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

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

But Who Do You Say That I Am?

A snail and pear blossoms speak the Shalom Snail couplet, "But Who Do You Say That I Am?"
โ€œBut Who Do You Say That I Am?โ€
A reflection on Luke 9:18-22
Friday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Peterโ€™s confession of Christ shines as a pivotal moment in Luke 9:18-22, where he boldly declares Jesus as the Messiah amidst widespread speculation.… Read the rest

David’s Messianic Prophecy

Photo of snail and tulip speaking the couplet, "By the Spirit of the Lord, David called his son "Lord."
โ€œDavidโ€™s Messianic Prophecyโ€
Mark 12:35-37 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Gospel

Mark 12:35-37

As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, โ€œHow do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David?… Read the rest

Word and Bread

Photo of three orange tulips with text overlay of the last four lines of the poem, "Word and Bread."
โ€œWord and Breadโ€
A poem on Luke 24:13-35
Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

In receiving the Word and Bread, eyes open and hearts burn with resurrection hope.

Gospel

Luke 24:13-35

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And… 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 Lamb and the Dove

Photo of snail and tulip speaking the couplet about the Lamb and the Dove.
โ€œThe Lamb and the Doveโ€
A reflection on John 1:29-34
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

Discover the profound union of the Lamb and the Dove in Christ’s revelation as Son of God.

The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

… Read the rest

Isaiah 61, Day 1

โ€œIsaiah 61, Day 1โ€ (2 panels)
Isaiah 61:1
ยฉ๏ธ2020 Gloria M. Chang

Jesus proclaims the ultimate Jubilee: true freedom from sin’s chains, ushering in everlasting favor and beatitude.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
release to the prisoners,

To announce a year of favor from the Lord
and a day of vindication by our God.

… Read the rest

The Root of Jesse, Day 4

Photo of snail and rose speaking Isaiah 11:5 about the justice and faithfulness of the Messiah: like Father, like Son.
โ€œThe Root of Jesse, Day 4โ€
Isaiah 11:5
ยฉ๏ธ2020 Gloria M. Chang

The Messiah judges not by sight or rumor, but by the heartโ€”like Father, like Son.

Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide, 

But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide fairly for the landโ€™s afflicted.

… Read the rest