Sunday’s Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 On the very first day of every new year, January 1st, the Church appropriately honors the Blessed Virgin Mary with a Marian feast day and a Holy Day of Obligation. The title by which she is honored on this day is also the…
Sunday’s Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40 WE ARE GOD’S HOLY FAMILYThe scriptures of Israel are filled with many stories of barren couples who were miraculously granted the gift of children by God. Surely the best known among these is the first reading from today, from which Luke took inspiration…
Sunday’s Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16; PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 THE ETERNAL GODKing David wished that the ark of God might have a more permanent home. David may have envisioned something like the cedar palace where he resided. God had in mind something more: a throne where David’s…
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 JOHN THE BAPTISTAt a school open house a woman could be overheard introducing her husband to some of the other parents. “Oh, Bill, I’d like you to meet Johnny’s father. And over here, this is Marie’s mom; you know, the little…
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 MARK’S JESUSMark’s Gospel is the shortest and tersest of all four. The discourses of Jesus tend to be terser as well. Mark’s portrayal of Jesus has none of the poetry of the Sermon on the Mount or the Sermon on the…
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 THE SHEPHERD KINGThe job of shepherd and the job of king couldn’t be more different from each other. Shepherds are on the lowest rung of society, kings are at the top. But God says, through the prophet Ezekiel, that the Messiah…
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 EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTEDIf it ever crossed your mind that Jesus was somewhat lacking in a sense of humor, today’s Gospel should belie any such notion. Jesus’ story of the five wise and five foolish bridesmaids is downright hilarious. The circumstances of the…
Sunday’s Readings Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6; 1-John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 OUR HOPE AND GOD’S PROMISE The Church uses these waning November days and darker skies as the season to remind us of the last things. Today’s feast, the Solemnity of All Saints, is the centerpiece of three days that point to doctrines we…