The Holy Family
MATTHEW 2:13-15, 19-23 (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21) The Gospel reading for Holy Family Sunday begins with one of St. Joseph’s multiple dreams in Matthew’s first two chapters. Biblically speaking, dreams and the messages relayed in them were a kind o...Read full story »
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Fourth Sunday of Advent
MATTHEW 1:18-24 (Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7) The gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, is Matthew’s first of two “Christmas” stories. The second Christmas story is the Epiphany. In this whole first chapter of Matthew’s gospel the...Read full story »
Monday, December 16, 2013
Third Sunday of Advent
MATTHEW 11:2-11 (Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; James 5:7-10) The Baptizer’s role as preparer for the “advent” of the Lord Jesus continues in today’s liturgy. The situation in Matthew’s gospel is this: John was now in prison. According to Mark and Matthew...Read full story »
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Second Sunday of Advent
MATTHEW 3:1-12 The ministry of John the Baptizer was so important as a preparation for the ministry of Jesus that all four gospels, with considerable differences, begin their proclamation of the Good News with the preaching and baptizing ministry of John. His basic message was a...Read full story »
Monday, December 02, 2013
First Sunday of Advent
MATTHEW 24:37-44 (Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14) The English word “advent” is derived from the Latin adventus. The term was used for the official visitation of an emperor, a king, or other important official of kingdom or empire. Our own Advent anticipates the visitation of...Read full story »
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Feast of Christ the King
LUKE 23:35-43 The feast of Christ the King permanently replaces the thirty-fourth and last Sunday in Ordinary Time, (unless a Pope decrees a different date, as has happened twice). This feast was established during a Holy Year by Pope Pius XI on December 11, 1925, in the encyclical Quas Prim...Read full story »
Monday, November 18, 2013
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
LUKE 20:27-38 A long section of Luke’s gospel, called “The Journey to Jerusalem,” begins in chapter nine, verse 51. The journey ended in chapter 21:28-45, at the royal and triumphal entry of Jesus into the city and the temple. After his arrival, he faced homicidal opposition from...Read full story »
Monday, November 04, 2013
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
LUKE 19:1-10 In the person of Zacchaeus Luke brings together two groups of which he has written much throughout his gospel – the rich and the tax collectors. To these groups one could apply what Luke wrote earlier about Mammon (money) and God, “Love the one and hate the other....Read full story »
Monday, October 28, 2013
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
LUKE 18:9-14 Luke’s instruction on prayer continues. Last Sunday’ instruction was on perseverance in prayer. This Sunday’s centers on the proper disposition for prayer. The teaching is con-tained in a parable with an introduction. “Jesus addressed this parable to some...Read full story »
Monday, October 21, 2013
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
LUKE 18:1-8 This instruction on prayer and perseverance in prayer is in the form of a parable with an introduction attributed to Jesus. Luke begins, “Jesus spoke a parable to his disciples about the necessity for them to pray without become weary.” This is not Luke’s first instruc...Read full story »
Sunday, October 13, 2013
