Beads of Joy Blog II (2025 - 2026)

October 27 The Kingdom of God Image created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:18-21 (The Kingdom of God) “He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." And again, he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." Reflection: Mustard seeds and leaven can sound like an odd way for Jesus to describe the kingdom of God, but both of them start out so small you could easily overlook them and then quietly grow into something much bigger than anyone expected, which is exactly how our love for God tends to work in our own hearts. It often begins with nothing more than a little curiosity about who Jesus is, and that curiosity pulls us towar...

October 26 Freed From Your Infirmity Image created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:10-17 (Freed From Your Infirmity) “Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound f...

October 25   The Greatest Commandment Image created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40 (The Greatest Commandment) “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Reflection: Which is the greatest commandment? Why did they ask this? Because love needs to be brought into the light, and when they tried to trap Jesus with that very question, He didn’t hand him a long list of rules. He gave him two commands: love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as you love yourself...

October 24   The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree Image created by Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 (Parable of the Barren Fig Tree) A Call to Repentance. At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found ...

October 23     Preparing for the Storm Today’s Gospel: Luke 12:54-59 (Preparing For The Storm) “He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, `A shower is coming'; and so, it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? "And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper." Reflection: If you lived where floods or wildfires hit, you’d heed the warning. You’d pack the car and go. There wouldn’t be a debate. Jesus says we read th...

October 22   Love God First Today’s Gospel: Luke 12:49-53 (Love God First and Foremost) “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." Reflection: Who do you love more than anyone in the whole world? God. Of course! Jesus wants first place in your heart, and He’s worth it. When He talks about fire upon the earth, He’s not trying to scare us. He’s getting our attention. Our choices matter. When we put God first, everything else falls into place. When we p...

October 21 At An Unexpected Hour Image created by Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 12:39-48 (At An Unexpected Hour) “But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour." Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour,...

  October 20   Saint Paul of the Cross Image created by Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 12:35-38 (Watchful Servants) “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Reflection: Paul has the most welcoming news for the Ephesians: you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ! He is our peace. He tore down every dividing wall and made us one family, no longer strangers and foreigners, we are now fellow citizens of the saints and members of God’s household. Jesus is the cornerstone, and we are all part of His house. Can you picture our Chur...

  October 19 This Night Your Soul is Required of You   Image created using Google AI Image Creator. Today’s Gospel: Luke 12:13-21 (The Rich Fool) “One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the th...