Sundays Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Romans 5:12-19, 17-19; Matthew 4:1-11 WHO WE ARE AND WHOSE WE ARE The Lenten season is a fresh invitation to explore again who God is, who we are, and what it means to be human. We begin by hearing the tragic story of the first humans in the…

Sundays Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48 DISCIPLES TOGETHER Today’s readings reflect on our communal identity as disciples. Before we begin Lent together in a few days, we take time to appreciate what God has done by giving us our family of faith. In Leviticus, God tells…

Sunday’s Readings: Sir 15:15-20; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37 THE GLORY OF THE DIVINE WAY Today’s readings draw us into ageless, vibrant depths. Followers of God’s law, we belong to ancient traditions. Children of God, we marvel at the freshness of creation. The Old Testament readings, from Sirach and the Psalms,…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalms 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16 THE LIGHT OF SERVICE The prophet Isaiah inspires us with these words: “Light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall be- come for you like midday.” All of us celebrating the liturgy today praise God for these words of…

Sundays Readings: Zep 2:3; 3:12-13; Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:12a; Mt 5:1-12a THE PEOPLE OF GOD’S KINGDOM In our Gospel reading from Matthew, we hear the Beatitudes, the stirring opening to the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God, and begins by considering what…

Sunday’s Readings: Is 8:23—9:3; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23 or 4:12-17 GOD’S LOVING CARE Two readings today refer to the northeast region of ancient Israel: “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.” Upon hearing these names, some of us might consult maps and determine exactly where these regions lie.…

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 OUR STRATEGIC GOAL As a Church, we now move into Ordinary Time. “Ordinary” comes from the Latin root for “order,” which is why we line the Sundays up on the calendar and count them—with “ordinal” numbers—one by one. The…

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 ALL SHARE IN THE PROMISE Picture a nativity scene in your mind’s eye. The scene likely includes figures arriving on camels, some elaborately dressed, with jeweled boxes containing precious gifts. These magi arrived from distant lands to pay homage to the…