Angela For Today

Jer 17:5-81 Cor 15:12, 16-20Lk 6:17, 20-26 Trust in God Both the first and second readings remind us that it is foolish to place our trust in anyone or anything but God. “Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away…

Isaiah 6:1-2A, 3-81 Corinthians 15:1-11Luke 5:1-11 Responding to the Call The words of scripture remind us of our own personal call for a change of heart (metanoia) and our response to follow our call to discipleship. Paul states clearly in the second reading that, “I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel I preached…

Mal 3:1-4Heb 2:14-18Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32 A Listening Heart This Sunday the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord that occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus. The gospel tells of Mary and Joseph bringing the infant Jesus to the temple to be presented to God according to Mosaic Law. It then introduces us…

Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-101 Cor 12:12-30Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21 Inclusivity Paul begins the second reading for this Sunday with words that are important for the society we live in today. “Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so…

Isaiah 62:1-51 Corinthians 12:4-11John 21-11 Giftedness In John’s gospel miracles are called signs. In the gospel for Sunday Jesus performs his first sign of his new ministry. There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine…

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7Acts 10:34-38Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 Baptism This Sunday we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not…

Isaiah 60:1-6.Ephesians 3:1-12.Matthew 2:1-12. Shared Gifts On this first Sunday, 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 people of the world)…

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…

Micah 5:1-4Hebrews 10:5-10Luke 1:39-45 The Visitation This is the final week of Advent and in a few days we will celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus into our world. For the last two weeks we heard stories about John the Baptist preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. Today we switch gears and hear…

Zephaniah 3:14-18a Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18  Peace and Joy This third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means ‘rejoice’ and certainly that it the mood of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by…

Baruch 5:1-9Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11Luke 3:1-6 Preparedness In this second Sunday of Advent we are encouraged to make ourselves ready for the physical coming of Jesus into our world. It is not a somber time, but rather, a time of joyful preparation. Baruch tells us in the first reading that the Israelites should prepare themselves for…

Jeremiah 33:14-161 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 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…

Dn 7:13-14Rv 1:5-8Jn 18:33b-37 As modern disciples of Jesus, we may struggle at times to recognize Jesus as king. Today’s Gospel invites us to see with eyes of faith that we might recognize that Jesus, through his crucifixion and death, is indeed king and Savior of all. The Responsorial Psalm Response points to the core…

Daniel 12:1-3Hebrews 10:11-14, 18Mark 13:24-32 The End Times “… Today the readings direct our attention to the end of time. We are promised that if we are faithful, we shall not be destroyed.  We are promised that the Archangel Michael will be there helping us. We are told that the one great sacrifice for sins has been…

1 Kings 17:10-16Hebrews 9:24-28Mark 12:38-44  Faith and Generosity There is a clear link between the widow of Zarephath in the first reading and the widow in the gospel story. The first widow and her son are close to starvation when Elijah asks her for food and water. She trusts Elijah when he tells her “The…