Encounters (31st Ordinary Sunday: Wis. 11:22-12:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2; Luke 19:1-10) As we read and reflected on this weekend’s scripture readings, the word encounter kept surfacing. This is obvious in the gospel story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. In the second reading, Paul and his companions Silvanus and Timothy wrote, “We always…

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Gratitude for Healing (28th Ordinary Sunday: 2 Kings 5:14-17; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19) Since we are going to reflect on gratitude, we begin by thanking all of you, our faithful readers, and those among you who occasionally send helpful and encouraging comments. We will also be discussing healing. In today’s…

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Increase our Faith (27th Ordinary Sunday: Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1: 6-14; Luke 17:5-10) When the apostles asked Jesus, “Increase our faith,” they were implying two things:  first, that they already had it; and second, that it was his responsibility to improve it. Why would they expect him to do…

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