Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11; Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 WATCHFUL CONFIDENCE We the Church enter into Advent and the new liturgical year with a call for a watchful confidence. Our readings were originally addressed to communities undergoing great loss and confusion. Jeremiah speaks confidently of God fulfilling the ancient promises…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalms 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 NEWS OF COMFORT In a time of preparation, much of it having to do with ma-terial things, it is good to hear the words of Isaiah, “Comfort, give comfort to my people, / says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). In a time of such…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7; Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 GOD HAS A DIFFERENT PLAN We begin the season of Advent with a heartfelt call for our own repentance. We remember God’s faithful love for us, and call upon God to help us to turn back. For “behold, you are angry,…
Sunday’s Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalms 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46 CHRIST, KING OF ALL On this, the final Sunday of the liturgical year, we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. By concluding the year with this feast we are proclaiming our faith that Jesus Christ is the one and only…
Sunday’s Readings: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30 SHARING OUR GIFTS Autumn is the season for harvesting and sharing the fruits of our labors. This week’s scriptures use images of the harvest, family life, pregnancy, and investment to describe the abundant harvest in the reign of God. We discover…
Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 WISDOM We consider wisdom today. The first reading from the book of Wisdom presents this precious gift as a feminine spirit, a very desirable virtue sought by many and graciously present to all who seek her. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a…
Sunday’s Readings: Malachai 1:14-2:2, 8-10; Psalms 131:1, 2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 1; Matthew 23:1-12 THE GREATEST AMONG US Whom do you admire? Is it the President of the United States or a movie star or a billionaire? These are people whom the world exalts as great. Like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, they have places…
Sunday’s Readings: Exodus 22:20-26; Psalms 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40 BALANCE Today’s scriptures emphasize the fundamental link between love of God and love of our neighbors, especially those who are most in need. Love of God should compel us to love the people whom God cherishes. Conversely, work for justice and charity…