The Extra Meisl: Sunday Gospel Reflections

The Jewel of God (11 Sunday OT)

What would change if we truly believe if we are precious to God? What would change if we truly believed that other people, especially those who we might not care for, are precious to God?

 

11 Sunday Ordinary Time

Exodus 19:2-6; Matthew 9:36-10:8

You are what you eat (Corpus Christi)

Pope Leo the Great wrote: "Our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ has no other purpose than to transform us into that which we receive". Today, we give thanks to God for the great gift of the Eucharist.

Made for community (Holy Trinity)

We are made in the image of God, who a Three Persons in One. This reminds us that we find our fulfillment when we prioritize relationships and work to build unity.

A Spirit filled family (Pentecost)

At Pentecost we celebrate that the Holy Spirit makes us one family, united in diversity, which is sent on a common mission. In this family, everyone is important and have gifts to offer in service of our common mission from Jesus.

The Great Commission (Ascension, 2023)

At His Ascension, Jesus does not abandon us. Rather, He gives us the strength to flourish as mature disciples. This Sunday as we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, we are inspired by Jesus' commission to “make disciples of all nations” and are comforted by His words “I am with you always, to the end of the age”.

Jesus’ Last Will and Testament (6th Sunday Easter)

Happy Mother's Day!

Today's Gospel (Jn 14:15-21) comes from Jesus' farewell discourse, His last will and testament to his followers. In this, He gives his disciples hope, summarizes the core of His teaching and speaks of His success, the Holy Spirit. In a special way, Jesus entrusts us with the mission of loving others as Jesus loved us. This sacrificial love is epitomized for so many of us by the love of our mothers. As Rudyard Kipling wrote "God could not be everywhere, so he gave us mothers".

Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Gate (4 Sunday Easter)

This Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, we celebrate the sacrificial love that Christ has for us. The image of Christ as the gate (Jn 10:1-10) shows us that we are called to participate in this gift of salvation. On this Day of Prayer for Vocations, we remember that we do this by responding generously to our own vocation.

How to recognize the Risen Christ (3 Sunday Easter)

On the Road to Emmaus (Lk 24), two disciples had their sorrow transformed into joy when they finally recognized the Risen Jesus who was in their midst the whole time. This story not only tells us about a past encounter. It also teaches us who live long after the Ascension how we can recognize the Risen Christ who is present to us in the scripture, the Eucharist, community, and charity.

Doubt and Mercy (2 Sunday Easter - Divine Mercy)

We can learn a lot from the example of "doubting Thomas" we read about in the Gospel (Jn 20:19-31). Like him, we should be open with God about what we need so that Divine Mercy can transform our lives.

People of the dawn not dusk (Easter Day)

Easter fills us with hope. Just as the rising sun at dawn bring the promise of a new day, so the Resurrection ensures that the Light of Christ will conquer all the darkness of sin and death. When we renew our baptismal creed at Easter, we recommit ourselves to being people of the dawn, bringing the light of Christ to those around us.