Charity Reflections
Spiritual reflections by Sisters and Associates
May 31, 2020 – Solemnity of Pentecost
Readings: Acts 2:1–11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3B–7, 12-13; John 20:19–23 “You of comforters, the best; You the soul’s most welcome guest… Solace in the midst of woe.” (from the Sequence of Pentecost) On this vibrant feast day,...
May 21, 2020 – Solemnity of the Ascension
(Celebrated in some dioceses on Sunday, May 24) Readings: Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:17–23; Matthew 28:16–20 “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” the disciples in the first reading ask, seeking some certainty in their lives. In...
May 17, 2020 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 8: 5–8,14–17; Psalm 66; 1 Peter 3:15–18; John 14:15–21 Fifty years ago today I professed my final vows as a Sister of Charity. Like generations of women before me, I committed myself to live in poverty, celibate chastity and obedience for life,...
May 10, 2020 – Fifth Sunday of Easter/Mother’s Day
Readings: Acts 6:1–7; Psalm 33; 1 Peter 2:4–9; John 14:1–12 Today’s Gospel reading from John is part of Jesus’ instruction to the apostles at their last Passover meal. It is familiar to us because it is often read at funerals. What do the apostles have to be troubled...
May 3, 2020 — Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday)
Readings: Acts 2:14A, 36–41; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:20B–25; John 10:1–10 Multicolored images and symbols of the Good Shepherd have appeared throughout the ages from catacombs to the internet from the imagination of artists. Across the field from the Formation House in...
May 3, 2020, Good Shepherd Sunday — World Day of Prayer for Vocations
He calls us by name and we follow Jesus is the open door that gives access to the sheep. He is the Good Shepherd — our only source of salvation. He is good, that is, noble — different from those shepherds, who would permit wolves to devour their sheep. He gives his...
April 26, 2020 — Third Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 2:14, 22–33; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:17–21; Luke 24:13–35 Matthew’s gospel records an earthquake preceding the announcement of Jesus’ resurrection—such a fitting symbol for what happened to the disciples—their world was turned upside down; nothing was as it...
April 19, 2020 — 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Readings: Acts 2:42–47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3–9; John 20:19–31 Hiding away from the world, afraid of what may happen — the parallels of life during the pandemic and the days the apostles hid away after Jesus died are quite similar. These past few weeks, society has...
April 11 & 12, 2020 – Easter Vigil and Solemnity of Easter
Vigil Readings: Genesis 1:1 – 2:2; Psalm 104; Genesis 22:1–18; Psalm 16; Exodus 14:15 – 15:1; Exodus 15:1–18; Isaiah 55:1–11; Isaiah 12:2–6; Romans 6:3–11; Psalm 118; Matthew 28:1–10 Sunday Readings: Acts 10: 34–43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1–4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6B–8;...
April 10, 2020 – Good Friday
Readings: Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Psalm 31; Hebrews 4:14–16, 5:7–9; John 18:1-19:42 “Were you there when they crucified my Lord? …Sometimes it causes me to tremble …tremble …tremble.” Every Good Friday we commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ in his final...