Category: Reflections

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (2021) Readings:Exodus 20:1-17Psalms 19:8-111 Corinthians 1:22-25John 2:13-25 For the third Sunday in a row, our Old Testament reading begins with the very important concept of “covenant,” that contract with God that reminds us, “I am your God, and you are my people” if we do as God commands. The first covenant… Continue reading THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (2021)

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (2021) Readings:Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18Psalms 116:10, 15-19Romans 8:31-34Mark 8:2-10 The first reading from the Book of Genesis is particularly unnerving, raising as it does a variety of questions which are nearly impossible to answer. Would God ask anyone to sacrifice their own son? Was the outcome planned in advance? Had God been busy,… Continue reading SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (2021)

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (2021) Readings:Genesis 9:8-15Psalms 25:4-91 Letter of Peter  3:18-22Mark 1:12-15 The first recorded covenant that God makes with His creation is recounted for us in our first reading from the Book of Genesis (although some might suggest that the creation of man and woman is the most original covenant). In the days… Continue reading FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (2021)

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021) Readings:Leviticus 13:1-2; 44-46Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 111 Corinthians 10:31-11:1Mark 1:40-45 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! There is a lot of talk about shortages during this pandemic; a shortage of vaccines, a shortage of hospital beds, a shortage of PPEs, a shortage of ventilators, a shortage of doctors, nurses, and professional technicians. As… Continue reading SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021)

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021) Readings:Job  7:1-4, 6-7Psalms  147:1-61 Corinthians  9:16-19, 22-23Mark 1:29-39 For all those who at anytime have felt overwhelmed and put upon, Job’s words in the first reading clearly resonate: “Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs… Continue reading FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021)

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021) Readings:Deuteronomy  18:15-20Psalms  95:1-2, 6-91 Corinthians  7:32-35Mark  1:21-28 The liturgical titles for these Sundays between the Christmas Season and Lent contain the word “Ordinary.” If only these days, surely all days, were ordinary. We are living in an extraordinary time, a time replete with chaos and upset, not only within… Continue reading FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2021)

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)