Fr. Bob’s Weekly Reflections

Today, we hear about Jesus being tempted in the desert. When we think of deserts, we often picture dry, barren landscapes that leave us tired and thirsty. But deserts can also be spiritual—parched places within our hearts and souls. These are the places that leave us feeling weak, vulnerable, and lost.

I once tried to think of an instance of seeing a speck in another’s eye and not seeing the beam in your own. I turned to another passage from Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee in the Temple.

I want you to set aside all the familiar mental and emotional images we have of Jesus. Forget the doctrines, titles, and labels about Him. Just imagine a first-century Jew living under Roman occupation, blending in with the crowd. 

At a 25th wedding anniversary reception, a husband, perhaps a bit tipsy, thanked the crowd and boasted about his perfect marriage. When he sat down, his wife asked, “Tell me what hurts me.” He replied, “How do I know what hurts you?” She answered, “If you don’t know what hurts me, how can you say you love me?”

Failure is a universal part of life. It touches all of us, and it is experienced in both minor and significant ways. Sometimes, we face small setbacks—losing a game, burning dinner, or struggling with weight loss. 

The more unusual an event is, the easier it is to believe that God is involved. Take, for example, two men diagnosed with cancer. The first man undergoes surgery, and it reveals a small tumor that is easily removed. After some treatment, he recovers and returns to work. Everything goes back to normal.

In our second reading today, we read a letter St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Corinth was a diverse city, attracting people from all regions of the Roman Empire. It was a hub of government, trade and sports, yet was also known as a "sin city." To live like a Corinthian came to mean "wallowing in immorality." 

One-hundred and sixteen years ago this week, our founder, Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, looked around the Christian world and saw nothing but disunity. Moved by this, he resolved to initiate an annual Week of Prayer, during which Christians across the world could come together and pray for the unity of all believers, echoing Christ’s prayer the night before He died:

Today might feel a bit strange. The Church is still lively, but somehow different. The Nativity scene is packed away, the wise men have returned to the East, the shepherds have gone back to their flocks, the angels have stopped singing, and the star has disappeared. Christmas is now a memory.

In our second reading today, we hear about Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, a Roman Centurion and Gentile, whom the Jews considered unclean. Peter hesitated at first, seeing him as a foreigner, a soldier, and a sinner. But Peter’s heart changed when he realized that God shows no partiality. He baptized Cornelius, bringing him into the faith.