Joseph’s Dream

Photo of snail and rose with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Joseph's Dream."
โ€œJosephโ€™s Dreamโ€
A reflection on Matthew 1:18-24
Third Sunday of Advent (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

In Joseph’s Dream, divine mercy transformed a righteous man’s sorrow into joyful guardianship of the Savior.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.

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The Farmer’s Patience

Photo of snail and crocus speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "The Farmer's Patience."
โ€œThe Farmerโ€™s Patienceโ€
A reflection on James 5:7-11
Third Sunday of Advent (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

The farmerโ€™s patience: Trusting Godโ€™s timing through drought and storm, awaiting the certain harvest of grace.

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.

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A Blind Beggar Glorifies God

Photo of snail and dahlia speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "A Blind Beggar Glorifies God."
โ€œA Blind Beggar Glorifies Godโ€
A reflection on Luke 18:35-43
Monday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

What can we learn from a blind beggar who glorifies God through persistent faith amid rejection?

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They

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The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Photo of snail and hibiscus with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "The Parable of the Persistent Widow."
โ€œThe Parable of the Persistent Widowโ€ Luke 18:1-8 โ€œin a snailshellโ€ Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

What does the parable of the persistent widow reveal about perseverance in prayer?

Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He

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River of Zion

Photo of snail by a waterfall with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "River of Zion."
โ€œRiver of Zionโ€ Psalm 46:5(4) Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

How does the “River of Zion” bring divine peace and stability to Godโ€™s holy city amidst a world in chaos?

The River of Zion: A Vision of Divine Peace

In the midst of social and political chaos and upheavalโ€”symbolized by the quaking earth, mountains, and raging watersโ€”a transcendent vision of paradise penetrates beyond the present turmoil and breaks into song: โ€œStreams of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!โ€… Read the rest

All Saints’ Day

Photo of snail and lantana speaking the Benedictus antiphon of the Solemnity of All Saints' Day, "The saints will shine like the sun."
โ€œThe saints will shine like the sunโ€
Benedictus Antiphon, Solemnity of All Saints
ยฉ๏ธ2020 Gloria M. Chang

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

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Praying Hands

Photo of snail and pansies with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Praying Hands."
โ€œPraying Handsโ€ A reflection on Exodus 17:8-13 Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

How did the praying hands of Moses, supported by Aaron and Hur, draw divine power to turn the tide of battle against the Amalekites?… Read the rest

True Blessedness

Photo of snail and autumn crocus with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "True Blessedness."
โ€œTrue Blessednessโ€
Luke 11:27-28 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Saturday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

True blessedness lies in hearing and keeping Godโ€™s word, as exemplified by the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, โ€œBlessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!โ€ย 

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