Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45 THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST All three readings today support—each in its own way, of course—a reflection on the humanity of Jesus Christ and how that humanity played a key role in the drama of our salvation. Although not chosen specifically to coordinate…
Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalms 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30 GIFTSIn today’s readings, we discover that material wealth alone does not keep us from discipleship. We will seethat there are other gifts more important than material wealth, but even so, it is how we use our gifts that matters most. Today’s scriptures point to…
Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 2:18-24; Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16 THE BARRIERS THAT SEPARATE USWe live in a society that has many technological avenues for stimulation and entertainment, one in which the urban population exceeds the non-urban. It is curious that loneliness is a prevalent malady. It is easy to reach out and…
Sunday’s Readings: Numbers 11:25-29; Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 PROCLAIM THE WONDER OF GODThe gift of the Spirit is given freely, not according to human expectations, but according to the generosity ofGod. Joshua wants Moses to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying in the camp, when they were not withthe…
Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalms 54:3-4, 5, 6, 8; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37 THE MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIPThe geography of today’s Gospel is significant. Jesus is completing his ministry in Galilee and beginning his journey to Jerusalem, where he will meet both death and resurrection. The prediction of his death placed here is the second of…
Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalms 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35 IT’S ALL ABOUT CONTROLFrom toddlerhood to old age, we grow in mastery of our own lives, our bodies, and our destiny. This mastery is hard won, and we don’t let go of autonomy easily. Much of this self-mastery involves the avoidance of pain…
Sunday’s Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5; James 1:17-18, 21B-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 DOERS OF THE WORDThe second reading for today begins a five-week series of selections from James, a letter that is classified among the so called “catholic” (or universal) epistles because they are addressed to a general audience rather than…
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2; Psalms 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57; Luke 11:27-28 THE DESTINY OF ALL MORTAL FLESHThe celebration of today’s feast on a Sunday is unusual on our Roman Catholic calendar. Our observance of the Lord’s Day is held in such high esteem that few other feasts replace it. Occasionally…