Enkindle: Family Scripture Reflections

In this week's readings, Jesus cuts through over 600 laws and centuries of debate. Fr. Erik Arnold uses the greatest commandment to remind us that faith was never meant to be this complicated. It’s about love, and love is sacrificial. So the question isn’t what we believe, but what we’re actually giving.

We learn the word “mine” as toddlers and never really unlearn it. Kristen Fisher uses that very human instinct to unpack Jesus’s famous line about Caesar’s coins and the much bigger point He was making: that we bear God’s image, not Caesar’s, and everything we are belongs to Him. Not because He wants to control us, but because He loves us and wants to keep giving us more.

In this reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Adam Novotny lets us in on a secret that St. Paul and St. Ignatius knew--that true freedom comes from holy indifference: learning to want only what brings us cloer to God.

What do you do when you've done everything you can and you still don't know how the story ends? Scott Oesterle sits with that question this week, drawing on St. Paul's words to the Philippians to show us that when we reach the edge of our control, the answer isn't to try harder at worrying. It's an invitation to bring our fears to Jesus and let His peace guard our hearts.

In this reflection for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Scott Oesterle uses a memorable encounter on a Grand Canyon honeymoon hike to explore the parable of the vineyard workers, showing how comparison steals our joy and how God's generosity toward others takes nothing away from His love for us.

In this reflection for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Adam Novotny uses the parable of the unforgiving servant to show how God has forgiven us an unpayable debt, challenging us to extend that same boundless forgiveness to the difficult people in our own lives.

In this reflection for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Kristen Fisher draws on St. Zélie Martin's motto "carry on bravely" to explore how love requires courage in ordinary moments, including the difficult conversations Jesus calls us to have with those who have hurt us, not to win an argument but to win back our brother or sister.

In this reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Scott Oesterle uses Peter's "foot in mouth" moment to show that true discernment is not about thinking harder until we figure out God's plan, but about allowing God to transform the way we think so we can recognize and follow His still, small voice.

In this reflection for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Erik Arnold explores the question "Who am I?" through Peter's profession of faith, showing how the more we come to know Jesus in prayer, the more He reflects back to us who we truly are, encouraging us especially to let Jesus answer that question before the world does.

In this reflection for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Scott Oesterle uses the image of a baby learning to walk to explore the Canaanite woman's persistent faith, showing us that great faith isn't about always feeling God's presence but about taking the next step toward Jesus even when He seems silent.

In this reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Adam Novotny explores how God spoke to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire but in a tiny whispering sound, drawing on quotes from St. John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and St. John of the Cross to challenge us to cultivate silence so we can recognize and hear God's still, quiet voice.

In this reflection for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Kristen Fisher connects the feeding of the 5,000 to the offertory at Mass, showing how Jesus always starts with what we bring Him, no matter how small or broken, and transforms it into something far beyond what we could imagine.

In this reflection for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Erik Arnold uses the story of thrift store treasure hunters to illustrate Jesus's parable of the pearl of great price, showing how the kingdom of God is easily overlooked by those without wisdom and challenging us to quiet down, pray faithfully, and ask the Holy Spirit for the gift to recognize and pursue what is truly most valuable.

In this reflection for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Kristen Fisher connects the parable of the mustard seed to World Cup soccer players, showing how sainthood, like athletic greatness, is built not on one heroic decision but on thousands of small, persistent "yes" choices to Jesus made with the help of the Holy Spirit.

In this reflection for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Adam Novotny connects Isaiah's image of rain watering the earth to the parable of the sower, showing how God generously scatters His Word into all hearts and challenging us to ask whether we are good soil, ready to receive and grow from the Word of God.

In this reflection for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Scott Oesterle uses his two-year-old son's insight that "good kings ride on donkeys" to explore Jesus's meek and humble heart, challenging us to flip our idea of greatness and love our families with the gentle strength that serves rather than demands to be served.

In this reflection for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Erik Arnold uses a 17th-century painting of the Adoration of the Christ Child to illuminate the call to love Jesus above all else. This is not a demand to choose between God and family, but an invitation to fall more deeply in love with Jesus than we ever thought possible. See the painting here .

In this reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Scott Oesterle explores how God notices the smallest details of our lives, encouraging us to acknowledge Christ by paying attention to and welcoming the people around us who feel overlooked.

In this reflection for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Adam Novotny explores Jesus's words "the kingdom of heaven is at hand," reminding us that heaven is an immediate, accessible reality through Christ, not just a future promise, and encouraging us to repent and reconcile "early and often."

In this Corpus Christi reflection, Kristen Fisher tells the story of Tarcisius, a young altar server who died protecting the Eucharist while bringing it to imprisoned Christians, using his courageous faith to challenge us to believe what Jesus truly promised: that His flesh is real food that gives us strength for the journey to heaven.

In this reflection for Trinity Sunday, Scott Oesterle traces the story from creation through sin's separation to John 3:16, showing how the Trinity's eternal love moved God to send His Son to heal what sin broke and invite us into that love beginning at baptism.

In this reflection for Pentecost, Fr. Erik Arnold shares a personal story of how he encountered the Holy Spirit, and he encourages us to open our hearts to the One who brings our faith, our church, the Sacraments, and everything to life.

In this reflection for the Ascension of the Lord, Kristen Fisher explores how the apostles experienced confusion and doubt at Jesus's ascension, expecting Him to restore Israel's earthly kingdom, but His final words called them not to understand everything but to trust: "I am with you always."

This week Adam explores a theme woven through all three readings: God doesn't just exist above us, he dwells within us. With a little help from the Genie in Aladdin, discover what it means that the all-powerful, transcendent God chooses to make his home in you.

In this reflection for the fifth Sunday of Easter, Scott Oesterle reminds that our Father is preparing the perfect Home with him and that Jesus leads the way towards it.