5th Sunday of Easter 2013

The Word for the 5th Sunday of Easter:
        Acts 14:21-27
        Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
        Revelation 21:1-5a
        John 13:31-33a, 34-35

This week Jesus gives us a new commandment: "Love one another." Forget the 10 commandments... forget the rest of the Law, because these three words embody all these codes and more. Jesus said, "This is how they will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." A love that is genuine pours out such that it cannot help but be noticed by others. Sounds easy... right? Or is it?

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26th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Cycle B

Who speaks for the Lord? Do you have to be a prophet? A priest? A bishop? The Pope? What about you? The answer, according to our readings this week, is “whomever God calls,” and that could be you. The Word for the 26tth Sunday of Ordinary Time Numbers 11:25-29 Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 James 5:1-6 Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Our first reading comes from the Book of Numbers. This book is a continuation of the Exodus story, from the point where they leave the Sinai (after receiving the Law) to the point where they are ready to enter the Promised Land. The book gives us some history of these years interspersed with sections of legal codes. This Sunday’s passage deals with the commissioning the elders, those 70 individuals chosen by Moses to receive some of the Spirit so that they may prophesy (preach) among the people. But during this time there were two men, Eldad and Medad, who were not with the group at the tent, but who also recei...

3rd Sunday of Advent - Cycle C

“Shout for Joy!” The opening lines of our first reading expresses the feelings we should be having during this third Sunday of Advent. Also known as Gaudete Sunday (Latin for “rejoice”), we celebrate that we have now past the half-way point of our penitent reflection – the “hump day” of Advent, if you will. What have we to be so joyful about? Our readings provide the answer: The Word for the 3rd Sunday of Advent Zephaniah 3:14-18a Psalm 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke3:10-18 Our first reading comes from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah. Though we don’t hear from Zephaniah very often in our Sunday Liturgies, and though the book itself isn’t that long (only 3 chapters), the importance of his message not only can be seen in his predecessors Jeremiah and Baruch, but may even have had a profound effect on the Judean monarchy itself by moving King Josiah to begin his campaign of religious reform. Our passage this week, though similar to the passages...

28th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Cycle B

What is truly valuable? As a species humanity seems constantly preoccupied with this question, starting from our individual perspective and building up to our families, our parish, our community, all the way up to the entire world view. Whole industries have grown around this idea of value, from the advertising industry that tries to convince you of the value of what they’re selling, to insurance companies that can set a monetary value on everything, including your own life. Our faith tradition also has some thoughts on this question, as addressed by our readings this week: The Word for the 28tth Sunday of Ordinary Time Wisdom 7:7-11 Psalm 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17 Hebrews 4:12-13 Mark 10:17-30 Our first reading is from the Book of Wisdom. You may recall that we had a passage from this book three weeks ago, but by way of reminder, the Book of Wisdom comes to us from the Jewish community in Alexandria some 50 years before Christ. Typical of wisdom literature in...

Adult Initiation & Sacrament Preparation

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