The Nazareth Page  - A gospel meditation for your home

March 16, 2025 – Second Sunday of Lent, Luke 9:28-36

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Most of us have enjoyed some really good days, but also days that are not so good. And days that are both. At least that’s how we think about them. Today’s gospel describes a time when three of the disciples of Jesus, Peter, James and John, were invited by Jesus to join him in a mountain climb. For “a good time” where they would learn more about Jesus,

This gospel is familiar to most, especially since it contains a rather dramatic moment. Commonly called the Transfiguration, it is one of those gospels that causes many, myself included, to wonder, what is this about?

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

March 9, 2025 -First Sunday of Lent, Luke 4:1-13

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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The season of Lent begins with the gospel about the temptations experienced by Jesus in the desert. They are indicators of his human nature. We learn elsewhere that he did not sin, but that does not rule out that he was not tempted to do so. The holy season of Lent has often been referred to as a time when we might deal with harmful or evil tendencies in each of us. Years back, I knew of relatives who gave up consuming alcohol during Lent, likely a move in the right direction for them.

Many of us know the nature of the temptations that Jesus faced. First, he was led to turn stones to bread, an invitation to Jesus to selfishly use his power in the natural world. Next, he was offered earthly social or political power, the power to rule over others. And finally, he was invited to test to power of God by enlisting the help of angels to safely catch him if he jumped off the high reaches of the Temple. Summarizing, dominate nature, dominate others and finally dominate God. Get full control of everything and everyone.

The Nazareth Page -A gospel meditation for your home

March 2nd, 2025 – Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time and Ash Wednesday, Luke 6:39-45

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Having been carried around the sun over eighty times (a way of describing my 80-plus years of existence here on Earth) and having been an amateur astronomer for most of those years, I know part of origin of my existence is star dust created billions of years ago. Through the power of gravity dust particles came together to make stars and planets and water and plants and animals. Eventually you and me.

This week we celebrate Ash Wednesday when we are reminded that the dust we are made of will again become dust. But that’s only a part of the story.

That’s because we believe that existence beyond death is in our forecast. Our dust will return to the Earth from which it came, but the most important part of us will continue to exist. We are all created by God and will experience life with God forever. So, Ash Wednesday is a reminder of our origins but says nothing about our future. That revelation comes on Easter.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

February 23, 2025 –Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 6:27-38

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Perhaps you have heard of “the gospel of non-violence.” It is based on the words of today’s gospel. In it we hear stated. “Be merciful, just as your Father (God) is merciful.” Or “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Further, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And perhaps the most trying statement of all, “If one strikes you on one cheek, offer the other as well.” Which is more recognized as the command, “Turn the other cheek.”

When passages from the New Testament are posted on a sign on the front of a church, I have never seen any of these passages shown. Unlikely would these words of Jesus draw more people into the church. They appear too demanding or unrealistic.

But they all are important words in the gospels because they tell us something about the “personality” of God. Especially of how God reacts to those times when we have stepped outside the lines of Christian virtue. And they are also important words about how we should react to others.

The Nazareth Page -A gospel meditation for your home

February 16, 2025 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Luke 6:17-26

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Today’s gospel includes a listing of what are commonly called the beatitudes. In Luke’s gospel they might be a shorter form of the sermon on the mount found in Matthew.  Matthew’s gospel contains twice as many beatitudes than Luke offers. Or perhaps it is another sermon given by Jesus to difference group. Still, both have similar in tone.

I once heard a priest complain about having to preach about them because they were so contrary to what most people want to hear. On the surface, these beatitudes seem to bless being poor, hungry, sad and disliked. Might there be more?

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

February 9, 2025 -Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time,  Luke 5:1-11

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Peter was a good experienced fisherman. But there were times when he and his fellow fishermen returned to their home port with empty nets. Even after having spent hours and hours hoping for at least a few fish to bring back to market. So, in today’s gospel we meet a very discouraged Peter, who after fishing most of the night, returned home with no fish.

Jesus was there on the dock with a smile, and after being informed of Peter’s bad luck on the sea, Jesus calmly suggested that Peter get back in his boat and give it another try. Peter’s immediate response to Jesus is not recorded. Yet we can imagine the look on Peter’s face. Here’s a local carpenter, who likely never even caught a fish in his life, telling Peter, a seasoned angler, to go back out to fish after hours and hours of wasted effort.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

February 2, 2025 – The Presentation of the Lord- Luke  2:22-40

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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I don’t know if I am as old as was Simon, the elderly person mentioned in today’s gospel who waited and waited to meet the Messiah, but his encounter with Jesus is important to reflect on for all of us, including me. As the gospel implies, this elderly man lived in the hope that on some wonderfully fine day he would meet the one promised by God in his religious tradition as the one sent by God to fulfil the hopes of his people.

As many scholars of that time point out, the air was filled with expectations of such an event. And Simon experienced this moment of fulfilment when Jesus was brought to Jerusalem to be offered as one in the service of God’s chosen people. We might be a little envious of Simon because we may think that we have not enjoyed a similar event. Or have we?

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

January 26, 2025 –Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Did you ever think about how fortunate we are to have the four gospel accounts of the life of Jesus? They were written well before the invention of the printing press, and certainly before we had typewriters and laptops. Further, the four gospels have stood the test of time for reliability as trustworthy accounts of the life, the activities and teachings of our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. Each gospel has a unique tone and emphasis which is not surprising. In no significant way do they disagree with each other. Another amazing point.

Today’s gospel provides us with some background for the creation of Luke’s gospel. In brief, Luke states that while he was not an eyewitness to many of the events he describes, he did research and collected the basic facts of the life of Jesus as were available to him.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

January 19, 2025 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

John 2:1-11

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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Most of us are familiar with John’s account of the wedding feast at Cana. It’s one of those times during the life of Jesus where we can draw many lessons. For instance, it points to a positive view of marriage, which the Church eventually listed among its sacraments. It highlights the importance of Mary, the mother of Jesus in the ministry of Jesus.

But here I want to stress the inherent value of joy and celebration in our lives. It appears that Jesus himself enjoyed a good party. He even arranged for the celebration to continue after the beverage supply had run out. He even arranged that the wine he supplied was better than the original offering. He wanted everyone at the feast to be happy and have a good time. Especially the bride and groom. Yes, there are times when life is difficult and trying.  But there are also good times. When they arrive be sure to enjoy them. And be thankful for them.

The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

January 12, 2025 -The Baptism of the Lord

Luke 3:15-22

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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The gospels draw a sharp distinction between John the Baptist and Jesus. This was not intended to downgrade the ministry of John the Baptist, but to contrast it with what Jesus did. The work of Jesus was more important than John’s. And this can be shown especially by how the evangelist, Luke, describes the baptism of each. It’s interesting to note that there is no record of Jesus ever baptizing anyone.

Here I want to point out the profound meaning of the baptism of Jesus by using the gospel expression that the baptism of Jesus was of the Holy Spirit and fire. There’s no mention of water but given the early sacramental ministry of the followers of Jesus, we can assume its presence in the rite.

So, three aspects of baptism come to mind. First, it is achieved by God’s Spirit. Second, it is done using water in some form. And finally, it is associated with fire. Symbolism is very important to communicate the full meaning of the baptism of Jesus.