Category: Reflections

THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021) Readings:Jonah 3:1-5, 10Psalms  25:4-91 Corinthians  7:29-31Mark 1:14-20 In today’s gospel we find the John of the last two Sunday’s gospels arrested, and the oldest gospel gives us a different account of the calling of the first disciples than we found in last week’s Gospel of John. After the reference… Continue reading THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021)

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE SUNDAY Each year we are given two specific opportunities as priests to speak to pro-life issues: the first Sunday in October, and the Sunday in close proximity to the day, January 22, 1973, when the then Supreme Court handed down the decisions of Roe v. Wade, and Doe v. Bolton, decisions… Continue reading SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE SUNDAY (2021)

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021) Readings:1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19Psalms 40:2, 4, 7-101 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20John 1:35-42 The gospel for this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time virtually picks up from where our Synoptic gospel left off on last week’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In John’s gospel we are by the side of… Continue reading SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021)

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - THE CLOSE OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON (2021) Readings:Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7Psalms 29:1-4, 9-10Acts 10:34-38Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 It is rare that the gospel proclaimed gives us an opportunity to see ourselves in the place of Jesus, but today’s gospel gives us such an opportunity. All Christians share in the… Continue reading FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD – THE CLOSE OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON (2021)

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (2020) Readings:Isaiah 60:1-6Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6Matthew 2:1-12 Most people wouldn’t think of setting up their Manger Scene for Christmas without carefully placing the Three Kings who come from afar (some wait until January 6th to place them but that hardly gives them any time in the… Continue reading FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (2020)

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY - THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS (2020) Readings:Sirach  3:2-6, 12-14Psalms  128:1-2, 3-5Colossians 3:12-21Luke 2:22-40 This Feast of the Holy Family is uniquely celebrated at a time when families can only remember how easy it was to be together and celebrate around a table packed fairly full of relatives… Continue reading FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY – THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS (2020)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (2020) Readings: 2 Samuel  7:1-5, 8-11, 16 Psalms  89:2-5, 27, 29 Romans  16:25-27 Luke  1:26-38 We come from a long line of people trying to contain/control the God they worship.Since the burning bush was too impractical to carry around, the Israelites carried around the tablets (Ten Commandments) given to Moses on… Continue reading FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (2020)

GAUDETE SUNDAY - THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (2020) Readings:Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11Luke 1:46-50, 53-54Thessalonians 5:16-24John 1:6-8, 19-28The Introit for today’s Mass begins with the word “Rejoice,” “Gaudete,” which is always why the priest wears rose vestments on this third Sunday of Advent. It’s meant to be a reminder that we are halfway through the Advent Season,… Continue reading GAUDETE SUNDAY – THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (2020)

Second Sunday of Advent (2020) Readings:Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11Psalms  85:9-132 Peter  3:8-14Mark  1:1-8 Oh, that the words of this week’s Scripture were true? If so we might call this ‘Comfort Sunday,’ for that is what Isaiah says God wants us to be given: “Comfort, give comfort to my people.” How much we long for the comfort Isaiah… Continue reading Second Sunday of Advent (2020)

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (2020) Readings:Isaiah  63:16-17, 19Psalms  80:2-3,15-16,18-191 Corinthians  1:3-9Mark  13:33-37 If we were not playing close attention our readings might make us feel that we are still in the Ordinary cycle of the liturgical year, for the themes that mark the end of the liturgical year are just as evident in today’s readings.… Continue reading FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (2020)