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,…

Sunday’s Readings: Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalms 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48 FAITH AND HOPE Faith and hope are closely united in today’s readings. The Israelites knew when the Passover was coming, and so were not in fear, but had faith and courage, “putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.” In this…

Sunday’s Readings: Joshua 5:9, 10-12; Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 GOD FORGIVES The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” After forty years of wandering in the desert, this hard-headed people have finally reached the Promised Land. No more do they eat the manna…

Sunday’s Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-8; Psalms 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20; Luke 6:17, 20-26 BLESSED When we think of the word “Beatitude” we think of today’s discourse from Luke’s Gospel, or the more familiar one from Matthew (which begins “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . ”). Actually, beatitudes occur throughout the…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 6:1-2, 3-8; Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11 GOD’S SUMMONS Confronted with God’s power and majesty, the first response of the prophet Isaiah was to acknowledge his sinfulness. “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips,” he said aloud. Likewise, with his empty…