Category: Reflections

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (2023) Readings: Exodus 344:4-6, 8-9 Daniel 3:52-56 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18 Today we celebrate that which us mere mortals find fully impossible to understand - the Trinity.  It is the theological concept (doctrine) that states that there are three persons in the one God.  Most Christians will avoid delving… Continue reading THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (2023)

THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST (2023) Readings: Acts 2:1-11 Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 Perhaps the most telling part of today’s Liturgy of the Word is the boldness of the compilers of the appropriate Scripture readings, placing the two contradictory readings of Acts and John in the same liturgy.  The day… Continue reading THE SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST (2023)

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD (2023) Readings: Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 1:17-23 Matthew 28:16-20 Goodbyes are never easy, perhaps especially when surrounded by the high drama of a direct ascension into heaven.  Jesus’ closest disciples [apostles] have been with Him three years, going from town to town, listening to His… Continue reading THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD (2023)

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2023) Readings: Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalms 66:1-7, 16, 20 1 Peter 3:15-18 ”Keep your conscience clear, so that,  when you are maligned, those who defame your good  conduct on Christ, may themselves be put to shame.  For it is better to suffer for doing good… than for doing … Continue reading SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2023)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2023) Readings: Acts 2:14, 36-41 Psalms 23:1-6 1 Peter 2:20-25 John 10:1-10 The process of writing a reflection for me involves a careful, meditative reading of the Sunday readings, and perusing a handful of available commentaries, including those chosen by the editors of Give Us This Day and the Magnificat.  I began… Continue reading FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (2023)

SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (2023) Readings: Acts 2:42-47 Psalms 118:2-4, 13-5, 22-24 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 If we wish to retain the intention of Holy Mother Church, we need to focus more this Sunday on the closing of this Octave of Easter.  Devoid of the pious accoutrements that accompany… Continue reading SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER – DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (2023)

Readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43 Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9 In keeping with His brief public life, there was no showy exit of Jesus from the tomb in which He was buried.  From the beginning of His public life Jesus scorned doing anything just for show (recall the account of Jesus’ temptation in the… Continue reading EASTER SUNDAY – THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (2023)

PALM/PASSION SUNDAY (2023) Readings: Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalms 22:8-9, 17-20,23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14-27:66 We begin the holiest week of the Church’s liturgical year with the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The feeling of triumph is, however, short-lived, for the reading of the Lord’s Passion describes in jarring detail a story of betrayal,… Continue reading PALM/PASSION SUNDAY (2023)

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - LAETARE SUNDAY (2023) Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 Psalms 23:1-6 Ephesians  5:8-14 John 9:1-41 We are now at the half-way point of Lent, and the general theme of rejoicing rules the day.  Rose vestments give us a hint of joy, as well as the permission to have instrumental music and… Continue reading FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT – LAETARE SUNDAY (2023)

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (2023) Readings: Genesis 12:1-4 Psalms 33:33:45, 18-20, 22 2 Timothy 1:8-10 Matthew 17:1-9 Part of the essential Christian triumvirate - faith, hope and charity - hope is as important to our personal well being as it is to our Christian life.  The disciples in their time with Jesus had seen and heard… Continue reading SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (2023)