Sundays Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23 THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The church wakes up to an amazing message this morning. Look around and see who has been called. Listen to the voices of those who proclaim Jesus is Lord. You’ll find no race of people…
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 1:17-23, Luke 24:46-53 CONTINUALLY PRAISING GOD In both the first reading and the Gospel we are told about Christ’s glorious ascension into heaven. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us that Christ has been seated at God’s right hand in heaven, above every choir of angels. There might be a temptation…
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29 THE GIFT OF PEACE We are offered another vision in today’s second reading, a vision of the New Jerusalem, “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10). Read between the lines describing the radiant city, and we find that the greatest beauty…
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13; Rev 21:1-5; John 13:31-33, 34-35 TRUE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Can you imagine a world such as the one put before us in today’s scripture readings? Communities of believers everywhere would support and encourage one another and be identified as Christians by the way they love each other. It would…
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Psalms 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13; Rev 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 REDEMPTION Do you remember Peter on the night Jesus was arrested? He claimed he had never heard of Jesus. Today we are called to join Peter in testifying to the name of Jesus as he does in the first reading, and in proclaiming our…
Sunday’s Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Rev 1:9-11A, 12-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31 JOINING THE COMPANY OF BELIEVERS What will help you to believe? Today’s scripture readings tell of faith and doubt. They offer stories “recorded to help you believe,” as the passage from John’s Gospel (20:31) remarks today. There is an urgency about this. On this Second Sunday of Easter we are challenged to join the…
Sunday’s Readings: ACTS 10:34A, 37-43; Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 DRAWN INTO THE STORY “We are witnesses!” The scripture readings for Easter Sunday concentrate on details reported by eyewitnesses. Listen carefully and you will be drawn into the stories yourself. Peter reports the good works Jesus did, his death on the cross, and his resurrection. The…
Sunday’s Readings: Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23,56 TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION What day is today? Ask most folks strolling home from church today and they will reply “Palm Sunday.” Not too long ago, today was known as the “Second Sunday of the Passion,” and in 1970 it was renamed “Passion Sunday.” This made some sense, since the…