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

Temptation of Christ

Photo of snail and globe amaranth speaking the couplet about the Temptation of Christ.
โ€œTemptation of Christโ€
A reflection on Matthew 4:1-11
First Sunday of Lent (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

In the desert’s silence, Jesus confronted every human weaknessโ€”and conquered it with God’s living Word.

Gospel

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He… Read the rest

The Sigh of Christ

Photo of snail and dahlia speaking the couplet, "The Sigh of Christ."
โ€œThe Sigh of Christโ€
A reflection on Mark 7:34 and Mark 8:11-13
Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Discover the profound sigh of Christ: healing the deaf, grieving the faithless Pharisees’ hardened hearts.

Gospel

Mark 7:32-35

And people brought to Jesus a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.ย … Read the rest

Heavenly Fisheries

Photo of two seagulls on an ocean bank speaking the couplet about heavenly fisheries.
โ€œHeavenly Fisheriesโ€
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
A reflection on Matthew 4:18-22
ยฉ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Four fishermen left their nets to join Christโ€™s heavenly fisheriesโ€”catching souls for eternity.

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He

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You Are the Son of God

You are the Son of God, Shalom Snail
โ€œYou are the Son of Godโ€
A reflection on Mark 3:7-12
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Even demons confess: โ€œYou are the Son of Godโ€โ€”yet still refuse to love him.

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.

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Fishers of Men

Photo of snail and tulips speaking the Shalom Snail couplet about fishers of men.
โ€œFishers of Menโ€
Mark 1:16-20 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Jesus calls ordinary fishermen to become fishers of men, inviting us to say “amen” to his adventure of faith.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: โ€œThis is the time of fulfillment.

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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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A Samaritan’s Thank You

Photo of snail and pink turtleheads with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "A Samaritan's Thank You."
โ€œA Samaritanโ€™s Thank Youโ€ Luke 17:11-19 โ€œin a snailshellโ€ Wednesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

How does a Samaritanโ€™s thank you reveal the power of gratitude in faith?

As he continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.

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The Narrow Door

Photo of snail and fern speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "The Narrow Door."
โ€œThe Narrow Doorโ€
Luke 13:22-30 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

What is the narrow door that leads to eternal flourishing?

He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

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