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.

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The Mountain of the Lord, Day 1

Photo of two snails walking on a mossy path, speaking about the mountain of the Lord from the prophet Isaiah.
โ€œThe Mountain of the Lord, Day 1โ€
Isaiah 2:2a
ยฉ๏ธ2020 Gloria M. Chang

Vision of Paradise Amidst Destruction

โ€œYour country is waste, your cities burnt with fire,โ€ the prophet Isaiah rails in the opening chapter of his scroll (1:7a). Judah and Jerusalem are riddled with injustice, hypocrisy, murder, thievery, rebellion, and every sort of corruption.… 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

The Valley of Dry Bones

Photo of snail on a white zinnia facing a sea of white globe amaranth with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "The Valley of Dry Bones."
โ€œThe Valley of Dry Bonesโ€
Benedictus Antiphon, Commemoration of All Souls
From Ezekiel 37:1-14
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Can hope rise from the valley of dry bones?

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he led me out in the spirit of the Lord and set me in the center of the broad valley.

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Does This Shock You?

โ€œDoes This Shock You?โ€
A reflection on John 6:60-69
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Then many of his disciples who were listening said, โ€œThis saying is hard; who can accept it?โ€ Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, โ€œDoes this shock you?

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Who is the “Son of David”?

The Psalms scroll, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

9th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, โ€œHow do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the holy Spirit, said:

โ€˜The Lord said to my lord,
โ€œSit at my right hand
until I place your enemies under your feet.โ€โ€™

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