A Tasty Dish

A photo of a snail among vinca reflecting on Matthew 14:13-21: "Christ multiples our loaves and fish / To serve the world a tasty dish!"
โ€œA Tasty Dishโ€
A reflection on Matthew 14:13-21
Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.… Read the rest

The Girl is Not Dead But Sleeping

Photo of snail amid irises with text overlay of the couplet, "As mourners and musicians wailed for the dead, / Jesus raised the little girl out of bed."
โ€œThe Girl is Not Dead But Sleepingโ€
Matthew 9:23-25 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26

While he was saying these things to them, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, โ€œMy daughter has just died.… Read the rest

Faithful Friends

Photo of 3 snails on a hydrangea with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 9:2: "The faith of friends, / Heaven's will bends."
โ€œFaithful Friendsโ€
A reflection on Matthew 9:2
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 (revised in 2024) Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 9:1-8

He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.… Read the rest

Swine or Souls: A Gadarene Lesson

โ€œSwine or Souls: A Gadarene Lessonโ€
A reflection on Matthew 8:28-34
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 8:28-34

When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.… Read the rest

The Cleansing of a Leper

Photo of snail and iris speaking the couplet from Matthew 8:1-4, "A leper leapt in faith. 'Be made clean,' Jesus saith."
โ€œThe Cleansing of a Leperโ€
Matthew 8:1-4 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 8:1-4

When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, โ€œLord, if you wish, you can make me clean.โ€… Read the rest

Divine Bread, Broken for All

A snail on a red tulip reflects on Corpus Christi with this poem: God invisible, Wholly indivisible, Becomes, in Christ, edible, Partible, digestible, Forming the Church visible!
โ€œDivine Bread, Broken for Allโ€
A reflection on 1 Corinthians 10:17
Solemnity of Corpus Christi
ยฉ๏ธ2025 Gloria M. Chang

Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

1 Corinthians 10:17
Coptic icon of Christ feeding the multitude


For what is the bread?

Read the rest

Word and Bread

Photo of three orange tulips with text overlay of the last four lines of the poem, "Word and Bread."
โ€œWord and Breadโ€
A poem on Luke 24:13-35
Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

In receiving the Word and Bread, eyes open and hearts burn with resurrection hope.

Gospel

Luke 24:13-35

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And… Read the rest

Fear Not!

Photo of baby snail on an adult snail walking on rocks above a waterfall. They speak to one another, "In the stormy sea, trust in the Lord, who says, I AM. Fear not!"
โ€œFear Not!โ€
A reflection on John 6:16-21
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

John 6:16-21

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,ย got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caperโ€ฒna-um.… Read the rest

The Sealed and Empty Tomb

Photo of snail and daffodils with text overlay of the couplet, "The Sealed and Empty Tomb."
โ€œThe Sealed and Empty Tombโ€
Easter Sunday
A reflection on Matthew 28:1-6 and John 20:19-20
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

The sealed and empty tomb proclaims: Christ rose intact, preserving seals as from the Virgin’s womb.

Matthew 28:1-6 (RSV)

Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre.ย … Read the rest