December 15, 2024 Third Sunday of Advent (Year C) It is only fitting on this third Sunday of Advent that we have readings of glad tidings and preparation as we anticipate the arrival of the savior. The First Reading is from one of the lesser-known minor prophets known as Zephaniah (Zep 3:14-18a). He is writing about a day of warning known as the Day of the Lord. It is a call for repentance and reform for the nations surrounding Judah,…..
December 6, 2024 Second Sunday of Advent During this season of Advent, a time of announcements and preparation, it would seem very fitting that our readings today hold special announcements for the people of Israel at different times during their history. The First Reading (Baruch 5:1-9) is from Baruch, the scribe who recorded many of the words of the prophet Jeremiah and the Gospel (Luke 3:1-6) is a pronouncement of good news from John the Baptist heralding the arrival of…..
December 1, 2024 First Sunday of Advent (Year C) This is the third week in a row we have heard of the coming of the Son of Man, who is the divine, messianic figure from the book of Daniel specifically chosen by God to bring salvation to Israel, and all the world. As seen previously his coming is associated with a time of tribulation and the end of days. This week’s version from Luke seems to be the most threatening…..
November 24, 2024 The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Year B) As we approach Advent, we celebrate a special Feast Day – The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Yet there is something ironic about the readings for today. This is because if we take a close look at them, they seem more appropriate for Lent and Holy Week than they do for the Christmas season. In the First Reading (Dan……
November 17, 2024 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Today’s readings are the type which are very difficult to interpret and understand. They are from a genre known as apocalyptic literature, named for the word “apocalypse,” which means “revelation.” They are concerned with the events of the future and last things such as death, resurrection, judgment, and the afterlife. At first the themes between the two readings today seem identical, but of course we find some extra words of…..
November 10, 2024 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) It would be difficult to miss the similarities between the First Reading (1 Kgs. 17:10-16) and the Gospel (Mk. 12:38-44) for today. Two poor women subsisting on barely anything yet willing to give away the last of their livelihoods for the sake of the men of God they encounter. But much can also be said for what they receive in return for their generosity. We begin with a story about…..
November 3, 2024 Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) In today’s Gospel (Mk 12:28b-34) we find one of the many times that Jesus uses a direct quote from the Old Testament to teach his followers. This one in particular is from the book of Deuteronomy, which, other than the psalms, is the most quoted book from the Old Testament used in the New Testament. This fact serves to show just how important the Hebrew Scriptures are for understanding the…..
October 27, 2024 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Often, we hear about the way in which Jesus fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament. For example, in last week’s readings, we saw the way that he fulfilled the role of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (isa. 53:10-11) to redeem the people of Israel. He is also said to fulfill the prophecy that the messiah would come from the least of the clans of Judah, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, according to the…..
October 20, 2024 Twenty-Ninth in Ordinary Time (Year B) With last week’s Gospel and the story of the rich young man we learned how difficult it can be to follow the ways of the Lord. For even though he had kept all of the commandments the young man did not truly know what it meant to give up his earthly cares and love Jesus, and this made him very sad. This Sunday we see a continuation of this theme with…..
October 13, 2024 Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Today’s Gospel (Mk 10:17-30) might be difficult to process for those who have all of their financial needs met and live relatively comfortable lives. But there is more than one way to look at its meaning in order to gain a better understanding and acceptance of its message. This can come from considering the words of Jesus and the different ways we can appreciate God in our lives as we…..