Scripture Reflections for Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

"A bishop once visited a parish for confirmation, and during the homily he spotted one of the candidates to be confirmed and asked her: “What is matrimony?”. To the greatest disappointment of everybody, the girl said, “marriage is a place where souls suffer for a time for their sins.” But the parish priest reacted spontaneously; “No, no, that is purgatory.” And the bishop retorted, “let her be! She might be right. What do you and..."

Father Lawrence Obilor. "Divorce as a defeat to God’s original plan on Marriage." A Catholic Moment. October 3, 2021

"The account of the sixth day of creation ends with the words ‘God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good’ (Genesis, 1:31). So it’s puzzling to hear early on in the creation account in Genesis 2 that there is something ‘not good’ about this created order. But this should not make us think that there is some kind of lack, problem, or defect to the creation. In the first instance..."

Br. Albert Robertson. "Restless Hearts." Torch. September 29, 2021

"Wow! These readings could not have been more perfect for this current time with all that is going on in the world, on the heels of the World Meeting of Families, and immediately following the latest events (as of this writing) in what has become the 45th school shooting in the United States this year. If everyone lived by these readings today, even just most of the time, this world would be such a better..."

Joseph LaCombe. "Marriage Can Change the World." A Catholic Moment. October 3, 2015

"If one was able to choose suitable scripture readings to accompany Pope Francis’s return to Rome after his memorable visit to Cuba and the United States, one would probably choose the same passages from Genesis and from Mark’s gospel. They could hardly be more topical at a time when the approaching Synod of the Church is about to gather in Rome in October for the second time to discuss matters relating to family life and..."

Fr. Leo Edgar. "Family Matters." Torch. September 30, 2015

"Jesus says ‘from the beginning of creation, male and female he made them.’ The Pharisees ask a question about how to regulate family life and social stability. Jesus goes beyond all of that because he is not a social reformer aiming to ensure that society is better regulated. He is bringing about a new creation which will heal the wounds of the first and open new possibilities for a renewed humanity. In the beginning God..."

Fr. Mark Edney. "Healing Our Original Wound." Torch. October 7, 2012

"Think of the church weddings you have been to. Everything seems designed to make the occasion a celebration beyond the ordinary. Not only do the bride and groom wear special clothes but everyone dresses up. There are flower arrangements, a colourful carpet perhaps, the organ is played and there can be singing and even trained musicians. Generally there follows a reception or party, and there could well be dancing at the end."

Fr. Robert Ombres. "Restart from the Beginning." Torch. October 4, 2009

"It’s the experience of falling head over heels in love, no thought of difficulties to come, of the many compromises that have to be made if a relationship is to survive. And then Mark’s gospel brings things down to earth with its talk of divorce. It touches on the pain of falling out of love, on the sense of betrayal and deception — often self-deception as much as being deceived by one’s partner — that..."

Fr. Gordian Marshall. "Deciding to love." Torch. October 4, 2003