“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.
Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Matthew 15: 21-28 Sunday Reflection by Sister Nina Vandamme, SNDdeN This passage from the Gospel is about the faith of a Canaanite woman. She did not belong to the chosen people of Israel. Jesus was with his apostles in the region of Tyre and Sidon where the...
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Luke 1: 39 - 56 Sunday Reflection by Sister Tess Rynn, SNDdeN “You couldn’t make it up !!” How often have I said those words over recent months in relation to the ‘Coronavirus.’ Had we read about this present scenario in a novel I imagine we would be inclined to think...
Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Matthew 14: 22 - 33 Sunday Reflection by Sister Nancy Wellmeier, SNDdeN Jesus Walks on Water Perhaps, you, like Jesus, were looking forward this summer to some time of reflection, some contemplation of what lies ahead, (He could glimpse a hint of his future in the...
Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mt. 14: 13-21 Sunday Reflection by Sister Mary Cluderay, SNDdeN “May I be always close to You Following all your ways, Lord” I think these lines express the meaning and message of today’s Gospel. We begin with the news of the death of John the Baptist and Jesus’...
Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Matthew 13: 44 - 52 Sunday Reflection by Sister Joan Mary Brown, SNDdeN A frequent question asked by the retreat accompanier of a retreatant is, “What has stayed with you from the scripture passage which you have been contemplating?” From this passage of the Gospel of...
Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Matthew 13: 1-23 Sunday Reflection by Sister Marilyn Pechillo, SNDdeN The readings for today present us with a sower sowing seed. I would like to look at three elements in the scene. How does the sower sow? Who is the sower? What is the message God is giving us? How...
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Matthew 11: 25-30 Sunday Reflection by Sister Marie Tighe, SNDdeN The first half of today’s reading begins with the words: “I bless you Father Lord of heaven and of earth”. Blessings had an integral place in Jesus’ Jewish prayer life. He instituted the Eucharist with...
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 10: 37-42 Sunday Reflection by Sister Michela Sheehan, SNDdeN At the time Matthew wrote his gospel the fact of having to break with one’s family was a very painful and concrete necessity .The leaders of the Jews had decided that those who converted to Christ...
Canonization Day of St. Julie Billiart
Luke 8:4-8, 11-15 Feast Day Reflection by Sister Priscilla Aliu, SNDdeN Saint Julie Billiart, the Foundress of the Sisters of Notre de Namur, was canonized on June 22nd 1969 by Pope Paul VI. The life and works of this little peasant girl, born in France in 1751...
Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Matthew 10: 26-33 Sunday Reflection by Sister Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN WHAT DO WE WHISPER ABOUT? The opening lines of today’s Gospel certainly capture our attention: “Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known” even to...
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Matthew 11: 25-30 Feast Day Reflection by Sister Esther Adama, SNDdeN The heart is the center of both physical and emotional-intellectual-moral activities. It is sometimes difficult to access it and when one is able to gain access to it, this becomes a...
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
John 6: 51-58 Feast Day Reflection by Sister Maureen Lomax, SNDdeN Memories of my First Communion Day at St Luke’s RC Church (Liverpool Archdiocese, England) seventy years ago: wearing a white dress (mine was homemade of parachute silk…post-war bonus!) and a plain...
Santíssima Trindade
João 3:16-18 Reflexão de domingo pela irmã Kátia Webster, SNDdeN Hoje é domingo da Santíssima Trindade. É o último domingo do tempo da Quaresma e da Páscoa, que começou na Quarta-feira de Cinzas. Na próxima semana, retornaremos ao Tempo Comum na liturgia. Jesus, em...
The Most Holy Trinity
John 3: 16-18 Sunday Reflection by Sister Katy Webster, SNDdeN Today is Holy Trinity Sunday. It is the last Sunday in the time of Lent and Easter, which began on Ash Wednesday. Next week we return to Common Time in the liturgy. Jesus in his discourse to Nicodemus who...
Pentecost Sunday
John 20: 19-23 Sunday Reflection by Sister Priscilla Aliu, SNDdeN The feast of the Pentecost is the birthday and the inauguration of the church. The apostles in company of Mary received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy gave the apostles a communal confirmation to...
Seventh Sunday of Easter
John 17: 1 - 11a Sunday Reflection by Sister Barbara Thiella, SNDdeN Early March of 2020, my large California living community withdrew and began waiting for the coronavirus to go away. Sequestered, the 400+ began our long wait for healing. Like the community of...
Ascensão do Senhor
Mateus 28, 16-20 Reflexão do Dia da Festa pela Irmã Rebecca Spires, SNDdeN A mensagem de Jesus é muito clara: Vai ao mundo inteiro, não deixe ninguém de fora. Ensina o que eu vos ensinei, faz o que eu fazia. E isso me lembra das palavras de Madre São José:...
Ascension Thursday
Matthew 28: 16 - 20 Feast Day Reflection by Sister Rebecca Spires, SNDdeN Jesus' message is very clear: Go to the whole world, let no one be left out. Teach what I taught you, do what I did. It reminds me of Mother St. Joseph's words: "Live with the life of Jesus,...
Vigil of the Ascension
John 10:1-10 Feast Day Reflection by Sister Angele Lewis, SNDdeN Today’s liturgical readings mark a shift from Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances to selections that feature the teachings of Jesus on discipleship. This Vigil of the Ascension identifies us as SHEEP...
Sixth Sunday of Easter
John 14: 15 - 21 Sunday Reflection by Sister Barbara Barry, SNDdeN Happy Easter! May the joy and hope of the resurrection give you strength during these difficult days. Over the years I have become more conscious of the fact that our scriptures, rather than being an...
