Mary M. McGlone

Scripture for Life: Like all parents, each of us is called to labor together with God. We may be young, enthusiastic and optimistic. We might be middle-aged or old enough to have learned that hope is not about expectations but discernment.

Scripture for Life: We might say that prudence is the prophetic virtue Jesus exhibited at the beginning of his ministry. Prudence is audacious and can be disturbing.

Scripture for Life: John points us toward the one he called the Lamb of God who can take away the sin of the world. Following the Lamb of God will give us the grace to evaluate the stuff of our lives.

Scripture for Life: Jesus' baptism tells us that God's chosen way of being with us is not as an awesome ruler of the universe, but as one who chooses solidarity with us in all our weakness.

Scripture for Life: The account of pagan seers seeking the newborn Jesus fits right into Matthew's plan to open his parochial-minded audience up to the fact that the Gospel is universal.

Scripture for Life: Matthew's story tells us how God gambled on Joseph. Luke's Nativity reveals how God gambled on Mary. In reality, God gambles on all of us. In return, our faith is a gamble that God's love will lead us in times of confusion and doubt.

Scripture for Life: If we allow today's Scriptures to guide us, we will ask more questions and give fewer answers about the Christ of Christmas present.

Scripture for Life: What's not to love about John the Baptist? Frankly, just about everything if you happen to be the object of his acidic critiques.

Scripture for Life: The Advent season combines penitence and hope. It reminds us that our hope is little more than childish wishes until we recognize how we have failed to live up to our human vocation. 

Scripture for Life: Christian art is graphic theology. The Christian community makes theology experiential. The life of the baptized can never be neutral. We who pray, "Thy kingdom come," are always presenting an image of Christ to the world.

Scripture for Life: The Gospel tells us that we can accept today's crises — from the personal to the cosmic — as God-given occasions of grace and opportunities to give witness. 

Scripture for Life: Sometimes, it seems that facing a fiery furnace once and for all is easier than overcoming the incessant enticements of society's promotion of shallow meaning, oppressive power, and self-serving relationships. 

Scripture for Life: Zacchaeus' story, like the rest of the Christian Scriptures, reminds us that God first loves us; God's love is all that we need and that it is the only power that can make us worthy.

Scripture for Life: Only those who know their need for God will pray in a way that God can answer. God likes us best when we are humble enough to admit to ask for help and are open to receive what God wants to give.

Scripture for Life: Who taught you to pray? How did they explain the purpose of prayer? How has your image of God changed as you have grown? How has your way of praying changed as you have matured?

Scripture for Life: Jesus made no gesture and said no word of healing; he simply told them to go to Jerusalem and show themselves to the priest. Of course, that was forbidden; they couldn't go near others because they were lepers. They went away — whether feeling dismissed or hopeful, we have no idea.

Scripture for Life: Jesus was absolutely convinced that the power of God's love was like a seed that, given the right conditions, would change the world. But he also knew that it doesn't happen overnight.

Scripture for Life: Jesus didn't tell parables as comforting bedtime stories. Parables should wake us up. The first sign that we are hearing Jesus' message is that it makes us uncomfortable.

Scripture for Life: Today, as we pray for a clean heart, Luke teaches us that sharing God's heart will catapult us into prodigal freedom. God's first concern is always for the lost.

Scripture for Life: Today's Gospel suggests that many of us who assess discipleship by baptism, confirmation, liturgical ministry, etc., are far more comfortable than Jesus' followers should expect to be.