SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18; Psalm 116; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10 That phrase usually refers to “peak” spiritual experiences or those dramatic, critical moments in one’s life. Today we hear about two different mountaintop...
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
WHAT HAPPENED TO "TEMPTATION SUNDAY?" Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15 Flood…covenant…salvation…baptism – all this might sound a little unusual on this First Sunday of Lent, called Temptation Sunday because the gospel always...
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
CLEANSING Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; Mark 1:40-45 It is interesting that when today’s readings talk about leprosy, they use the terms clean, cleansing, unclean. We can easily understand that leprosy is symbolic of sin –...
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
BAD NEWS TO GOOD NEWS Job 7:1-4,6-7; Psalm 147; 1 Cor. 9:16-19,22-23; Mark 1:29-39 We have all been there at some point – feeling low, discouraged, down, depressed. We would prefer not to stay there, however, but to look forward in hope to better...
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MESSIANIC AUTHORITY Deut. 18:15-20, Psalm 95, 1 Cor. 7:32-35, Mark 1:21-28 “What is this teaching? Who is this man, really? Where does he come from?” All these questions were swirling around Jesus as he began his public ministry and they would...
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
CALLS AND RESPONSES Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 25; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20 God calls and man responds, ready to follow and obey - well, maybe not always! The readings today present calls from the Lord but contrasting responses – first, God’s call...
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
NEW BEGINNINGS 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19; Psalm 40; 1 Cor. 6:13-15, 17-20; John 1:35-42 It is fitting that the readings of this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, in the first weeks of 2021, speak of “firsts” and “new beginnings.” The young boy Samuel,...
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED? Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29; Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38; Mark 1:7-11 Why, indeed? Jesus had no sin. John’s baptism was one of repentance, but Jesus had no need of repentance. In fact, in Matthew’s account of the Baptism...
SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY
WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 I remember seeing this on a bumper sticker (when people still used bumper stickers). Actually, it was one of the better bumper stickers I’ve seen. Some were rather...
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
PEACE AND ORDER IN FAMILY LIFE Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 Psalm 128, Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:22-40 The first human beings God created were a man and a woman – a married couple. When the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, it was in the midst...