Just as I sat down to write this reflection, I received a phone call. Apparently, someone using my name was trying to scam a parishioner. This has happened to me and other people I know, and the general consensus is to assure people it wasn’t us and move on.

As this year’s election cycle ramps up, we might lament that there never seems to be an ideal candidate. Certainly, we must be realistic, we know, but choosing “the lesser of two evils” doesn’t make us feel much better in the booth.

As a seminarian, I spent a summer in Mexico working on my Spanish. I grew up speaking Spanish, but my grammar left much to be desired. Part of the program involved a professor teaching us history and culture, and one of the lessons that hit me the hardest was his description of the arrival of Spanish
missionaries.

This Sunday’s readings offer profound insights into how we live out our faith amid life’s challenges and diverse ideas of success.

In today’s world, where power, prestige, and wealth often define success, the concept of humility seems increasingly countercultural. Yet, the wisdom found in ancient texts offers us a perspective that challenges our modern understanding of greatness. Through the lens of Scripture and real-life examples, we are called to reflect on what greatness truly is.

This weekend’s readings invite us to reflect deeply on the nature of true discipleship — a call that extends beyond mere verbal profession to a life of action, sacrifice, and unyielding trust in God. Discipleship is not a path of comfort or ease; it demands courage, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace the cross, as countless saints and believers have demonstrated throughout history. 

Today’s readings invite us to reflect deeply on the transformative power of God’s love and the call to recognize and respond to the inherent dignity of every person, particularly those who are often marginalized or misunderstood.

Today’s readings draw us into a profound reflection on the core of our faith and the ways we are called to live it out, not just in words but through meaningful action. The commandments given by God are not merely rules but guiding principles that lead us to a life that is truly aligned with his love and wisdom.

Today, in our proclamation of sacred Scripture, we conclude this brief, five week excursus into John’s Gospel. As we’ve mentioned, the Gospel readings in the Year B liturgical cycle are normally taken from the Evangelist Mark, but for the summer, we take a break to delve into the eucharistic-themed sixth chapter of the Johannine Gospel.