Maryknoll Fr. Lo Dam reflects on Epiphany as the start of Jesus’ mission in the world and a call for us to follow in his footsteps. Liturgically speaking, the Christmas season ends with the Epiphany, and the New Year’s Ordinary time starts with this feast of Baptism of Our Lord, since today is also the…
Returned Lay Missioner Debbie Northern reflects the meaning of epiphanies for the Magi and in our lives of faith today. After following a large star for several months, expecting the portentous sight of a newborn King, the Magi discover a recently born child and his parents huddled in a stable surrounded by shepherds and animals….
Susan Gunn, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Director, explores the Christmas story’s implications in our lives and treatment of migrants and refugees. The journey of Christmas continues in the readings today. The family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph must escape an evil ruler and live as refugees in Egypt for a few years. The Gospel of Matthew tells us the…
Maryknoll Fr. John Keegan speaks of holding fast to hope and joy in the midst of suffering and pain during the Christmas season. Celebrating Christmas is a matter of allowing our joy to be touched by painful realization. For the fleeting moments of celebration, our attention is drawn to the saving power of gentleness and…
Maryknoll Affiliates Louis and Janet Tullo reflect on Joseph’s quiet courage. This reflection is included in our 2025 Advent Reflection Guide, along with discussion questions, prayers and quotes from Maryknoll missioners and affiliates. Last year, the Gospel reading for today focused on Mary’s perspective. This year, we walk with Joseph. Both stories are profiles in…
Maryknoll lay missioner Sarah Bueter reflects on small acts of love and justice. This reflection is included in our 2025 Advent Reflection Guide, along with discussion questions, prayers and quotes from Maryknoll missioners and affiliates. In this Sunday’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist waits in expectation from his prison cell. He…
Maryknoll Sr. Ann Hayden invites us to be hopeful this Advent. This reflection is included in our 2025 Advent Reflection Guide, along with discussion questions, prayers and quotes from Maryknoll missioners and affiliates. Pope Leo XIV, in his recent Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te, said “Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the…
Maryknoll Fr. James Kroeger invites us to walk with God this Advent. This reflection is included in our 2025 Advent Reflection Guide, along with discussion questions, prayers and quotes from Maryknoll missioners and affiliates. Our three scripture readings for this first Sunday of Advent overflow with rich imagery that alerts us to be vigilant and…
Maryknoll lay missioner Rick Dixon challenges us to take on the humble qualities of Christ, our king. On this feast day of Christ the King, I rush to read John 6, where Jesus withdraws to the mountain alone after a miracle when he knows the crowd is about to take him by force to make…
Maryknoll Sr. Janet Srebalus in Tanzania offers hope amid suffering. As we approach the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, many of us are looking forward to Advent, and the Christmas Season, Christ’s birth among us, and the hopeful message of “peace on earth, goodwill to all.” However, before we start preparing for a…
Maryknoll Seminarian Joe Odundo in Chicago reflects on God’s temple. One of my favorite African theologians, John Mbiti, said in his book, African Religion and Philosophy, “Africans are notoriously religious.” This is neither an exaggeration nor a coincidence. Regardless of the religion people convert to, wherever Africans are, they carry their religiosity with them. This…
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Kathy Bond reflects on God’s love for us all. “Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) Today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans speaks to us…
Maryknoll Sr. Maureen Hanahoe reflects on God’s merciful love. How do we evaluate the quality of our lives? Is it through our comparison with others and a sense of self- righteousness, or is it through the willingness to accept who we are with honesty and transparency, embracing both our strengths and limitations, knowing we are…
Maryknoll Fr. Joseph Healey works with small Christian communities in Africa and online. He invited members of one such community, the St. Isidore of Seville International Online Small Christian Community, with members in Ireland, Kenya, Tanzania and the United States, to write this week’s reflection. Here is a personal witness story. I am 22-year-old Mary…
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Sarah Bueter reflects on the power of God’s grace. In this week’s readings, those explicitly on the “outside”–the Syrian, the Samaritan, the foreigner– show us that God desires healing for all, and teach us about a faith that “saves”—a surrender of the self, a disposition of humility and trust, and gratitude that…
Maryknoll Sr. Leonor Montiel reflections on God’s vision of love. The first reading and the gospel for the twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time provide us a glimpse of the reality of the people at the time. The first reading mentions violence, destruction, discord, strife and misery. The gospel describes a world of servants and masters…
Maryknoll Fr. Frank Breen reflects on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Today’s gospel from Luke, about the rich man and Lazarus the poor man, is one of many passages that highlight a major thematic issue in Luke, namely the relationship between wealth and poverty. The gospels in general do not give a…
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Gabe Hurrish in South Sudan reflects on the Parable of the Unjust Steward. Today’s Sunday readings struck me right in the face. I live in South Sudan where almost everything written in the readings resonates with the current struggles of the people. The leaders of this extremely poor East African country have…
