Category: Reflections

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2020) Readings:   Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalms 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14 Romans 8:9, 11-13 Matthew 11:25-30 The disciples and those listening to Jesus might have been more pleased had Jesus said: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” [for you have revealed all things to the brightest and… Continue reading FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2020)

TRINITY SUNDAY (2020) Readings:   Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 Daniel 3:52-56 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18 Today’s liturgy should come with a disclaimer that might say: “Today we are going to celebrate the Trinity who is at the very center of our faith. Please know that by the end of the liturgy there is no guarantee… Continue reading TRINITY SUNDAY (2020)

The Solemnity of Pentecost (2020) Readings:   Acts 2:1-11 Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Today we celebrate liturgically the completion of Christ’s Paschal Mystery, which Acts says happened forty days after Christ’s resurrection, and which our gospel from John says happened on the very same day as the resurrection.… Continue reading The Solemnity of Pentecost (2020)

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD (2020) Readings:   Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalms 47:2-3, 6-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20 In most enlightened parts of the country, what used to be “Ascension Thursday” is celebrated on the Sunday preceding the great feast of Pentecost. Why the bishops of the United States couldn’t… Continue reading THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD (2020)

Readings:   Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalms 66:1-7, 16, 20 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:155-21 As we approach the end of the Easter Season, the readings prepare us for Jesus’ physical departure and the bestowal of the “Advocate,” the “Spirit of truth,” whose presence we will celebrate on Pentecost Sunday. Remember, that in… Continue reading 6th Sunday of Easter

Readings:   Acts 6:1-7 Psalms 33:1-5, 18-19 1 Peter 2:4-9 John 14:1-12 What comfort Jesus’ words are, to His disciples and to us: “Do not let your heart be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” In a world of coronavirus, in a world where our pastor and beloved church have… Continue reading Fifth Sunday of Easter 2020

  FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2020) Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:14a, 36-41 Psalms 23:1-6 1 Peter 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10 This Sunday is often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday, even though the lectionary curiously stops short (verse 11) of what is perhaps Jesus’ most famous “I am” statement: “I am the Good Shepherd.”  Instead,… Continue reading   FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2020)

A GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY REFLECTION It would seem that Good Shepherd Sunday would be an appropriate time to reflect on the tenure of our chief shepherd of the Diocese, Bishop Frank Dewane.  When Bishop Dewane came to this Diocese he possessed little to no pastoral experience, having spent a number of years in Rome, where… Continue reading A GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY REFLECTION

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (2020) Readings:   Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-28 Psalms 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35 In addition to his contributions to the infancy narratives, the Evangelist Luke has some of the most memorable stories in Scripture: the story of the Prodigal Son, the story of the Rich Man… Continue reading THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (2020)

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER/DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (2020) Readings: Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47 Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 A reminder at the outset that the liturgical implications for this Sunday, which we call the Second Sunday of Easter, set it apart from other sequential Sundays that are celebrated.  We celebrate the Octave… Continue reading SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER/DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (2020)