479 10-26-20 30th WOT Luke 13:10-17 Jesus wants to heal all our Ills. Is there anything that keeps you bound up or oppressed? Infirmity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, can befall us for a variety of reasons, and God can use it for some purpose that we do not understand. When Jesus encountered an elderlyContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-26-20”
Category Archives: Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflections
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-19-20
473 10-19-20 29th WOT Luke 12:13-21 The ten commandments were summarized into two prohibitions – do not worship false idols and do not covet what belongs to another. It is the flip side of the two great commandments – love God and love your neighbor. Jesus warned the man who wanted half of his brother’sContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-19-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-12-20
467 10-12-20 28th WOT Luke 11:29-32 “‘What is the sign of Jonah? The stumbling block of the cross. So, it is not the disputers of knowledge who will be saved but those who believe true teaching. For the cross of Christ is indeed a stumbling block to those who dispute knowledge but salvation to thoseContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 10-12-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 10-5-20
461 10-5-20 27th WOT Luke 10:25-37 God expects us to be merciful as he is merciful. What does Jesus’ story tell us about true love for one’s neighbor? First, we must be willing to help, even if others brought trouble on themselvesContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 10-5-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-28-20
455 9-28-20 26th WOT Luke 9:46-50 St Wenceslaus God’s love is unconditional, timeless, and boundless. Jesus, himself, is our model. He came not to be served, but to serve. Paul the Apostle states that Jesus, “emptied himself and took the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7) Jesus lowered himself (he whose place is at the right handContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-28-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-21-20
643 9-21-20 25th WOT St Matthew Apostle Matthew 9:9-13 The Matthew whom Jesus calls here is the apostle of the same name and the human author of the first Gospel. In Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 he is called Levi the son of Alphaeus or simply Levi. In addition to Baptism, through which God callsContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-21-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-14-20
Holy Cross John 3:13-17-9-14-20 Early in the fourth century St Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. She razed the temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior’s tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher overContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 9-14-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-31-20
431 8-31-20 22nd WOT Luke 4:16-30 How would you react if Jesus spoke this message from the pulpit of your church? It was customary for Jesus to go weekly to the synagogue to worship and on occasion to read the Scriptures and comment on them to the people.Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-31-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-24-20
21 SOT John 1:45-51 Saint Bartholomew was one of the twelve who were called to the apostolate by our blessed Lord himself. Several learned interpreters of the Holy Scripture take this apostle to have been the same as Nathaniel, a native of Cana, in Galilee, a doctor in the Jewish law, and one of theContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-24-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-17-20
419 8-17-20 20th WOT Mt 19:16-22 Recently I have been reading St. Thomas Aquinas and studying his theologies, noting the word concupiscence. St. James’ teaching in chapter 1:14-15 is that the source of temptation is to be found in our own passions. Elsewhere he says that the world (cf. 1:27; 4:4) and the devil (4:7)Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-17-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-10-20
918 8-10-20 19 WOT John 12:24-20St Lawrence Martyr Saint Lawrence was one of seven Deacons who were in charge of giving help to the poor and the needy. When a persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was condemned to death. As he was led to execution, Lawrence followed him weeping, “Father, where are you goingContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection- 8-10-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-8-3-20
407 408 8-3-20 18th WOT Mt 24:22-36 Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospel accounts (Luke 9:10-17, Mark 6:34-44, John 6:51-58, Matthew 14:13-21). What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude recalled the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness underContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-8-3-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-27-20
4040 401 7-27-20 17th WOT Mt 13:44-52 To be vibrant, to act as ferment, we need to be united to Christ. We cannot afford to allow our love for the Lord to weaken, since it is the interior strength which drives our apostolate. Without this union, all our works and effort will be without fruit. There haveContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-27-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-20-20
395 7-20-20 16th WOT Mt 12:38-42 Simeon had prophesied at Jesus’ birth that he was destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against… that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2:34-35). Jesus confirmed his message with many miracles in preparation for the greatest signContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-20-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-20-20 – Español
395 20-20-20 16th WOT Mt 12: 38-42 Simeón había profetizado en el nacimiento de Jesús que estaba destinado a la caída y el levantamiento de muchos en Israel, y por una señal que se habla en contra … que los pensamientos de muchos corazones pueden ser revelados (Lucas 2: 34-35). Jesús confirmó su mensaje conContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-20-20 – Español”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-13-20
389 7-13-20 15th WOT Mt 10:34-11:1 God Must Take First Place In Our Lives Jesus told his disciples that if they followed him it would be costly because they must put God’s kingdom first and obey his word. Whenever a great call is given it inevitably causes division between those who accept and reject it. Continue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection-7-13-20”
