Sunday’s Readings: Acts 2:42-47; Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 Lecturas del Dia GET REAL! Those of us who flatter ourselves that we have a “realistic” view of the world may listen to the first reading today and say, “Get real!” when we hear Luke’s account of the early, Elysian days of the…

Sunday’s Readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43; Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 SEEDS OF FAITH There is a brevity, a certain terseness, in the scripture readings for Easter Sunday. Peter’s speech in Acts is built of direct, pointed sentences. Paul’s letters are based on straightforward creed-like statements. Even the Gospel story only briefly recounts what…

Sunday’s Readings: Matthew 21:1-11; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalms 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66 Hosanna “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9). With these words the Church enters the holiest of weeks, commemorating the passion, death, and resurrection of…

Sundays Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Second Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9 CHANGE Lent is all about change and change is usually not easy. In order to change we have to leave something behind. Today we hear about a very old man who decides to answer God’s call. Abram experiences a tremendous amount…

Sundays Readings: Sirach 15:15-20; Psalms 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37 CHOICE “If you choose you can keep the commandments,” Sirach tells us. God “has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand” (Sirach 15:15, 16). This is a great mystery: God does not control us so com-pletely that we…

Sundays Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalms 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 A CHRISTMAS REPRISE The Church’s celebration three weeks ago of the Baptism of the Lord signaled the “official” end of the Christmas season. Today’s feast of the Presentation of the Lord seems to extend the Incarnation celebration a bit longer. In fact, some…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalms 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17 THIS IS MY BELOVED SON This Sunday’s celebration of the Baptism of the Lord closes the Christmas season. In the scriptures we see one more epiphany, or manifestation, of the Spirit of God in Jesus—but this time it is as an adult,…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 7:10; Psalms 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 TRUST IN GOD On this final Sunday of Advent our scriptures focus on the historical birth of Jesus, who is son of David and Son of God, child and king, Jesus and Emmanuel. Isaiah the prophet begs Ahaz to ask for a sign,…