Reflections
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Easter, Yr A, May 7, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 5/05/23
I was invited for a presentation at a neighboring Protestant Church on the “500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.” One eloquent speaker narrated how Christians got along very harmoniously for 1400 years until the Catholic Church leadership got corrupt leading to the reformation that Fr. Martin Luther orchestrated. My ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 4th Sunday of Easter, Yr A, April 30, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 4/28/23
One of the sites I visited on my first trip to Rome was the “Catacombs of Priscilla.” My interest to visit that particular catacomb was aroused, first by Priscilla being my mother’s name; and then, a BBC newscaster one morning had a number of women arguing for women’s ordination ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Yr A, April 23, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 4/21/23
Emmaus was a city in the Shephelah or “lowland” of Palestine, noted for several historic conquests by the Jews. In 166 BC, it was the site of the victory of Judas over Gorgias, recorded in First Maccabees 4:1-22, where we also find the first Old Testament reference to the ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy), Yr A, April 16, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 4/14/23
You’ll perhaps think that if Jesus, after His resurrection, had shown Himself to more people besides His disciples, everyone would believe that He rose from the dead. If on that Easter morning, He had presented Himself to Herod, then Pilate and Caiaphas, that would be quite impressive; but He ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for Easter Sunday, Yr A, April 9, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 4/07/23
I recommend that every Christian should have in their bucket list of things to do before they die, two pilgrimages: one to Rome, specifically for the celebration of Easter, and another to Jerusalem for the celebration of Holy Week. It’ll be a kind of ‘reverse pilgrimage’ to attend the ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Yr A, April 2, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 3/31/23
Psalm 122:3 says: “Jerusalem is built as a city strongly compact; it is there that the tribes GO UP, the tribes of the Lord.” And so, there’s this imagery of Jerusalem as a city to which people go up. From whichever direction you’re taking to Jerusalem, you’re going up. ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Yr A, March 26, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 3/24/23
It was still dark as I was returning from early Mass at the convent. As I pulled to the driveway of the rectory, a middle-aged man was standing there waiting for me. He looked very downcast. I drew closer and asked why he looked very frightened. He started: “Father, ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Yr A, March 19, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 3/17/23
Suppose all were blind but three of us, and we tell you that we could see the sun in the morning, and after twelve hours of daylight there’s night. Would you believe us? A fraction may, but a large number will tag our claim “delusional.” And if they have ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent, Yr A, March 12, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 3/10/23
For the Greeks, Life came from water. Thales of Miletus philosophized: “Water is the urstoff of all things.” Could the Lord have agreed—when He asked the Samaritan woman for water? Imagine how chaotic life would turn in our cities if there is no supply of water for one full ... Read More »
Fr. Jo's Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent, Yr A, March 5, 2023
Posted by John Wolf on 3/03/23
If you believe you’re too old to change course, think of Abraham and his wife Sarah. Abraham was 75 years old when God called him to abandon his land, his family and inheritance for an unknown land, with no clear mission. It was an adventure that he undertook by ... Read More »