Reflections Blog

By Bonnie Chester, Associate And The Oscar For Best Supporting Role Goes To… If you think about this title as you read the gospels and journey with Jesus during the last three years of His life, this award will have to go to Peter. I always think of him as Jesus’s “side kick.” The website bible.knowing-jesus.com counts 67 appearances of Peter in the gospels. John, the apostle, is called the beloved disciple, but good, faithful Peter always had a thought-provoking statement or question ready for our Lord. “Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?” and [...]

Sister Martha Buser, OSU, age 92, who had falls at home in March and June that resulted in a broken cheek in March, a broken hip in June, and a lengthy recovery, recently reflected on how this injury, along with her loss of eyesight due to severe glaucoma and the effects of the fall, has affected her in her relationship with God and others.  In reflecting on my life experience, there are so many things to say. But one of the most important is “So what?” and I don’t mean that in an unpleasant way. Just, “So what.” So, you have [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sr. Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, at a Mass for the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville on September 11, 2023, in the Ursuline Motherhouse Chapel. As we pray about peace on this 9/11 day, we most likely remember where we were when we heard the horrible news on September 11, 2001, 22 years ago and the many feelings we had that day and many days after and for some, the intense feelings are still there. And many times, we have heard that peace is more than the absence of war. It is about justice, a state [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU, and Kevin Karl at St. William Church in Louisville, Kentucky on September 3, 2023. Janet Peterworth: Remember Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof?  Remember how he argues with God? “Dear God,” he says, “was that necessary? Did you have to make him lame just before the Sabbath? That wasn't nice. It's enough you pick on me. Bless me with five daughters, a life of poverty, that's all right.  But what have you got against my horse? Tevya complains, Tevya laments. But Tevya is not the first to complain.  Listen [...]

The following is the reflection that Sister Jean Anne Zappa, OSU, gave at the funeral Mass of Sister Judith Rice, OSU, on August 10, 2023. I do not know how many of you knew that Judy did not like things to last too long—a meeting, a lecture, a homily, obviously not even her funeral liturgy. She chose short readings. I also don’t know if you knew Judy was directionally challenged. She did not mind getting lost—she was happy to discover nature, new scenery, animals or whatever while she was driving. When Judy really got lost and could not get back on [...]

The following is a reflection by Ursuline Associate Bonnie Chester: The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses. Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to come to a halt in the Jordan when you reach the edge of the waters." So Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD, your God. This is how you will know that there is a living God in your [...]

The following is a reflection given by Sister Sue Scharfenberger, OSU, at the Jubilee Mass on July 28, 2023, in the Ursuline Motherhouse. Deuteronomy 6:3-9;  Philippians 4:4-9; John 15:1-17. I have pondered these readings more times than I can count. On the one hand, they are so familiar. On the other, they are entirely new, bringing forth in me new images and memories, and challenges. The other, border crossings, women caught in trafficking, guns, and more guns. Two pieces of these readings seem to go together: Being in the vine and loving the other. I would like to share with you [...]