Mary M. McGlone

Scripture for Life: When the disciples gathered to debate and pray in Acts 15, their commitment only grew deeper as they recognized the Spirit forming them into a community more attached to Christ than to their opinions.

Scripture for Life: When we listen deeply to people who suffer, we become one family; their struggles become our own and we will be impelled to join them in confronting the evil that foments such suffering. 

Scripture for Life: Today, in this moment of history, these readings take on a radical character and describe the demanding depth of our Christian vocation. We remember that following our shepherd will lead us where he goes: into the heart of conflict and suffering.

Scripture for Life: John really wants us to look to the call of the first disciples and, in light of that, to understand that the Gospel ends with our call to discipleship.

Scripture for Life: Thomas reminds us that honestly facing our doubts can open us to greater faith. The courage Thomas showed in doubting allowed the risen Christ to reveal God's face in a new and fuller way.

Scripture for Life: God’s plan in Jesus is far bigger than our imaginations. Today, let us not be afraid to face the tomb of old certainties and become thoroughly confused and, naturally, even a bit afraid.

Scripture for Life: The church's prayer this week leads us through a long and difficult process of watching Jesus be stripped of human power so that we can learn something about what divine power is.

Scripture for Life: In effect, the crowd who brings the woman to Jesus has acted like the people who carried their sick to be healed; in the attempt to damn her, they introduced her into the realm of grace.

Scripture for Life: The parable we call the prodigal son describes an incurably philanthropic God who responds to a little love with overwhelming, unrelenting, unrepayable generosity and joy.

Scripture for Life: Today’s readings offer us an invitation to break open our biggest ideas about God. Moses tells us that God, the mysterium tremendum, is a fire that burns without destroying.

Scripture for Life: The Gospels preserved the story of the Transfiguration not to prove that Jesus was divine, but to lure us toward believing in what God offers us human beings.

Scripture for Life: Anyone who lives with passion, deeply committed to the cause of Jesus, will be tempted in the same ways he was. The trickiest thing is that temptations arrive in the camouflage of good ideas.

Scripture for Life: We can begin to create a different world by speaking less and listening more. The very act of listening is an admission that we need to see through others' eyes as well as our own.

Scripture for Life: Which is harder to give up, our excess goods or our resentments? Do we care enough about the poor to forfeit some comfort? Are we willing to try to understand people with whom we strongly disagree?

Scripture for Life: Speaking to a humanity that tends to equate good fortune with God's blessing, Jesus draws the map to happiness by a different route. His description of blessed happiness reorients our imagination.

Scripture for Life: Today's Gospel reminds of what Isaiah says: The Lord of hosts calls us, not because we are like the glorious seraphim, but because we recognize our inadequacies. 

Scripture for Life: Luke's Gospel emphasizes the Spirit's movement in Jesus and in the life of the people. Every one of Jesus' actions and decisions flowed from what he believed the Spirit was leading him to do.

Scripture for Life: "My hour has not yet come." Jesus' reply was not enough for Mary. Representing her needy world, she told the servants to do what Jesus bid them, knowing that when that happened, all would be well.

Scripture for Life: After allowing himself to be baptized, Jesus heard the divine voice say, "You are my beloved Son." Jesus had received not just a baptism, but an affirmation and a naming.

Scripture for Life: As a synodal people, let us be on the move, discerning the signs of our times while refusing to be awestruck by self-important leaders. Let us share the Magi's humble curiosity.