’s gospel is what does stewardship (in other words, our work) have to do with the message of Jesus? Isn’t Jesus mostly focused on matters directed associated with religion, like prayer and worship? How does religion connect with work?

The Nazareth Page- A gospel meditation for your home

September 14, 2025 – The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - John 3:13-17

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We are living at a time when we earthlings know more about the incredible universe in which we live than ever before. Through in the incredible “eyes” of the James Webb Space Telescope, we now have identified literally billions of galaxies and stars who, most likely,  have planets encircling them.

The next question for scientific research concerns extraterrestrial life, even intelligent life like our own. If that is discovered, it will be one of the greatest scientific discoveries ever! Still, so many scientific questions about creation remain, the most trying ones directly relate to us. Especially, we are asking, “Are we alone?”

The Nazareth Page  - A gospel meditation for your home

September 7, 2025 – Twentieth-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 14:25-33

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Today’s gospel contains one of the most surprising words of Jesus in all the gospels. They are worth quoting. “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” I have spent fifty years promoting marriage and family life as important aspects of the Christian life. Was I wrong? Did I skip this passage in the gospels?

The answer I came to after much thought is that I was right in my priorities. We all should affirm the sacred value of human relationships with family and others, but they are not the whole picture. What’s first for anyone who decides to be a disciple of Jesus is placing the values of God first.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 31, 2025 – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 14:18-24

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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What is your place in the world? I am not asking about your geographical location, but what is sometimes called “social standing.” Do you consider yourself upper class or outstanding in some respects? Better than others? Distinguished in some way?

Certainly, many social groups have ways of honoring their more important or esteemed members. Even an institution as seemingly in favor of equality as PBS has ways of showing special attention for their wealthy donors by specifically naming them at the beginning of programming. At important religious gatherings in the Catholic Church who usually is seated in the sanctuary or in the front pews? Ordinary laity, like most of us?

In today’s gospel Jesus describes how special guests at wedding feasts are placed close to the bride and groom as expressive of their importance. But Jesus warns against assuming such placement on your own. Wait to be seated to avoid being asked to take a more distant position by the hosts. Good advice. This prevents embarrassment.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 24, 2025 – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 13:22-30

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Most of us are conscious of various boundaries that give us an awareness of where we belong are. We recognise city limits, state lines, national boundaries and so forth. In the time of Jesus it was often the realm of kings or other regional leaders that gave people a sense of belonging or of being “on the outside.” While these boundaries were usually geographical, there were also other forms of belonging, Sometimes these were tribal or related to family membership. It was this question of belonging when Jesus was asked who is to be part of God’s kingdom or reign.

Today’s gospel deals with a question asked of Jesus about the size or inclusiveness of membership in God’s chosen people. Would it extend to only a few, or would its population be many? Or would it include everyone? Was everyone given membership in God’s “family” or did one have to do something to qualify? Further, what would be indicators of being with God.

Without answering with specific numbers, Jesus basically responds that some will be saved and some won’t. It depends on their values, their choices and how they live.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 17, 2025 – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 12:49-53

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All of us carry deep within a desire that everything will be perfect. Or at least, we hope that it will be. Advertisers connect to such hopes by promising wondrous perfection when we buy their products, drink their beverages or use their supplements. In similar ways politicians are adept at promising better times if they are elected.

But did Jesus make similar claims? At Christmas time, we like to recall that Jesus came to bring peace of earth, sight to the blind and blessings to all.

Yet in today’s gospel it is clear that Jesus did not promise such earthly perfection. In fact, he predicted that with his coming, challenges, conflicts and difficulties may intensify. Also, he doesn’t say that there will be no more hunger, or that all wars will end or that everyone will be happy. One of my biblical professors used to say that unlike some politicians and religious leaders Jesus did not promise “a chicken in every pot.”  

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 10, 2025 – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 12:32-48

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You are reading these words during summertime. Soon it will be Fall. Then comes Winter and so forth. Each major season seems to have its own spirit. We also divide time into daily segments. Daytime and nighttime. Work time and leisure. Football season will soon begin. Thus, a time for this and a time for that. And we adjust our activities, and even our attitudes, accordingly. Years back I had a pastor whose name was Miller. When we met, I’d remind him that it was Miller time.

The Catholic Church also divides time into the seasons of the liturgical year. We are now in Ordinary Time. Later this year we will enter Advent, then Christmas, then Lent and so forth. There are good reasons for dividing time in this way. It encourages us to enter the spirit of each time. For instance, Christmastime for gift-giving and Eastertime for encouraging hope. Some days might be thought holier than others, like Sunday, called “the Lords’ Day.”

The Nazareth Page  - A gospel meditation for your home

August 3, 2025 – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 12:13-21

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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I was sitting with my dad watching on TV what used to be called “the ticker.” It showed in real time the value of various holdings on the New York Stock Exchange. My dad had retired from his business years before, but he enjoyed keeping track of his wealth in stocks. He was in his 90’s at the time. To ensure accuracy, he kept a pencil and pad on his lap in which he dutifully recoded any change in the value of his current “wealth.”

After a few minutes of sharing this activity with him, I casually said that he reminded me of Jack Benny who often visited his basement vault (on radio!) to count his money. Jack was a notorious miser, not known for generosity. My dad smiled and looked at his only son and said, “I’m not counting my money. I’m counting yours.” We both smiled.