Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalms146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37 SEE BEYOND OUTWARD APPEARANCES The phrase “Sunday best” has lost much of its meaning in our society today. Some lament the loss of people dressing up for church on Sunday; others think it’s a healthy sign that we’re as casual in attire gathered before the…
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 THE HIGHEST LAW From time to time, newspapers and magazines will offer, as an item of “filler,” various laws that are still on the books but seem silly to us in our day and age. In one California city,…
Sunday’s Readings: Joshua 24:1-2, 15-17, 18; Psalms 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-2; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69 HOUSEHOLDS IN GOD’S SERVICE In the ancient world, “household” was a wide-reaching concept. When Joshua today speaks of his household serving the Lord, he meant not just those people who lived inside his walls or those related to him by blood…
Sunday’s Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 THIS EUCHARISTIC FEAST Some things about human nature don’t change, even over the course of centuries. When we celebrate a holiday, we have a meal; when we celebrate a significant event, we have a feast. In today’s first reading, Lady Wisdom is setting a…
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51 STRENGTHENED BY THE BREAD OF LIFE Today we resume the “Bread of Life” discourse from John’s Gospel that began two weeks ago. He makes reference to the Jews’ ancestors who ate manna in the desert. These days we would think primarily of…
Sunday’s Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34 REST IN THE LORD For several weeks we have listened to readings that have recounted just how arduous the work of prophets and disciples can be. In today’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus listens to the reports of those he had sent out “two by two” to minister…
Sunday’s Readings: Amos 7:12-15; Psalms 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13 CALLED BY GOD Today’s scriptures invite us to listen to two calls. The first is the call issued by the LORD to the prophet Amos, the “shepherd and a dresser of sycamores” (Amos 7:14). The second is the call the Lord Jesus issued to…
Sunday’s Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; Psalms 123:1-2, 2, 3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6 OBSTACLES The prophet Ezekiel, Saint Paul, and the Lord Jesus share something in common in today’s scripture readings. They all experience obstacles to their ministry. Ezekiel is summoned to prophesy to the Israelites, who are “hard of face and obstinate of heart” (Ezekiel…