Isaiah 49:3, 5-6First Corinthians 1:1-3John 1:29-34 Responding to the Call One clear theme found in the Sunday readings is that of call and what it means to respond to the call. Isaiah is told, “… you [are] to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I…

Isaiah 42:1-9Acts 10:34-43Matthew 3:13-17 Revelation On this first Sunday of the New Year we celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus the Christ. It’s on this feast of the epiphany that we hear the story of the three magi bringing gifts to the new born child. Because the magi (representing the non-Jewish people of…

Numbers 6: 22-27Galatians 4: 4-7Luke 2: 16-21 Resolutions “The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Num 6:24-26). This blessing from the Hebrew Scriptures is a good way to greet all you readers…

Is 7:10-14Rom 1:1-7Mt 1:18-24 Joseph This last Sunday before Christmas is a time to reflect on the birth of Jesus. The readings take us in a different direction except for the gospel. The gospel tells us about Joseph who discovers that his future wife is pregnant. Imagine his situation since he is a good and…

Isaiah 35:1-6A, 10James 5:7-10Matthew 11:2-11 Persistence In the gospel for Sunday John the Baptist, who is in prison, asks a question of Jesus that many people ask in our own time. “Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?” It has almost been two thousand years…

Is 11:1-10Rom 15:4-9Mt 3:1-12 Harmony Advent is a time of preparation and waiting. We wait once again for the coming of Jesus at our celebration of Christmas, the great reminder that Jesus became incarnate to share human life with us. Advent is the time we prepare or renew ourselves to be ready for Jesus’ coming….

Is 2:1-5Rom 13:11-14Mt 24:37-44 Advent Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Each liturgical year we set aside four Sundays before Christmas as a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. This feast of remembrance is significant because it reminds us that Jesus became one of us and experienced all the human feelings we…

2 Samuel 5:1-3Colossians 1:12-20Luke 23:35-43 One of the most shocking facts in the New Testament is that most people of Israel were disappointed at the coming of Jesus. It was a long held belief that a messiah would come who would free them from Roman rule. Along comes Jesus as an infant born in a…

Mal 3:19-20a2 Thes 3:7-12Lk 21:5-19 Difficult Times As we get closer to the end of the liturgical year, the Sunday readings take on a warning tone of destruction and suffering to come in the times ahead. The first reading from the prophet Malachi is a prime example: “Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,…

2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-142 Thessalonians 2:16—3:5Luke 20:27-38 Resurrection Hope The first reading for Sunday tells the story of seven brothers and their mother who are tortured and put to death by the king because they refused to eat pork in violation of God’s law. Each, in turn, speaks boldly about their belief in God’s faithfulness that will lead to…

Wis 11:22-12:22 Thes 1:11-2:2Lk 19:1-10 Seeking God’s Mercy with Humility A frequent theme in the gospels is that of Jesus seeking out the lost or those who don’t fit the norms of the time. The gospel for this week is a good example. It is the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector who is seeking…

Humility in Prayer Sir 35:12-14, 16-182 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18Lk 18:9-14 Last Sunday we heard about the need for persistence in prayer. This week, we learn about the need of an attitude of humility in our prayer life. In the gospel, Jesus tell the parable of two men who go to the temple area to pray….

Ex 17:8-132 Tm 3:14-4:2Lk 18:1-8 Persistence in Prayer What is your prayer life like? Are you a 911 person who prays only when there is an emergency or difficult time in your life? Or are you a GPS person who uses God as a God Distancing System who asks God to show you the way…

2 Kgs 5:14-172 Tm 2:8-13Lk 17:11-19 Giving Thanks The first reading begins with Naaman being cured of his leprosy by Elisha the prophet. The back story is from the previous section of 2 Kings. Naaman is a foreigner from another country. He heard about Elisha and the extraordinary works he performs so he decides to…