Heaven’s Oil

Photo of snail on an autumn leaf with text overlay of the reflection on Matthew 25:1-13: "Heavenโ€™s oil burns, / As the world turns."
โ€œHeavenโ€™s Oilโ€
A reflection on Matthew 25:1-13
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

… Read the rest

God or Mammon

Photo of snail and orange lily with text overlay of the reflection on Luke 16:13: "The heart has a single throne, / For mammon or God alone."
โ€œGod or Mammonโ€
A reflection on Luke 16:13
Saturday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Luke 16:13

โ€œNo servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.… Read the rest

The Love of a Mother Hen

Photo of snail and zinnia speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "The Love of a Mother Hen."
โ€œThe Love of a Mother Henโ€
Luke 13:34 and Matthew 23:37 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

How does the love of a mother hen reflect Jesusโ€™ yearning to gather and protect his beloved people?… Read the rest

You Were Once Aliens

Photo of a snail with dahlias speaking the reflection on Exodus 22 and Matthew 22:34-40: "Strangers and sojourners, you shall not wrong, / For in Egypt, you too did not belong."
โ€œYou Were Once Aliensโ€
A reflection on Exodus 22:21(20) and Matthew 22:34-40
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

First Reading

Exodus 22:21(20)

Thus says the LORD: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.โ€… 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

Whose Inscription?

Photo of a snail on a pineapple sage. They speak the reflection on Matthew 22:15-21: "Caesarโ€™s inscription seals his property; / Godโ€™s inscription seals his progeny."
โ€œWhose Inscription?โ€
A reflection on Matthew 22:15-21, Luke 3:38, Acts 17:29
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.… Read the rest

From Abel to Zechariah

Photo of a snail and purple coneflowers with text overlay of the reflection on Luke 11:47-54: "Godโ€™s prophets lie dead in the ground, / Their messages trampled, / Their tombstones renowned."
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

Christ Sets Hearts Loose

Photo of a snail on a purple coneflower with curled petals. The snail and coneflower speak the poetic reflection on Luke 11:45-46: "With legal knots, lawyers bind the noose. / With his humble yoke, Christ sets hearts loose."
โ€œChrist Sets Hearts Looseโ€
Luke 11:45-46 and Matthew 11:28-30 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Luke 11:45-46

Then one of the scholars of the lawย said to him in reply, โ€œTeacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.โ€… Read the rest

Prayer to My Guardian Angel

Photo of snail and verbena speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Prayer to My Guardian Angel."
โ€œPrayer to My Guardian Angelโ€ (abridged)
Matthew 18:1-5, 10
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

In the Prayer to My Guardian Angel, we seek divine guidance and protection, reflecting the childlike humility and faith Jesus teaches in Matthew 18.… Read the rest