Fr. Bob’s Weekly Reflections

If there is one word that describes the essence of the Christian faith, it is “Easter.” In celebrating Easter, we are celebrating victory – the victory of the Son of God over humanity’s greatest enemy: death.

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, the most solemn and sacred period in the Church calendar. It is a pivotal moment in the journey towards Christ’s passion.

We come across a unique scene in this week’s Gospel. Jesus is sitting down and quietly teaching when a hostile crowd appears. In their custody is a woman accused of adultery. In today’s world, adultery is quite common, sadly

Many of us remember the iconic singer Marvin Gaye, who rose to fame in the 1970s and '80s. A key figure in the Motown label, he earned multiple Grammys.

Most of us are familiar with the term “freeloader”— someone who takes and takes, but never gives back. If you’ve ever gone to lunch with a freeloader, they’re the one who happens to forget their money. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a story about this kind of life, but instead of a person, the freeloader is a fig tree. The tree takes from the soil, drawing nourishment but never producing fruit—no figs to return what it’s been given.

I’ve preached on this Gospel many times and I’ve read it countless times. Yet, each time I read about the Transfiguration of Christ, I discover new meaning, fresh questions, and deeper insights into Christian doctrine.

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?”