Holding a community together in spirit while the pandemic was keeping us apart.
This collection of reflections emerged unexpectedly during the pandemic as a way to keep a Catholic parish community connected.
Parish priest Father Tom O'Neill began sending out a short reflection each week—a simple thought or insight. This book gathers those reflections in one place.
Each reflection stands alone, meant to be read one at a time, not as a continuous story. Read one, then pause. Reflect not only on the words but also on your own thoughts and feelings. This quiet moment is where a deep conversation between creator and creature can happen—the “pearl of great price” Jesus spoke about. Here, you meet Jesus, and he meets you.
These reflections are tools to help you connect with the life flowing inside all of us—the life Jesus promised: “I have come to give you life, life in abundance.”
People of all faiths—and none—will find value here because these reflections speak directly to the heart. They encourage you to explore your inner world, where life truly unfolds. While we experience life outwardly, its meaning is discovered within. We often understand life better looking back, though we live it moving forward—this is the reality we all share in a busy, pressured world that God loves so much he sent his only son to save.
These reflections invite you to engage with two things we all share: the human heart and the world around us. They speak gently to both, offering hope and insight to a world that is often broken yet still beautiful.
