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

Mary’s Wonder

Photo of snail on a white tulip amid yellow and orange tulips with text overlay of the couplet about Mary's Wonder for the Annunciation: "Startled by divine favor, Mary prayed, 'Let it be to me; I am your handmaid.'"
โ€œMaryโ€™s Wonderโ€
A reflection on Luke 1:26-38
Solemnity of the Annunciation
ยฉ๏ธ2025 Gloria M. Chang

In Mary’s troubled wonder, a virgin’s humble “yes” welcomed the eternal Son into our world.

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

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

Joseph’s Dream

Photo of snail and rose with text overlay of the Shalom Snail couplet, "Joseph's Dream."
โ€œJosephโ€™s Dreamโ€
A reflection on Matthew 1:18-24
Third Sunday of Advent (Year A)
ยฉ๏ธ2022 Gloria M. Chang

In Joseph’s Dream, divine mercy transformed a righteous man’s sorrow into joyful guardianship of the Savior.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.

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Prayer for Jerusalem

Photo of snail and rose speaking the Shalom Snail couplet, "Prayer for Jerusalem."
โ€œPrayer for Jerusalemโ€
A reflection on Ezekiel 37:11-14 and Luke 19:41-44
Thursday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

In our collective journey to wholeness, may our Prayer for Jerusalem breathe life into dry bones and fulfill Godโ€™s promise of restoration.… Read the rest

Hail, Holy Queen

Photo of snail and marigolds with the Shalom Snail couplet printed beneath.
โ€œHail, Holy Queenโ€
A reflection on 1 Kings 2:19-20 and Luke 1:26-38
Memorial of the Queenship of Mary
ยฉ๏ธ2023 Gloria M. Chang

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her.

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The Parable of the Yeast

โ€œThe Parable of the Yeastโ€
Luke 13:20-21 โ€œin a snailshellโ€
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

Again he said, โ€œTo what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.โ€

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Blessed Bartimaeus

โ€œBlessed Bartimaeusโ€
A reflection on Mark 10:46-52
ยฉ๏ธ2024 Gloria M. Chang


As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.โ€

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Who is the “Son of David”?

The Psalms scroll, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

9th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday

As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, โ€œHow do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the holy Spirit, said:

โ€˜The Lord said to my lord,
โ€œSit at my right hand
until I place your enemies under your feet.โ€โ€™

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