Saints Peter and Paul: Nets in the Holy Sea

Two snails atop a rock overlooking a waterfall reflect on Saints Peter and Paul: "A fisherman and a Pharisee / Netted the world in the holy sea!"
โ€œSaints Peter and Paul: Nets in the Holy Seaโ€
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedeeโ€™s sons, and two others of his disciples.

… Read the rest

Saint Barnabas, Apostle

Photo of a baby snail riding an full-grown snail with text overlay of the couplet: "Spirit-filled Barnabas vouched for Paul, / Mentored John Mark and nurtured his call."
โ€œSaint Barnabas, Apostleโ€
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Champion of Paul

One of the best-loved characteristics of St. Barnabas is his gift of drawing out the God-given potential in others. Named Joseph at birth, the Levite from Cyprus became known as โ€œBarnabas,โ€ which means โ€œson of encouragementโ€ or โ€œson of consolationโ€ (Acts 4:36). … Read the rest

Resurrected Saints Shall Fly

Photo of snail and snowmound spirea shrub speaking the couplet, "Resurrected saints shall fly like angels in paradise!"
โ€œResurrected Saints Shall Flyโ€
Mark 12:18-27 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Mark 12:18-27

Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and put this question to him, saying, โ€œTeacher, Moses wrote for us, โ€˜If someoneโ€™s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.โ€™… Read the rest

Saint Mark, Evangelist

Photo of snail and daffodils speaking the Shalom Snail couplet for the Feast of Saint Mark.
โ€œSaint Markโ€
A reflection on St. Mark in tradition, Revelation 4:7, Ezekiel 1:10
Feast of Saint Mark
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

The Evangelists and the Four Living Creatures

Since the time of the early church, the Fathers associated Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with the four โ€œliving creaturesโ€ in Revelation 4:7:

The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a human being, and the fourth looked like an eagleย in flight.

… Read the rest

A Word From Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick, Shalom Snail
โ€œA Word From Saint Patrickโ€
Meditation of St. Patrick from Psalm 46:10 (11)
ยฉ2022 Gloria M. Chang

โ€œBe still and know that I am God. 
Be still and know that I am. 
Be still and know. 
Be still. 
Be.โ€ 

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

… Read the rest

Salt and Light

Photo of snail and black cohosh speaking the couplet about salt and light.
โ€œSalt and Lightโ€
A reflection on Matthew 5:13-16
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ2023 Gloria M. Chang

In a tasteless world, be salt and lightโ€”purifying, preserving, and radiating Christ’s covenant love to draw enemies into friendship with God.

Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth.… Read the rest

The Beatitudes of Christ

Photo of tulips speaking the couplet, "The Beatitudes of Christ."
โ€œThe Beatitudes of Christโ€
A reflection on Matthew 5:1-12a
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Discover the beatitudes of Christ: Jesus’ upside-down blueprint for true blessedness and sanctity.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

… Read the rest

God is Love, Day 6

Photo of snail and cosmos with text overlay of 1 John 4:19, "We love because he first loved us."
โ€œGod is Love, Day 6โ€
1 John 4:19
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang


“The love of God is the source of all good things.โ€

St. Gregory of Nyssa

We love because he first loved us.

Traditional Chinese Translation

ๆˆ‘ๅ€‘ๆ„›๏ผŒๆ˜ฏๅ› ็‚บไป–ๅ…ˆๆ„›ไบ†ๆˆ‘ๅ€‘ใ€‚

… Read the rest