Charity Reflections
Spiritual reflections by Sisters and Associates
Tradition: Thanksgiving Holiday
The cartoonist, picturing Wampanoag men peering at the horizon, quipped, “There goes the neighborhood.” The Mayflower at Plymouth brought Pilgrims determined to risk all for freedom, to leave behind the religious intolerance that warred in Europe. Peering back nearly...
Charity Wisdom — Ordinary Time, September-October 2017
Autumn of our 200th anniversary year — a time to thank God for a full harvest of blessings, and to pray for peace, for responsible care of creation, for workers and those who seek work, for teachers and students, for those living in poverty. From centuries ago, the...
June 18, 2017 — Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
Readings: Deuteronomy 8: 2–3; 14–16; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 10: 16–17; John 6: 51–58 It’s a typical Sunday at the 9:45 Mass in my local parish. On the worn, lived-in faces of the parish’s elders who often frequent this Mass, I see faith and hope and endurance. Moms...
Charity Wisdom, Summer 2017
Summer, June–August, 2017 From centuries ago, the words of our founders still resound, full of wisdom and insight for today. Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton, Vincent de Paul, and Louise de Marillac invite us to deepen our relationships with Christ and hiss gift of the Holy...
Sunday, June 11, 2017 — Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
READINGS: Exodus 34: 4b–6, 8–9; Daniel 3: 52-55; 2 Corinthians 13: 11–13; John 3: 16–18 “How wonderful Your name in all the earth!” exclaims the psalmist about the living, awesome, tender mystery that we call God. The God whom our Christian tradition reveals as...
Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2017
Readings: Acts 2:1–11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3b–7, 12–13; John 20: 19–23 You hear it everywhere this time of year, from excited graduates and proud family members alike: “I can’t believe that four whole years have gone by!” Time always seems to be flying...
May 28, 2017 — Reflection for Seventh Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 1: 12-14; Psalm 27; 1 Peter 4:13-16; John 17: 1-11a As we begin today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we find the eleven disciples in Jerusalem in the upper room along with Mary and some other women and other disciples. The time between...
Ascension Thursday – May 25, 2017
Readings: Acts 1: 1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1: 17-23; Matthew 28: 16-20 Today is the 40th day after Easter, the traditional date for celebrating the feast of the Ascension. In many dioceses, the Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday of Easter – next Sunday, May...
Sixth Sunday of Easter — May 21, 2017
Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalm 66; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21 By now in the Easter season we have made friends with the Acts of the Apostles, 1 Peter and the Gospel of John. These readings have framed our Easter experience with rich stories and images. We are...
Third Sunday of Easter, April 30, 2017
Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24: 13-35 Today, we find ourselves on the road to Emmaus — a familiar story in the Gospel writers’ collection of “now you see him, now you don’t,” post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus. The risen Christ...