New and Old Treasures

โ€œNew and Old Treasuresโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:51-53
Sunday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:51-53 (ESV)

โ€œHave you understood all these things?โ€ย They said to him, โ€œYes.โ€ย And he said to them,ย โ€œTherefore everyย scribeย who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, whoย brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.โ€… Read the rest

Saint James, Apostle

Photo of snail and roses speaking the couplet on Feast of Saint James, "James drank the cup of the Lord / When Herod slew him with the sword."
โ€œSaint James, Apostleโ€
A reflection on Mark 10:35-45 and Acts 12:1-3
Feast of Saint James, Apostle
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, โ€œTeacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.โ€ And

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The Parable of the Sower Explained

โ€œThe Parable of the Sower Explainedโ€
Matthew 13:18-23 in a tercet
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:18-23

โ€œHear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart.… Read the rest

Secrets of the Kingdom

โ€œSecrets of the Kingdomโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:10-17
(cf. Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11-12)
Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:10-13

The disciples approached him and said, โ€œWhy do you speak to them in parables?โ€ย … Read the rest

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Photo of a snail and tulips by a waterfall speaking the Shalom Snail couplet.
โ€œThe Voice Beyond the Caveโ€
John 20:1-2, 11-18 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

John 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.… Read the rest

We’re All Family in Christ

Photo of snail and echinacea purpurea with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 12:46-50: "God became flesh to bond in charity, / Heirs of the Father in one family."
โ€œWeโ€™re All Family in Christโ€
A reflection on Matthew 12:46-50
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.… Read the rest

Jonah and Jesus

Photo of three snails on tulips next to a waterfall speaking the Shalom Snail poem.
โ€œJonah and Jesusโ€
Matthew 12:38-42 in a tercet
Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 12:38-42

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, โ€œTeacher, we wish to see a sign from you.โ€… Read the rest

Cosmic Tree

Photo of snail and crabapple blossoms with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 13:31-32: "Birds of the nations flock to the Tree, / Soaring to heavenly unity!"
โ€œCosmic Treeโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:31-32
Sunday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:31-32

He proposed another parable to them. โ€œThe kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.ย … Read the rest

The Lion-Hearted Lamb

โ€œThe Lion-Hearted Lambโ€
Matthew 12:14-21 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 12:14-21

But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death.ย 

When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place.… Read the rest

The Lord of the Sabbath

Photo of snail on a hyacinth with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 12:1-8: "The Father feeds the hungry in his house of bread. /โ€จThe Lord of the Sabbath fed David when he fled."
โ€œThe Lord of the Sabbathโ€
A reflection on Matthew 12:1-8
Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.

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