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Showing posts from June, 2018

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

You may be aware of our Church’s stance of the right to life (from conception to natural death) but where does that “pro-life” stance come from?  Today’s readings gives us a starting point to better understanding this often politically charged issue with some much needed perspective… The Word for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 Mark 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43 Our first reading comes from the Book of Wisdom… a book we Catholics turn to often in the Liturgy.  For Jesus and the Apostles, the Book of Wisdom would have been considered contemporary.  Having come from the Jewish community in Alexandria about 50 years before Christ, it served as a kind of updated catechism, pulling its basic teaching and wisdom from the Exodus story and other earlier wisdom books like Sirach, while focusing its message on the special concerns faced by Jewish people of that era, especially those in Alexandria and oth

Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Due to how our calendar fluctuates during any given year, certain feast days falling on a Sunday will supersede other regular celebrations.  Such is the case this Sunday, where the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, celebrated on June 24th, supersedes our normal celebration of the 12 Sunday of Ordinary Time.  In our Christian tradition John the Baptist most known for announcing  the coming of the Messiah, and recognizes him in Jesus, whom he later baptized in the Jordon River.  Today’s readings carry a sense of anticipation as we celebrate the nativity of John’s birth. The Word for the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist Isaiah 49:1-6 Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15 Acts 13:22-26 Luke 1:57-66, 80 Our first reading comes from “Deutero” or “Second” Isaiah.  During this time Israel is anticipating an end to their exile in Babylon.  Much as John the Baptist was called to announce the coming of Jesus, Isaiah makes it clear in this passage that he has

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Last week’s gospel from Mark introduced us to how Jesus teaches with parables.  This week, as we continue our journey with Jesus, he gives us two more parables as he explains to us the Kingdom of God. The Word for the 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ezekiel 17:22-24 Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Mark 4:26-34 We open with a reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.  Our passage speaks of God bringing life, taking a tender shoot of a cedar and planting it on the highest mountain.  There the tree will thrive and gather life around it.  It is an uplifting message for a people who find themselves in exile.  Remember that Ezekiel is our priest and prophet from the period of the Exile.  Although he sees that the sins of the people have brought them to Babylon, he also sees the hope of a nation that will gather all nations to the Lord.  The joy of this gathering is reflected in our Psalm as we sing, “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.” We continue

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time

With the Easter season finished and our special feast days behind us, our Sunday Mass jumps back into the regular schedule for Ordinary Time.  This is actually a very special time for the Church.  The long lazy days of Summer are perfect for the unfolding the story of Jesus’ ministry as he travels from place to place, with our Gospel for one week picking up where we left off last week.  We literally walk with Jesus and his disciples as his message and teaching unfolds during the journey. The Word for the 10th Sunday of Ordinary Time Genesis 3:9-15 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-35 Our first reading is from the story of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Genesis.  As we begin our regular celebration of Ordinary Time, this reading seems most appropriate.  Here is the beginning of the human race on it’s own.  No longer do Adam and Eve have the protection of the garden.  Put another way, their veil of ignorance has been lifted and must now f