May – June 2025
Vol. 50, No. 3 A bi-monthly newsletter on international justice and peace issues.
Third Sunday of Easter
How often do we respond to Jesus’ question to Peter, “do you love me?”, as Peter did, “you know that I love you”? If we stopped and thought about it, we too might be like Peter and grieve that Jesus has to ask. I think we would prefer to assume that Jesus already knows without…
Second Sunday of Easter
Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. The Apostle Thomas could not believe what he did not know. He had been at the last banquet with Jesus. His execution on a cross…
Easter Sunday
People’s organizations have a way of witnessing the hope that things can get better with collaborative efforts. It was 38 years ago in Baguio City, Philippines, where I am writing this reflection, that an indigenous women’s organization was founded. Initially, the Women’s Desk for Indigenous Women’s Education and Organization was part of a social action…
Palm Sunday
The setting: Jesus riding in to Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowds loudly shouting their hosannas.It is a time of rejoicing but at the same time, those of us who know the story realize that Jesus is on the way to his eventual execution. The Pharisees, scandalized by the scene that Jesus’ disciples are…
2025 Way of the Cross for Peace and Justice
Join us on Good Friday to commemorate the Passion of Christ by a Way of the Cross procession among DC institutions. Meet at the National Archives at 700 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, across from the Archives – Navy Memorial Metro Station. Click here to RSVP. The observance of Christ’s Passion is an opportunity to reflect…
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Like Jesus, we are weeping … in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, in Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Myanmar, in the United States, in schools, homes and public spaces around the world. But this week, even as we prepare to retell the story of his Passion and Death, we hear Jesus say:…
Fourth Sunday of Lent
The Parable of the Prodigal Son, this Sunday’s gospel reading, is a story so familiar that it is easy to feel immune to both the breadth and depth of its message. It is the story of three people, a father and his two sons, and the actions and reactions of each of them in an…
Third Sunday of Lent
This reflection was published as part of the Lenten Reflection Guide: A Jubilee of Hope. There are two terrible tragedies: the Romans kill Galileans at a religious festival on the Temple grounds, and then a tower wall collapses crushing 18 people to death in Siloam. Miles away from Jerusalem, however, the crowd with Jesus feels…
Second Sunday of Lent
This reflection was published as part of the Lenten Reflection Guide: A Jubilee of Hope. In Myanmar, it is difficult for people to count on a steady income, land, even food or education. When their families, clan or communities cannot meet their basic needs, they rely on their faith in God and their deeply ingrained…
First Sunday
This reflection was published as part of the Lenten Reflection Guide: A Jubilee of Hope. The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to Jesus, “I shall give you all this power and the glory… All this will be yours, if you worship me.” But Jesus…
Ash Wednesday
This reflection was published as part of the Lenten Reflection Guide: A Jubilee of Hope. Today’s readings call the community of believers to pious communal actions demonstrating penitence and prayer for God’s deliverance. The admonitions against hypocrisy indicate that it is not the actions that are criticized but the underlying motivation for doing them. Almsgiving,…
Lenten Reflection Guide 2025: Jubilee of Hope
Join us for prayer this Lent with reflections on the readings from Ash Wednesday, March 5, through Palm Sunday, April 13. The 2025 Lenten Reflection Guide: Jubilee of Hope from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns contains reflections, questions, prayers, fasts, and actions based on each week’s Gospel reading and the experience of Maryknoll missioners…
March-April 2025
Vol. 50, No. 2 A bi-monthly newsletter on international justice and peace issues.
Two-pager: Jubilee Year Explained
Download and share the handy two-pager on the 2025 Jubilee Year:
Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
The images in Sirach and Luke’s Gospel in this Sunday’s readings create quite a mosaic collection of ‘fullness of heart’. The rhythm of winnowing, a potter’s preparation, and gathering fruit are not lofty images; they have been normal tasks for so many. What are we missing as symbols where we are and in the midst…
Responding to the Foreign Aid Freeze
In this webinar we cover the recent changes to U.S. Federal foreign aid spending through a lens of Catholic Social Teachings. The questions we attempt to answer are: The recording of the webinar and the presentation slides are below, as well as the referenced resources from the webinar. This webinar was broadcast live at 3pm…
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
The people praised David for his bravery in defeating and slaying Goliath. We know through scripture that King Saul was very jealous of David’s success and eventually sought to kill him. David had to run. But, in today’s reading, David is given the chance to turn the tide and slay King Saul. He refuses to…