“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.
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...
All Saints Day – Sister Mary Ann Cook, SNDdeN
November 1, 2022 Matthew 5: 1-12a Today’s first reading gives us an inspiring vision: “A great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue,” stands before the throne of God. They are “wearing white robes, holding palm branches in...
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Eileen Burns, SNDdeN
October 30, 2022 Luke 19: 1-10 When I began to think about writing about this Gospel on Zacchaeus, my thoughts were going in a very different direction. I hope that what I am about to share is Spirit-led. The opening line of today’s gospel caught me. “At that time,...
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Jo-Ann Recker, SNDdeN
October 23, 2022 Luke 18: 9-14 “O, God, be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke) His interviewer asked the first question: “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” The pope stared at him in silence, so the interviewer asked him if this was a question he was permitted to ask. The...
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Maria Delaney, SNDdeN
October 16, 2022 Luke 18: 1-8 The readings for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday revolve around perseverance and they offer a study in why we need to discern situations. The Gospel verse is “The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the...
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Maureen Lomax, SNDdeN
October 9, 2022, 2022 Luke 17: 11-19 Most of us can recall being taught by our parents and teachers that we should say ‘thank you’ and show gratitude especially when we had been given gifts or been shown kindness. Being grateful to God for everything was frequently...
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Evelyn McKenna, SNDdeN
October 2, 2022 Luke 17: 5-10 Today’s Gospel calls us to reflect on the quality of our faith. The context of Jesus’ conversation with his apostles indicates that they certainly had faith – but they were searching for an even deeper and more significant experience of...
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Patricia Butler, SNDdeN
September 25, 2022 Luke 16: 19-31 Jesus offers for our reflection today a story in which he challenges the Pharisees to live the transformative value of hospitality. Jesus juxtaposes Abraham’s gift of a hospitable nature with the rich man’s lack of hospitality. In...
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Maureen O’Brien, SNDdeN
September 18, 2022 Luke 16: 1-13 I have always believed that the Word of God waits for me in people, places and things. That it holds me fast until the Word transforms my life. Or at least makes me honest enough to pray for the grace to change. On June 29th, 2022,...
Vigésimo quarto domingo do tempo comum – Irmã Sister Jane Dwyer, SNDdeN
11 de setembro de 2022 Lucas 15, 1-32 As palavras que abrem o Evangelho de hoje nos colocam firmemente no centro do conflito entre Jesus e os fariseus e escribas e, portanto, na encruzilhada de nossa escolha de ser realmente um seguidor ou seguidora viva de Jesus....
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Jane Dwyer, SNDdeN – English
September 11, 2022 Luke 15: 1-32 The opening words for today´s Gospel place us firmly in the center of the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes and therefore in the crossroad of our choice to really be a living follower of Jesus. Who believes in and...
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Betsy Flynn, SNDdeN
September 4, 2022 Luke 14: 25-33 In the time Jesus walked the earth, he was a teacher with his disciples. In our time, Jesus needs and calls disciples to do his work in the world today. The gospel this week, Luke 14: 25-33 reflects on the call to discipleship as...
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sister Barbara Barry, SNDdeN
August 28, 2022 Luke 14:1, 7-14 So often in the gospels the Pharisees are portrayed in a less than positive light. As some of the religious leaders of the day, they take their role seriously to figure out who this Jesus is. They follow him, observe his actions, listen...