Pennies for Paradise

Photo of snail and mums with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Pennies for Paradise."
โ€œPennies for Paradiseโ€
A reflection on Luke 21:1-4
Monday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang

With humble “pennies for paradise,” a widow’s faith ignites the eternal treasury of heaven’s boundless grace.

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

Read the rest

No Marriage in Heaven?

Photo of three roses facing the sun with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "No Marriage in Heaven?"
โ€œNo Marriage in Heaven?โ€
A reflection on Luke 20:27-36
Saturday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward 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

Prayer for Jerusalem

Photo of snail and rose speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Prayer for Jerusalem."
โ€œPrayer for Jerusalemโ€
A reflection on Ezekiel 37:11-14 and Luke 19:41-44
Thursday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

In our collective journey to wholeness, may our Prayer for Jerusalem breathe life into dry bones and fulfill Godโ€™s promise of restoration.… Read the rest

Beyond Consanguinity

Photo of snail and rose with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Beyond Consanguinity."
โ€œBeyond Consanguinityโ€
A reflection on Luke 14:25-26
Wednesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

What does it mean to love beyond consanguinity and place Christ above all earthly ties?

Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, โ€œIf any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Read the rest

Israel’s Universal Banquet

Photo of snail and wild flowers with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Israel's Universal Banquet."
โ€œIsraelโ€™s Universal Banquetโ€
A reflection on Luke 14:15-24
Tuesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang

How does Israel’s universal banquet invite everyone to God’s table of grace?

One of those at table with Jesus said to him, โ€œBlessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.โ€

Read the rest

Paul’s Swan Song

Photo of snail and dahlia with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Paul's Swan Song."
โ€œPaulโ€™s Swan Songโ€
2 Timothy 4:6 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

How does Paulโ€™s Swan Song reveal the heart of a disciple ready to meet his Lord face to face?

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 

Read the rest

Signs of the Times

Photo of snail and dahlia speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Signs of the Times."
โ€œSigns of the Timesโ€
A reflection on Luke 12:54-56
Friday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

How can we discern the true signs of the times when spiritual blindness obscures the divine wonders unfolding before us?… Read the rest

Baptism of Fire

Photo of snail and begonia speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Baptism of Fire."
โ€œBaptism of Fireโ€
Luke 12:49-50 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

What does Jesus mean by the baptism of fire, and why does it spark division among families and nations?

I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!

Read the rest

From Abel to Zechariah

Photo of a snail and purple coneflowers with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "From Abel to Zechariah."
โ€œFrom Abel to Zechariahโ€
Luke 11:47-54 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Thursday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

How does the blood of Abel to Zechariah lead us back to God to accept the redemption offered by Christ?… Read the rest