Beyond Consanguinity

Photo of snail and rose with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Beyond Consanguinity."
โ€œBeyond Consanguinityโ€
A reflection on Luke 14:25-26
Wednesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

What does it mean to love beyond consanguinity and place Christ above all earthly ties?

Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, โ€œIf any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

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Baptism of Fire

Photo of snail and begonia speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Baptism of Fire."
โ€œBaptism of Fireโ€
Luke 12:49-50 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

What does Jesus mean by the baptism of fire, and why does it spark division among families and nations?

I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!

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Two Mule-Loads of Earth

Photo of snail and tulip shoot with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Two Mule-Loads of Earth."
โ€œTwo Mule-Loads of Earthโ€
A reflection on 2 Kings 5:14-19
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

What if a Syrian warrior’s greatest treasure wasn’t gold or glory, but two humble mule-loads of earth from Israelโ€™s riverbank?… Read the rest

Marana tha!

โ€œMarana tha!โ€
A reflection on 1 Corinthians 16:22 and Revelation 22:20
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. Marana tha.

1 Corinthians 16:22

The one who gives this testimony says, โ€œYes, I am coming soon.โ€Read the rest

Christ Makes Us Whole

โ€œChrist Makes Us Wholeโ€
A reflection on Matthew 9:1-8
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang

He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.

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For Unto Us a Child is Born

โ€œFor Unto Us a Child is Born”
A reflection on Isaiah 9:5(6)
Christmas Mass During the Night
ยฉ๏ธ2022 by Gloria M. Chang

For a childย is born to us, a son is given to us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

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Bread of Shalom

Christina DeMichele, Christ Enthroned in His Creation (Used with permission)

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

John 6:44-51

The Jews murmured about him because he said, โ€œI am the bread that came down from heaven,โ€ and they said, โ€œIs this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?

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