Jesus in His Hometown

Photo of a snail among rhododendrons with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 13:54-56: "Nazareans wondered ho Yeshua / Gained prophetic knowledge of the Torah."
โ€œJesus in His Hometownโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:54-56
Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:54-58

He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, โ€œWhere did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?… Read the rest

The Parable of the Net

Photo of a snail on evergreen tress overlooking a waterfall and speaking the couplet, "The Parable of the Net."
โ€œThe Parable of the Netโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:47-50
Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:47-50

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.ย … Read the rest

Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Photo of snail on a pink lily with text overlay of the reflection on John 11:19-27: "Jesus said to Martha, 'Your brother will rise. One who believes in me will live, even if he dies.'"
โ€œSaints Martha, Mary, and Lazarusโ€
John 11:19-27 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.

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The Parable of the Weeds Explained

Photo of a snail on a sunflower with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 13:36-43: "Seeds set in the Son / Shall shine like the sun."
โ€œThe Parable of the Weeds Explainedโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:36-43
Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:36-43

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, โ€œExplain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.โ€… Read the rest

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

A photo of a baby snail and African daisies with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 13:31-32: "A mustard seed of mini size / The universe shall divinize!"
โ€œThe Parable of the Mustard Seedโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:31-32
Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 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.… Read the rest

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