Category: Reflections

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (2022) Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 Psalms 30:2, 4-6, 11-13 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 John’s gospel overflows into a chapter not included in the original gospel, which asks us to remember the appearances of the previous chapter “behind locked doors,” but the next appearance will be at the Sea of Tiberius. Now that… Continue reading THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (2022)

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER [DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY] 2022 Readings: Acts 5:12-16 Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 2-24 Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19 John 20:19-31 Let us be clear about the nature of this octave day of Easter, the Second Sunday of Easter, although more popularly known, since the time of St. John Paul’s pontificate, as Divine Mercy Sunday. Any Sunday in… Continue reading SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER [DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY] 2022

EASTER SUNDAY (2022)Readings:Acts 10:34a, 37-43Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23Colossians 3:1-4John 20:1-9“Today is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.”When is empty not a bad thing? An empty wine glass, an empty wallet, an empty bank account, an empty gas tank - those “empties,” and so many others, are all bad things.… Continue reading EASTER SUNDAY (2022)

Readings: Commemoration of Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem: Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalms 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 What was begun on Ash Wednesday now reaches its ultimate conclusion in the holiest week of the Church’s year, what we call Holy Week. We are not unfamiliar with the events, or the characters, of Holy Week:… Continue reading Commemoration of Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem:

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (2022) Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalms 126:1-6 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11 There surely were many moments during Jesus’ brief earthly ministry when the actions of His fellow men and women caused Him a great deal of dismay. The gospel story for this fifth Sunday of Lent is no exception. After a short… Continue reading FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (2022)

Readings: Joshua 5:9-12 Psalms 34:2-7 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Today is Laetare Sunday, because the opening word of the Introit is, “Rejoice.” We are meant to rejoice because we are halfway through Lent. We are meant to rejoice because God has redeemed us, and, in spite of how sinful we might be, He has… Continue reading FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (2022)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (2022) Readings: Joshua 5:9-12 Psalms 34:2-7 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Today is Laetare Sunday, because the opening word of the Introit is, “Rejoice.” We are meant to rejoice because we are halfway through Lent. We are meant to rejoice because God has redeemed us, and, in spite of how sinful… Continue reading FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (2022)

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (2022) Readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Psalms 27:1, 7-9, 13-14 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 9:28-36 When, in our first reading from Genesis, the Lord God took Abram outside he saw the night sky as he had never seen it before. Not that there were overly large cities, unprotected by ‘night-sky’ ordinances, whose bright… Continue reading SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (2022)

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (2022) Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Psalms 91:1-2, 10-15 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13 The actual “forty days” of Lent does not begin to be tallied until Monday of this week, so anything you have given up or promised to do since ashes were placed on your head can be considered extra (i.e., suitable… Continue reading FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (2022)

EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2022) Readings: Sirach 27:4-7 Psalms 92:2-3,13-16 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Luke 6:39-45 It is difficult to read the rather strong words of our first reading and our gospel reading, without reading them in light of the disturbing attacks presently happening in Ukraine. Indeed, the last few years, both in the realm… Continue reading EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2022)