Fr. Bob’s Weekly Reflections

We hear in our Gospel today about some people who have come to Jerusalem for the Passover. They have heard about this miracle worker, Jesus, so they approach a friend of His, Philip, and they make a request: “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”

Many years ago there was a song performed by a man named Meatloaf. The chorus of the song went like this: “I want you, I need you, but there ain’t no way I’m ever going to love you. But don’t be sad, don’t be sad, ‘cause two out of three ain’t bad.”

Our second reading today is, perhaps, the highpoint of Christian literature. Paul tells us that the crucified one is the stumbling block, the absurdity for the unbeliever.

This Gospel of the Transfiguration is so rich; there is so much for a homilist to talk about. For the first time, the apostles saw beyond and behind and within the man they had known for three years.

A young man by the name of Piri Thomas wrote a book called, “Down These Mean Streets.” It describes his conversion from being a convict, a drug addict, and an attempted killer.

Leviticus shows us today that leprosy rendered one unworthy to worship. Afflicted persons were totally ostracized, both socially and ritually.

Imagine a small tavern in the Polish countryside, run by a husband and wife, where life keeps the same pace, day in and day out. The couple is arguing, with the husband protesting about how much he loves his wife. The wife turns to her husband and says, “Tell me what hurts me.”

Today we read about Jesus speaking in the synagogue at Capernaum. Mark does not tell us a single word that He spoke. Instead, he deals with the reaction of the listeners, and it seems they were divided.

The first reading usually gets ignored, so maybe it is time to take a look at Jonah. When we hear his name we think of one or two things: three days in the belly of a whale, or a character who brings bad luck wherever he goes.

Who are you looking for? In today’s Gospel, John is unselfishly fulfilling his vocation. He points out Jesus to his disciples, steering people toward the Lord, and John’s disciples leave him and follow after Jesus.