Matthew 14:13-21 Despite wanting to be by himself upon hearing about the gruesome killing of John the Baptist, Jesus is stirred with compassion when He sees the vast crowd pursuing Him. At Cana there was no more wine, then abundance. Now five loaves of bread feed five thousand with twelve baskets of extra food that...
Matthew 13:44-52 In the Gospel Reading Jesus tells more parables. All three stories are intended to sharpen our understanding of God’s Kingdom. Those who genuinely understand will not hesitate to get rid of everything of they own so to become increasingly poor in spirit which makes room to receive what God offers https://little-flower-2minutes.s3.amazonaws.com/17th+Sunday+A.m4a A TREASURE,...
Matthew 13:24-43 In the Gospel Reading, Jesus tells three more stories to explain further the meaning of God’s Kingdom. All three stories reveal something of the paradox: God’s Kingdom grows in a world that is at the same time a hostile environment. https://little-flower-2minutes.s3.amazonaws.com/16th+Sunday+A.m4a CHRISTIAN CONFIDENCE On the heels of the parable of the sower we...
Matthew 13:1-23 In the Gospel Reading, Jesus tells a parable by means of which He teaches that the Holy Spirit infuses life in the heart of the Church. https://little-flower-2minutes.s3.amazonaws.com/15th+Sunday+A.m4a PRODUCING FRUITFUL HARVEST In a makeshift pulpit slightly off shore, Jesus tells a story that is among all of his teachings that are best known: the...
Matthew 11:25-30 In the Gospel Reading, all who are worn out and burdened are invited to make their way to God. Rest for their weariness is found only by accepting Christ’s yoke. https://little-flower-2minutes.s3.amazonaws.com/14th+Sunday+A.m4a ACCEPTING CHRIST’S YOKE Today’s Gospel makes clear that a foundational Christian truth: the Father of Jesus would be unknown were it not...
The Gospel has two parts: 1) daring to lose all of one’s own and to gain oneself in Christ (vv. 37-39); 2) daring to accept the slightest thing offered by God in order ot receive God in it (vv. 40-42). Matthew 10:37-42 Whoever is not ready to accompany Jesus along the path to the Cross...
Matthew 10:26-33 In the Gospel Reading, Jesus exclaims no less than three times, “Fear not!” Anything that takes place as part of Jesus’ mission is no cause for fear. Security is found by living our Christian mission, regardless how daring our actions may seem. https://little-flower-2minutes.s3.amazonaws.com/12th+Sunday+A.m4a LIVE COMPASSIONATELY AND CONFIDENTLY! In the Gospel for Mass this...
The Feast of Corpus Christi – the Body and Blood of Christ – commemorates Jesus’ institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper John 6:51-58 The Gospel Reading reminds us to receive the Eucharist as though we are falling into the arms of God like someone dying of hunger in the wilderness of this...
![4th Sunday of Advent [C] December 22, 2019](https://littleflowertoledo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/PastorsPonderingsPurple-300x300.jpg "4th Sunday of Advent [C] December 22, 2019")
MATTHEW 1:18-24 Mary finally makes her appearance in the Gospel Reading this Advent season, although Joseph is at center of Matthew’s story of the birth of Jesus. Through the message of an angel coming to him in a dream, Joseph learns that “it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in...
The Feast of Christ the King is a response to the alarming rise of 20th century despotism denying God’s absolute and perfect sovereignty. Dictators violently asserted authority over peoples and suspended religious liberties. At the core of this feast, we boldly declare the inherent dignity all people and our corresponding duty to worship the Lord...
