November 8, 2020 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Today’s readings offer us a description of what it is like to have wisdom and how to use wisdom, or good judgment, when it comes to awaiting the arrival of the kingdom of heaven. The First Reading is taken from one of the less well-known books of the Old Testament, the book of Wisdom (Wis. 6:12-16). Although often written in the name of Solomon, this work is the composition…..
November 1, 2020 Solemnity of All Saints (Year A) Today we celebrate All Saints’ Day commemorating the blessed men and women who dedicated their lives to God in special and unique ways. Many of these holy saints, apostles, and martyrs, are unknown to us, but a lot of them, we also know specifically by name. They are honored for their charitable good works, theological accomplishments, visionary abilities, and especially martyrdom. Many of them have also had posthumous miracles attributed to…..
October 25, 2020 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) It would be safe to assume that most people, whether familiar with the Old Testament or not, have heard the story of the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. These are the passages where we find the “Law of Moses,” or divine precepts given by God to Moses and the people of Israel so that they might learn to…..
October 18, 2020 Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Last weekend we heard Jesus describing the conditions which must be met in order for a person to attend the heavenly banquet which awaits us in the kingdom of God (Mt. 22:1-14). When Jesus finishes the story, which is called “The Parable of the Wedding Feast,” he concludes by saying “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Mt. 22:14). The readings for today offer us a clue to the difference…..
October 11, 2020 Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) The readings for today give us a sample of the heavenly banquet of the Kingdom of God, an image which is frequently encountered throughout scripture. It is a sign of the splendid destiny which awaits those who have served the LORD. It was originally promised to Israel, God’s chosen nation, and eventually extended to all people through the Paschal Mystery – the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Isaiah describes…..
October 04, 2020 Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Sometimes it can be difficult to find a common theme between the readings for a particular week. It may require several hours of research, examining the passages and reading commentaries. And still the themes may be vague and elusive. For this weekend, however, the opposite is actually true. The common theme is readily apparent and plainly stated in the Responsorial Psalm: “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of…..
September 27, 2020 Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) The readings for today hold a common theme. They tell us about repentance and conversion and about the importance of doing things according to the will of God instead of our own selfish needs. In the First Reading (Ezek. 18:25-28), the prophet Ezekiel makes it quite clear. The people of Israel have rebelled against God and turned to idol worship. As punishment, they have been taken into exile by the…..
September 20, 2020 Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) In the Gospel from Matthew this week (Mt. 20:1-16a) we hear Jesus tell another of his kingdom of heaven parables. This parable called “The Workers in the Vineyard” is probably one of the most puzzling and difficult to understand. In fact, those who read or hear this parable may find it contrary to what they think about gaining access to the kingdom of heaven. The key to the meaning of…..
September 06, 2020 Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) It would probably be accurate to say that most active Catholics pray frequently, perhaps even on a daily basis. This might range from as little as the recitation of the Our Father and Hail Mary, along with a simple request or prayer of gratitude, to a whole litany of prayers, such as the Liturgy of the Hours. Regardless of the approach, there are many ways people might speak to God……
August 30, 2020 Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Today we hear a message from St. Paul to the early Christians of Rome instructing them on how to live as followers of Christ. He writes, “Do not fit yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). This is a good message to keep in mind…..