The Infant in My Womb Leapt for Joy

A snail on a weeping cherry reflects on the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "The Word of God leapt from heaven, / Taking flesh in Maryโ€™s womb. / Unborn John leapt with abandon / As the friend of the Bridegroom."
โ€œThe Infant in My Womb Leapt for Joyโ€
A reflection on Wisdom 18:15, Luke 1:39-45, John 3:29
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

โ€ฆyour all-powerful word leapt from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomedโ€ฆ

Wisdom 18:15 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When

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Children of Mary

Children of Mary, Shalom Snail
โ€œChildren of Maryโ€
A reflection on Luke 1:39-45 and Mark 10:13-16
Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ2022 Gloria M. Chang

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And

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If You Can!

Faith, Shalom Snail
โ€œIf You Can!โ€
A reflection on Mark 9:23-24 and Luke 1:37
Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Jesus said to him, โ€œโ€˜If you can!โ€™ Everything is possible to one who has faith.โ€ Then the boyโ€™s father cried out, โ€œI do believe, help my unbelief!โ€

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A Gospel for Theophilus

โ€œA Gospel for Theophilusโ€
A reflection on Luke 1:1-4
Sunday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Year C)
ยฉ2022 Gloria M. Chang

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

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Shalom for the World

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Shalom Snail, rose and snail
โ€œShalom for the Worldโ€
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang

Readings

Micah 5:1-4a
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45

Jesus and Maryโ€™s โ€œYesโ€ to God

โ€œHe shall be peace (shalom),โ€ Micah declares to the Jews under Assyrian threat (Micah 5:4(5)).… Read the rest

Magnificat

โ€œMagnificatโ€
Luke 1:46-47
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

The Canticle of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. … Read the rest

The Annunciation of the Lord

โ€œThe Annunciation of the Lordโ€
A reflection on Luke 1:26-38
Solemnity of the Annunciation
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virginโ€™s name was Mary. And

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Light From Light

โ€œLight From Lightโ€
Meditation on Light, Series I, Day 5
From the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Sunday after Christmas, Evening Prayer I, Antiphon 3
ยฉ๏ธ2020 by Gloria M. Chang

He who was from the beginning, God from God, Light from Light, is born for us.

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Trust in the Lord

โ€œBetween a rock and a hard placeโ€ฆโ€
ยฉ๏ธ2020 by Gloria M. Chang

โ€œBetween a rock and a hard placeโ€ is an American idiom that means: โ€œFacing two equally unpleasant, dangerous, or risky alternatives, where the avoidance of one ensures encountering the harm of the otherโ€ (The Free Dictionary). … Read the rest

I Am the Resurrection

โ€œAll Soulsโ€™ Day Benedictus” (16 panels)
ยฉ๏ธ2020 by Gloria M. Chang

The Benedictus antiphon, โ€œI am the Resurrection, I am the Life; to believe in me means life, in spite of death, and all who believe and live in me shall never die,โ€ is taken from the Liturgy of the Hours for All Soulsโ€™ Day.… Read the rest