2022 archive of Reflections
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Yr A, January 1, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 12/30/22
Whenever my friend Vera calls, she’ll ask, “What’s new?” So, whenever I see her number, I’ll go into search mode to figure out whether there’s anything new to share. People are obsessed with novelty—some dread things new while the majority are ever in search of something new—new dress, new ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Yr A, December 25, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 12/23/22
It is important to note that the major celebrations of the life of Christ kick off at night. Think of Easter—the greatest feast of the Church, and Christmas—the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The idea that the world was filled with darkness until the light of Christ overcame ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Yr A, December 18, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 12/16/22
The German philosopher, Martin Heidegger, would love our first reading of today, which seems to align with his strange attempt at theologizing, found in his article on “Building, Dwelling, Thinking.” Did you notice the play on words in that reading about building and dwelling in a house? David was ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent Yr A, December 11, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 12/09/22
occasion in our life we’ve asked a similar question as John the Baptist did today. We often wonder and even ask Jesus: “Are you really the one who is supposed to save the world? Then, why are you not stepping up and doing it? See the mess in which ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Second Sunday of Advent Yr A, December 4, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 12/02/22
Years ago, I made the resolution not to watch the political media stations in TV. So, whenever, I find time in front of the TV, my channel of choice is the National Geographic Channel. There, the big cats—tigers, lions, Chita, leopards are the lords of the wild, and they ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the First Sunday of Advent Yr A, November 27, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 11/25/22
C.S Lewis has a line in his Screwtape Letters for stragglers in no hurry to turn from evil and reform their lives. Student-devils were getting prepared to be dispatched to the earth to complete their coursework in causing mayhem. Satan held a one-on-one interview with each of them. To ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe Yr C, November 20, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 11/18/22
For a Hebrew person, the name David represented brilliance, strength, wisdom, conquest, leadership. Despite his recorded moral misadventures, the Jews remember him as their most illustrious leader. When they suffered terrible persecution under foreign rulers who oppressed them, they remembered David and hoped for a king with the talents ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C, November 13, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 11/11/22
You must have heard about Fr. Sean Sheehy in Ireland who was reprimanded by his bishop for preaching a homily few Sundays ago, encouraging God’s people to repent from their sins. He mentioned some of the sinful behaviors that many in modern Western society no longer consider sinful: abortion, ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C, November 6, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 11/04/22
Some years back, a student of the University of Tulsa had asked me about buying a Bible—I’d mentioned something about complete and incomplete versions of the Bible. So, I cautioned her to be sure she buys a Catholic Bible. As expected, she asked what the difference was. The answer ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C, October 30, 2022
Posted by John Wolf on 10/28/22
A Democrat politician described the publicans of yesterday as today’s Republicans—filthy-rich, out of touch, bigoted, racist, members of the basket of deplorable(s). But in the name-calling, he left nothing for his own colleagues—liars, race-baiters, and baby-killers. Truth be told: the publican of yesteryears has so frequently changed garbs that ... Read More »