Set Free on the Sabbath

Photo of snail and autumn crocuses speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Set Free on the Sabbath."
โ€œSet Free on the Sabbathโ€
Luke 13:10-17 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

How does Jesusโ€™ healing of the crippled woman reveal what it truly means to be set free on the Sabbath?… Read the rest

A Blooming Arrow

Photo of snail, anemone, and dahlia with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "A Blooming Arrow."
โ€œA Blooming Arrowโ€
A reflection on Ephesians 2:1-10
Monday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time (Year II)
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Ephesians 2:1-3

You were dead in your transgressions and sinsย in which you once lived following the age of this world,ย following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.ย … Read the rest

Whom Should You Fear?

A photo of a snail snail and verbena flowers with text overlay of the reflection on Luke 12:4-5: "When a garden of paradise blooms within, / Little flowโ€™rs fear not the Gehenna of sin."
โ€œWhom Should You Fear?โ€
A reflection on Luke 12:4-5
Friday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Who truly holds power over your soulโ€”earthly threats or the One who judges for eternity?

Gospel

Luke 12:4-5

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more.… Read the rest

Tears of Love and Sorrow

Photo of a snail and dew drenched rose speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Tears of Love and Sorrow."
โ€œTears of Love and Sorrowโ€
Luke 7:36-50 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Thursday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Luke 7:36-50

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Phariseeโ€™s house and reclined at table.… Read the rest

Love of God and Neighbor

Photo of a snail and a rose speaking the reflection on Matthew 22:34-40: "As flowers receive sunshine and give fragrance to all, / Shining God to neighbors is the essence of our call."
โ€œLove of God and Neighborโ€
Matthew 22:34-40 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,โ€œTeacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?โ€… Read the rest

As the Father Loves Me

A snail and a tulip speak John 15:9: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you."
โ€œAs the Father Loves Meโ€
John 15:9
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. 

… Read the rest

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.

… Read the rest

God is Love, Day 6

Photo of snail and cosmos with text overlay of 1 John 4:19, "We love because he first loved us."
โ€œGod is Love, Day 6โ€
1 John 4:19
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang


“The love of God is the source of all good things.โ€

St. Gregory of Nyssa

We love because he first loved us.

Traditional Chinese Translation

ๆˆ‘ๅ€‘ๆ„›๏ผŒๆ˜ฏๅ› ็‚บไป–ๅ…ˆๆ„›ไบ†ๆˆ‘ๅ€‘ใ€‚

… Read the rest

God is Love, Day 5

Photo of snail and rhododendron speaking 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love."
โ€œGod is Love, Day 5โ€
1 John 4:18
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

“Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.โ€

St. Francis of Assisi

There is no fear in love, 
but perfect love drives out fear.

Traditional Chinese Translation

ๆ„›่ฃกๆฒ’ๆœ‰ๆ‡ผๆ€•๏ผ›
็›ธๅ๏ผŒๅฎŒ็พŽ็š„ๆ„›่ƒฝ้™คๅŽปๆ‡ผๆ€•ใ€‚

… Read the rest