Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Two Sundays ago, on the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary time, this column discussed the cycles of stories about the ninth century B.C. prophets Elijah and Elisha. The stories are found in the First and Second Books of Kings. The first reading for that Sunday’s liturgy was taken from the cycle...Read full story »
Thursday, August 09, 2018
Eighteeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The first reading is from the Book of Exodus. Exodus is the second of the five great scrolls (books) which form the Torah – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. The Hebrew word “Torah” means “the Teaching.” The English word for the Torah is Pentateuch. ...Read full story »
Thursday, August 02, 2018
Seventeeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the First and Second Books of Kings, there are two major miracle-working prophets, Elijah and his successor Elisha. The First Book of Kings narrates a long cycle of the works, the sufferings, and the miracles of Elijah. The dates of his prophetic ministry are approximately from 869-849 B.C...Read full story »
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The first reading is taken from the oracles of the Prophet Jeremiah. His ministry in Jerusalem lasted from approximately 626 to 580 B.C. The time of this oracle is shortly after the first deportation of king and people of the Kingdom of Judah into exile in Babylon (today Iraq) in 597. In the...Read full story »
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The first reading is from the Prophet Amos. He is the first Old Testament prophet whose oracles (sayings) have been handed down in the form of a book. More correctly, his oracles were handed down in written form on a scroll. His prophetic ministry took place in mid 8th century B.C., around 745 B.C....Read full story »
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This column for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time explained the background for the oracles of the prophet Ezekiel. The dates of his prophetic ministry and his oracles are tentatively set at 593-573 B.C. As noted, Ezekiel was a young priest in Jerusalem who was taken to Babylon in the first...Read full story »
Thursday, July 05, 2018
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B First Reading: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Second Reading: 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Gospel: Mark 5:21-43 The Old Testament Book of Wisdom is the source of the first reading. This book is also called “The Wisdom of Solomon” because in 9:7-8, 12,...Read full story »
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptizer
This year the celebration of the birth of John the Baptizer replaces the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The fact that the Baptizer’s birth outranks a Sunday reveals the importance of John’s role in salvation history. The first reading is from a part of the oracles of a prophet called...Read full story »
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
The first reading for this Sunday is an excerpt from the Prophet Ezekiel. The dates of his ministry as a prophet extend from about 593-573? B.C. Ezekiel was a young priest in Jerusalem, probably a member of the Temple clergy who was taken into exile in Babylon (Iraq today) in the first deport...Read full story »
Thursday, June 14, 2018
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
The original solemnity in honor of the Eucharist is Holy Thursday, a celebration of the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. The joy which would naturally accompany this celebration of the Eucharist is dampened by the overshadowing sorrow of betrayal and death which follow the Last Supp...Read full story »
Thursday, May 31, 2018
