Scripture Reading & Reflections

“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.

Glimpses of God’s Goodness

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.

Vigésimo terceiro domingo do tempo comum – Irma Jane Dwyer, SNDdeN

10 de setembro de 2023 Mateus 18: 15 - 20 Mateus escreve seu Evangelho por volta dos anos 80 a 85, bastante tempo depois do assassinato de Jesus e também durante os anos em que o crescente número de cristãos que enfrentavam conflitos com o Império Romano e a religião...

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Jane Dwyer, SNDdeN

September 10, 2023 Matthew 18: 15 - 20 Matthew writes his Gospel around the years 80 to 85, a fairly long time after the murder of Jesus and also during the years that the growing number of Christians facing conflicts with the Roman Empire and the Jewish religion,...

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Nancy Rowen, SNDdeN

September 3, 2023 Matthew 16: 21-27 Before any serious commitment, we need clarity: What does this offer and what will it require from me? Will it be worth it? Am I able and willing? Today’s Gospel begins, “From that time on… Jesus began to show his disciples….” what...

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Angele Lewis, SNDdeN

August 27, 2023 Matthew 16: 13-20 Today’s reading from Matthew 16: 13-20 shows Jesus using “engaging questions” to draw people, followers, disciples into deeper conversations with Him. Jesus begins by asking a type of “hook” question: “Who do PEOPLE say that the Son...

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Betsy Flynn, SNDdeN

August 20, 2023 Matthew 15: 21-28 The nameless daughter from the region of Tyre and Sidon suffers from the torment of the devil. The frightening experience that the devil has taken possession of her daughter brings the desperate mother to plead with Jesus. She...

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Honorine Yamba, SNDdeN

August 13, 2023 Matthew 14: 22-33 Every time I am in touch with this text I am attracted by the episode of Peter as he approaches Jesus. Today this text touches me differently. Three important aspects attract my attention. 1. Service 2. Prayer 3. Encounter 1. Service:...

Feast of the Assumption – Sister Esther Adama, SNDdeN

August 15, 2023 Luke 1: 39-56 Dogmas are the core beliefs about faith. Since the beginning of time, the Church has proclaimed four Marian dogmas: the dogma of the Divine Motherhood known as the Theotokos, the dogma of Mary's Perpetual Virginity, the dogma of the...

Transfiguration of the Lord- Sister Patricia Butler, SNDdeN

August 6, 2023 Matthew 17: 1-9 The story of the Transfiguration helps us to understand the possibility of transformation to which we are all called. Jesus is transformed into a bright light and we are told that God is well pleased with Jesus and we are to listen to...

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Barbara Metz, SNDdeN

July 9, 2023 Matthew 11: 25-30 The song “Come As You Are” by Paul Gurr was very popular a few years back. It contains lyrics taken from the beautiful invitation in the reading from Matthew’s gospel that we have in today’s liturgy. There is in Matthew’s gospel and in...

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Agnes Nelson, SNDdeN

July 2, 2023 Matthew 10: 37-42 “ Those who lose their lives for my sake will find life. Those who give even a cup of water to one of these little ones will certainly not lose their reward.” What is it that would enable me to welcome another person, no matter who, with...

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Maura McMenamin, SNDdeN

June 25, 2023 Matthew 10: 26-33 “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are mine” These words from a well- known hymn encapsulates, perhaps, the messages from today’s Gospel. There would seem to be two main teachings by Jesus...

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Liane Delsuc, SNDdeN

June 18, 2023 Matt. 9: 36 -10:8   As Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we strive to proclaim the goodness of God with our lives, a goodness revealed in each of today’s readings. In the first reading, Moses goes ‘up the mountain’ where he can hear God’s voice....

Corpus Christi Sunday – Sister Ifeoma Okpala, SNDdeN

June 11, 2023 John 6: 51-58 Two incidents came to my mind as I prepared to share my reflection on the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. The first incident was a few years ago when I came across a postcard depicting the image of hands breaking bread. The back...

Trinity Sunday – Sister Mary Cluderay, SNDdeN

June 4, 2023 John 3: 16-18 I begin with the words of Jesus which he speaks to His Disciples as He prepares to leave them: "All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the...