“As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
“Like Mary whose name we bear, we are called to hear the word of God and keep it. Our attentive listening shapes in us a contemplative and prophetic attitude toward the whole of life and enables us to act in ways which witness to God’s love and justice.” (SNDdeN Constitution 47)
Perhaps our reflections on the weekly Gospel will help you nurture your own relationship with God.
Through these reflections on the Gospel Readings for the Sundays and Major Feasts of the Liturgical Year, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur from various parts of the world share with you their thoughts and ponderings on these Scripture passages. These reflections are posted in the language of the author with links to translation.
These Scripture readings and reflections reveal Glimpses of God’s Goodness in our daily lives. We pray that these reflections will strengthen your faith, renew your hope and enflame the love of God in you, and through you, to others.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Michela Sheehan, SNDdeN
February 5, 2023 Matthew 5: 13-16 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world.” When Jesus was speaking...
la Présentation du Seigneur- Soeur Marie-Angèle Kitewo, SNDdeN
le 2 février, 2023 Luc 2, 22-40 Il s’agit uniquement de l’action de grâce, c’est-à-dire: remettre, retourner à Dieu, avec reconnaissance et adoration, le bien qu’on a reçu de la générosité de ce même Maître de l’Univers. Un acte d’adoration devant l’expérience de la...
The Presentation of the Lord – Sister Marie-Angèle Kitewo, SNDdeN
February 2, 2023 Luke 2: 22-40 It is a way of thanksgiving, that is to say, giving back, returning to God, with gratitude and adoration, the good which we have received from the generosity of this same Master of the Universe. An act of adoration before the experience...
Quatrième dimanche du temps ordinaire- Soeur Godeliève Ziunga, SNDdeN
le 29 janvier, 2023 Matthieu 5, 1-12 Aujourd’hui, l’Eglise notre mère célèbre le 4 ème dimanche du temps ordinaire. L’évangile de ce jour nous parle du sermon sur la montagne. Dans ce passage, Jésus emploie le terme ‘’ Heureux’’ neuf fois; pour nous montrer combien ...
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Godelieve Ziunga, SNDdeN
January 29, 2023 Matthew 5: 1-12 Today the Church, our mother, celebrates the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel of the day is the Sermon on the Mount. In this passage, Jesus uses the term “blessed” nine times to show how important it is to listen to the Word...
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time- Sister Marna Rogers, SNDdeN
January 22, 2023 Matthew 4: 12-23 "Serve God with absolute singleheartedness. " Matthew 4: 12-23 "Stone is shaped, wood is carved, cloth is cut, and character must be formed." (Found in "Remembering God's Goodness" for 6 October.) This quote from one of Saint Julie's...
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Virginia Scally, SNDdeN
January 15, 2023 Jn 1: 29-34 It might be helpful to begin our reflection today by taking note of the Church’s meaning of the term, “Ordinary Time.” It’s true that “Ordinary Time” includes all the weeks NOT encompassed by the major, liturgical, preparatory seasons of...
Epiphany of the Lord – Sister Tess Rynn, SNDdeN
January 8, 2023 Matthew 2: 1-12 The Three Kings, Magi, Wise Men, whatever we choose to call them, are shrouded in mystery, a mystery which, in some sense, brings us closer to each other. We are told they were astrologers, aware of the Messianic prophesies and...
Mary Mother of God – Sister Mary O’Brien, SNDdeN
January 1, 2023 Luke 2: 16-21 “Hail, holy Mother! The child to whom you gave birth is the King of heaven and earth for ever.” – Entrance Antiphon The readings of the feast of Mary, Mother of God retell interludes in the story of the coming of Jesus in Bethlehem. She...
Christmas Day – Sister Maureen Lomax, SNDdeN
December 25, 2022 Jn 1: 1-18 The Gospel of John is very different from the Synoptic Gospels. It is not set in an earthly timeframe and does not set out to give an account of Jesus’s life as they do. All four Gospels trace Jesus back to a particular beginning: Matthew...
Christmas dawn – Sister Mary Ann Cook, SNDdeN
December 25, 2022 Luke 2: 15-20 The shepherds featured in Luke’s infancy narrative serve as a vital and significant link between the first Christmas Mass (at night) and the one at dawn. In the gospel at the night Mass, shepherds “living in the fields” around Bethlehem...
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Sister Magdalen Lawler, SNDdeN
December 18, 2022 Matthew 1: 18-24 Today, in Matthew’s gospel, we meet an extraordinary, ordinary man; Joseph, the husband of Mary. The just and holy man who walks familiarly with God was a beloved theme of Hebrew scripture. Joseph collaborates with God and with Mary...
Third Sunday of Advent – Sister Terry Davis, SNDdeN
December 11, 2022 Matthew 11: 2 - 11 Today’s Gospel poses the same question to us as it did to those in Jesus’ time “What do you go out to see?” The fast pace of our lives may obscure the reality that we do seek…but for what? More…of what? Other than…what? This sacred...
Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Sister Marilyn Kerber, SNDdeN
December 8, 2022 Luke 1:26-38 Do you like to be called by name when greeted with a good morning, a hello or a so good to see you? I do and I make it a point to do so when greeting others. Our names are important. Bound up in them are our identity, our history, who...
Second Sunday of Advent – Sister Camilla Burns, SNDdeN
December 4, 2022 Mt 3: 1- 12 The Gospel today presents the proclamation of repentance by John the Baptist followed by baptism in the waters of repentance. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines repentance as “a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return,...
First Sunday of Advent – Sister Jo Threlfall, SNDdeN
November 27, 2022 Mt 24:37-44 As we begin Advent 2022, in a world which is far from peaceful and calm our Readings call us to stop, reflect, listen, and recognise that we are not alone in this turbulent environment. Throughout the bible we read of God’s people being...
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – Sister Esther Adama, SNDdeN
November 20, 2022 Luke 23: 35-43 In 1925 the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe was declared by Pope Pius XI as part of the Church’s Liturgical calendar. He did this to re-establish the presence of Christ amidst the aftermath of World War I, an experience that...
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Catherine Waldron, SNDdeN
November 13, 2022 Luke 21: 5-19 If Christ were to be honored with a procession today, perhaps we would experience a truly loving Leader: a leader who proclaims Inclusivity of Love as our greatest human value Seeing God in every person we Encounter Reverence for and...
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Marilyn Pechillo, SNDdeN
November 6, 2022 Luke 20: 34 - 38 In today’s gospel, we see some Sadducees questioning Jesus about the resurrection. In the first reading from 2 Maccabees, we witness seven brothers accepting torment and death, firm in their belief that God will raise them up to...
Feast of All Souls – Sister Elizabeth Smoyer, SNDdeN
November 2, 2022 Wisdom 3: 1-91, Corinthians 15: 51-57, John 6: 34- 40 Our hearts are stretched wide as we gather in the love of deceased relatives, friends, co-workers and community members on this All Souls Day. Our hearts are stretched as we pray for all those who...
