Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 STRENGTH AGAINST TEMPTATION The first Sunday of the season of Lent always includes a Gospel account of the temptation of the Lord Jesus in the desert by the devil. This year, the story is set against the backdrop of the first reading from Genesis, which…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 49:14-15; Psalms 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34 DON’T BE ANXIOUS People have, it seems, a natural penchant for misplaced emphasis on unimportant things. They can easily get caught up with what they’re having for dinner or what they will wear. Often it is a tragedy that helps people to refocus on what is really important.…

Sundays Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48 DIVINE WISDOM The Lord’s message, through Moses, was to “take no revenge and cherish no grudge . . . love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). We might think, “Great in theory, but not always realistic!” Then Jesus in today’s Gospel goes even…

Sundays Readings: Sirach 15:15-20; Psalms 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 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 completely that we cannot…

Sundays Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalms 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE As children we sang the lively song This Little Light of Mine. The words, of course, are based on today’s Gospel, in which we are called as disciples to be salt and light for the world. Children are uninhibited about sharing their…

Sunday’s Readings: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; Psalms 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12 THE CHOSEN REMNANT Zephaniah is one of the least-known of the Old Testament prophets. He speaks in today’s first reading of impending judgment. But the Lord will leave a “remnant” in Israel. This image of a remnant, or remainder, was to become vital to both Judaism and…

Sundays Readings: Isaiah 8:23—9:3; Psalms 27:1, 4, 13-14; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17; Matthew 4:12-23 LIBERATION AND REFORM While you might have to reach for an atlas to determine that Isaiah is speaking about Galilee, today’s first reading (part of which was read at Christmas) is prophetic of Jesus’ future ministry in that province. The light that brings salvation and rejoicing…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalms 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34 THREE MISSIONS Today we begin with one of the “servant songs” from the book of Isaiah, a song prophetic of Jesus’ ministry of service. Isaiah’s mission is not only to bring back the children of Jacob to gather in Israel; it is also…