Third Sunday in Lent
JOHN 2:13-25 (Exodus 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17; Psalm 19:9-11; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25) The setting for the cleansing of the temple is the first Passover of Jesus in Jerusalem. There will be two more during his public ministry. The other three gospels place the cleansing of the temple at the e...Read full story »
Monday, March 02, 2015
Second Sunday of Lent
MARK 9:2-10 (Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps. 116:10, 15,16-17,18-19; Romans 8:31b-34) The Transfiguration of Jesus. There are three versions of Jesus’ transfiguration in the gospels and an abbreviated form of it in 2 Peter 1:17-18. Mark’s version seems to be first in...Read full story »
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
First Sunday of Lent
MARK 1:12-15 (Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22) When there is mention of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, we instinctively think of the triple temptation in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. The earlier gospel, Mark, knows nothing of a triple temptation...Read full story »
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
MARK 1:40-45 (Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1) The final story of Mark’s chapter one is the curing of a leper. The leper approaches Jesus and kneels before him. He says, “If you will, you can make me clean.” For a leper to approach any...Read full story »
Monday, February 09, 2015
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
MARK 1:29-39 (Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalm 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5) This Sunday’s gospel reading continues that of last Sunday - Jesus’ activity at Capernaum on the NW shore of the Sea of Galilee. Last week we left Jesus in the local synagogue. The quick and effici...Read full story »
Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
MARK 1:21-28 (Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35) In last Sunday’s gospel reading Jesus chose his first four disciples at the Sea of Galilee. Now the five companions went north to Capernaum, which was situated on the NW shore of the Sea of Galile...Read full story »
Monday, January 26, 2015
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
MARK 1:14-20 (Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31) This Sunday’s gospel reading has two parts: The first cites the end of the Baptizer’s ministry and Jesus’ first public activity after the temptations in the wilderness. The second part takes up th...Read full story »
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
JOHN 1:35-42 (1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19; Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20) The mission of John the Baptizer, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and witnessing to Jesus was ongoing. He had endured an investigation by an official delegation of...Read full story »
Monday, January 12, 2015
The Baptism of the Lord
There are three versions of the baptism of Jesus – Mark, Matthew, Luke. All three include the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove upon Jesus and an approving voice from the sky. The Gospel of John, for its own theological reasons, omits the baptism of Jesus, but does...Read full story »
Monday, January 05, 2015
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
LUKE 2:22-40 (Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3; Psalm 105:1-6, 8-9; Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19) The great event, the birth of the Lord, has taken place. Jesus was incorporated into the family of Abraham by circumcision on the eighth day after his birth. There was a law for the purification of a mother...Read full story »
Sunday, December 21, 2014
