Acts 4:32-351 Jn 5:1-6Jn 20:19-31 Belief Three sentences from Sunday’s gospel stand out for me when reflecting on the readings. The first are the words of Jesus as he makes himself present to the disciples who are hiding out of fear after Jesus’ death and burial – “Peace be with you.” Jesus penetrates their fear…

Acts 10:34a,37-43Col 3:1-4Jn 20:1-9 Sunday is the most important feast of the entire liturgical year. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from death. We share in this victory over death. Being people of faith we know that one day we will be with our loving God for all eternity.

Mk 11:1-10  (At the opening procession)Is 50:4-7Phil 2:6-11Mk 14:1—15:47 Today we begin the celebration of Holy Week. For many of us, Sunday is known as Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. The reading from the Gospel of Mark is about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is a very long reading…

Jer 31:31-34Heb 5:7-9Jn 12:20-33 Obedience The first reading for this Sunday is a touching one because God is forming a new covenant with the Israelites. God says, “I will place my law within them, and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Many centuries later Jesus…

2 Chron 36:14-17, 19-23Eph 2:4-10John 3:14-21 Love Have you ever been at or watched an event on TV when someone held up a sign with 3:16 on it? This refers to a famous verse from the gospel of John that we hear proclaimed at our Sunday liturgy. “For God so loved the world that he…

Exodus 20:1-171 Corinthians 1:22-25John 2:13-25 Cleansing Our Bodily Temple The readings for the Third Sunday of Lent remind us that we must follow God’s commandments and truly live them in our hearts to find an honest, meaningful life. The first reading repeats the ten commandments first given to Moses.  In the second reading Paul reminds us…

Gen 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18Rom 8:31-34Mk 9:2-10 Choices The first reading from Genesis is a difficult one because we find Abraham believing that God wants him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Child sacrifice was a reality at the time of Abraham and one practiced by his neighbors the Canaanites. Abraham is a man of strong…

Gn 9:8-151 Pt 3:18-22Mk 1:12-15 Lent This past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, was the beginning of Lent. Every liturgical year the church sets aside forty days of preparation for the most important feast of the year – Easter. Reading the scripture, the Word of God for this Sunday, tells us that Jesus, following his baptism goes…

Lv 13:1-2, 44-461 Cor 10:31—11:1Mk 1:40-45 Compassionate healing The gospel story for this Sunday once again illustrates the healing power of Jesus and his desire to eliminate anything unclean from our lives. This is another great story of Jesus’ caring, love and mercy. During the historical period of Jesus’ lifetime, and long after, leprosy was a…

Jb 7:1-4, 6-71 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23Mk 1:29-39 Service In the epistle and gospel for this Sunday, we hear examples of a serving ministry beginning with Jesus’ healing and caring for others.  In the first reading, Job complains that he is experiencing misery and despair, but the psalm reminds us to “Praise the Lord, who heals…

Dt 18:15-201 Cor 7:32-35Mk 1:21-28 Belief The gospel for this Sunday shows us Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. It is clear that the people respond to Jesus’ teaching with astonishment. They see Jesus as one who teaches with authority and they contrast his teaching with the teaching of the scribes. Then they…

Jon 3:1-5, 101 Cor 7:29-31Mk 1:14-20 Respond to the Call Today we begin a continuous reading of Mark’s Gospel that will carry us through a large portion of the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. The readings for the 3rd Sunday invite us to be transformed by the call of Jesus. In the first reading, Jonah…

1 Sm 3:3b-10, 191 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20Jn 1:35-42 Responding The Psalm Response for this Sunday is the theme for all three readings. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. In the first reading, young Samuel was asleep when God called to him. Thinking it was the priest Eli, Samuel went to him saying,…

Isaiah 60:1-6Ephesians 3:1-12Matthew 2:1-12. Shared Gifts On this first Sunday of the new year, we celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus the Christ. It is 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…

Sir 3:2-6, 12-14COL 3:12-17LK 2:22-40 The readings for the Feast of the Holy Family focus on the importance of family. The first reading tells us about honoring our fathers. The second reading tells us how to live together as families. In the gospel Joseph and Mary take the infant Jesus to Jerusalem for the ritual…