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.

Gospel

Luke 11:27-28 (RSVCE)

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 … Read the rest

Treading on Serpents

Photo of snail and cardoon with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Treading on Serpents."
โ€œTreading on Serpentsโ€
A reflection on Luke 10:17-20; Genesis 3:15; Romans 8:16-17
Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Christ empowers his followers with divine authority, treading on serpents and overcoming evil, as heirs with him in the victory of the Cross.… Read the rest

What Word Is This?

Photo of snail and blue mistflower speaking the Shalom Snail couplet.
โ€œWhat Word is This?โ€
Luke 4:31-37 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Tuesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Luke 4:31-37

Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.… Read the rest

A Prophet for All Nations

Photo of snail and black-eyed susans speaking the reflection on Luke 4:16-30: "Israelโ€™s prophets blessed Sidon and Syria. /
Disturbing truth drove hearers to hysteria."
โ€œA Prophet for All Nationsโ€
Luke 4:16-30 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Luke 4:16-30

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.… Read the rest

God’s Irrevocable Call

Photo of snail on a Persian shield with text overlay of the reflection on Romans 11 and Genesis 17: "God's promise to Abraham endures forever, / Through all generations to the last successor."
โ€œGodโ€™s Irrevocable Callโ€
A reflection on Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Genesis 17:4-7
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

Brothers and sisters: I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them.… Read the rest

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

A photo of a baby snail and African daisies with text overlay of the couplet reflecting on Matthew 13:31-32: "A mustard seed of mini size / The universe shall divinize!"
โ€œThe Parable of the Mustard Seedโ€
A reflection on Matthew 13:31-32
Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 13:31-32

He proposed another parable to them. โ€œThe kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.… Read the rest

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

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

Before Abraham Was, I AM

Photo of snail and pansies with text overlay of the poem featured in the blog post, "Before Abraham Was, I AM: Faith's Journey from Promise to Eternity."
โ€œBefore Abraham Was, I AMโ€
A reflection on Genesis 17:3-9 and John 8:51-59
Thursday of the Fifth Week in Lent
ยฉ๏ธ2026 Gloria M. Chang

In the shadow of Lent, Jesus declares the impossible: “Before Abraham was, I AM”โ€”eternal promise meets divine eternity, calling us to unbreakable faith.… Read the rest

Ephphatha!

Photo of snail and dahlia bud speaking the couplet, "Ephphatha!" about Jesus healing the deaf-mute man in Mark 7.
โ€œEphphatha!โ€
A reflection on Mark 7:31-37
Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ2022 Gloria M. Chang

In Mark 7, Jesus heals the deaf mute, commanding โ€œEphphatha!โ€ to open ears and loosen tongues in divine mercy.

Gospel

Mark 7:31-37

Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And… Read the rest