2024 archive of Reflections
Fr. Jo's Reflection for Pentecost Sunday Yr B, May 19, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 5/18/24
The feast of Pentecost may not be as popular as Christmas or Easter but it commemorates a watershed event in the life of the Church. In fact, Pentecost is the birthday of the catholic Church. Churches that designate themselves as Pentecostal try to claim sole possession of the Spirit, ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Ascension of the Lord, Yr B, May 12, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 5/11/24
On top of the mountain from which Jesus bade his last farewell to his disciples can be seen many ancient olive trees; hence, the name Mount of Olives. The spot was well known to Jesus who often went on top of that mountain for a heart-to-heart conversation with His ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Yr B, May 5, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 5/07/24
The reason why the word “love” is so often misused is not only because of the poverty of our language but also because humans are specialists in turning mystery into a jest. Hence, the teenage girl who justifies moving in with her boyfriend by saying, “I love him” sees ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Yr B, April 28, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 5/07/24
In five Bible moments, Jesus employed striking metaphors to describe His relationship with us. These came in allegorical speeches called the “I am sayings,” which diffuse intricate spiritual fervor with deep emotional and real life resonance. The first “I am” saying was “I am the bread of life” (John ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Yr B, April 21, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 4/19/24
A flock of sheep would have a very distinctive instinctual relation with the shepherd lacking in other livestock. If you have a pet, you can also sense a little bit the idea percolated in today’s gospel about the shepherd knowing his sheep and the sheep hearing his voice. In ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter, Yr B, April 14, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 4/13/24
If you have not suffered any bodily injury, you may be unaware of the plight of paralytics and what daily living means for them. On no other day than Good Friday of the year 2011, I broke my ankle. I was on a ladder trying to unveil the crucifix ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy), Yr B, April 07, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 4/06/24
How many times have you used the expression, “My Lord and my God?” I was taught by my father to say those words whenever the priest elevates the consecrated host. I have done it at every Mass I’ve attended or celebrated. But those are not words of the beloved ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, Yr B, March 31, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 3/29/24
If the devil thought death could swallow Jesus, that the grave would hem him in, he was terribly mistaken. Lucifer got swept off his feet today as his entire empire collapsed. The plan he masterminded at which he led humanity to commit the sin of deicide flawed. The execution ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Yr B, March 24, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 3/22/24
“A victory march that ended in a torture chamber” is a fitting title for today’s celebration. When Roman generals return from war, they’re accorded the greatest honor with a parade from the outskirts of the city to the amphitheater where they’re decorated with deserving honors. The victory march with ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Yr B, March 17, 2024
Posted by John Wolf on 3/15/24
“Wrong Way Corrigan” was an expression coined by the media to describe a flight by aviator, Douglas Corrigan, who on July 18, 1938 initiated a flight from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn New York to Long Beach California, but ended up in Dublin, Ireland. Maybe you’re different but I ... Read More »