Come Away By Yourselves

"Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more."   Jesus' response to our sins.   https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

The Crowning of Jesus with thorns reveals his humility and his rectitude of intention.  Christ's intense focus on his mission frees him from concern for the respect of others. God the Father's love and affirmation makes up for the disdain of men.   We too need to rectify our intention, trying to do all for the glory of God.  Along with realizing God's fatherly love for us, this will...

Christ’s words have the power to change us.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

The book of Wisdom predicts the rejection of Christ who is a reproach to the wicked.  We can react in the same way to goodness.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Faith is essential for life - who should we trust? https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

"Do you wish to be healed?"  A great question from Jesus to each one of us.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

"I am about to create new heavens and a new earth."  Faith in God means faith in his power to recreate and renew us, no matter how bad we are.   https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

On the Fourth Sunday of Lent the Church encourages us to rejoice.  The joy proper to Lent is the joy of repentance and of receiving God's mercy.  The prodigal son experienced this joy when he returned contritely to his father.  King David experienced it when he repented of his grave sins against Uriah.  Only by admitting our deep sinfulness will we experience the "joy of salvation"...

Originally published in 2021 Justification is a gift that we receive from God.   This takes humility and an appeal to his mercy.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published in 2021 Mary's "yes" changes everything.  Our "yes" can do a lot too. https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published in 2021 In spite of all of the good he does, Jesus is criticized and viewed with suspicion.   Why and what does it mean for us? https://comeawaybyyourselves.com Apologies for the earlier repeat, here is a reflection on today's Gospel. 

Originally published in 2021 In redeeming and saving us, God does not do so from a distance.   He rather enters history and comes near to us.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published in 2021 Looking for something to let go of?  Let's start with our grudges. https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published in 2021 Are we rejecting Jesus? https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published 2021 (when the feast of St. Joseph fell on a Friday) St. Joseph is a man on a mission.  His life is all about just one thing.  Ours should be too. https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

God entrusts St. Joseph with his most precious possessions, his mother and his Divine Son.  We too are entrusted with a sacred responsibility in life: to care for and love God's children.  Everything and everyone in our life--including ourselves--is a gift from God, something valued by God himself.  This calls for a great reverence and respect on our part.  We can't "do whatever we...

Originally published in 2021 In the parable of the vineyard, Jesus reveals the radical nature of our redemption.  God turns our rejection of Him into his acceptance and forgiveness of us.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

St. Patrick was the apostle of Ireland.  What about you and me? https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published 2021 If God thinks you can do something, you certainly can do it.   And He thinks you can be a saint! https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally Published in 2021 For Jesus, true greatness means great service.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published in 2021 "Judge not."  Rash judgment is a very easy way to lack charity.  Fighting it is a good Lenten practice. https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

First published 2/28/2021 Shortly before his death on Calvary Jesus is transfigured in glory on Mount Thabor.   Our spiritual lives have similar peaks and valleys.  This is no accident but an important part of God's will for us.  Learning how to use the peaks to navigate the valleys is a lesson we can learn from Jesus and the apostles' experience on Thabor and on Calvary.  https://comeaw...

Originally published in 2021. "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you."  God wants us to imitate and have a share in Jesus' own merciful love.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published in 2021. To be truly righteous, we need to recognize our sinfulness and strive for inner goodness. https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

Originally published in 2021. "Ask, seek, knock." Jesus gives us great confidence that God always answers our prayers.  Our Lenten penance can make them even more powerful. https://comeawaybyyourselves.com