Adult Initiation & Sacrament Preparation

How quickly things can change.  One moment we are celebrating, and the next we are brought to shock and grief.  This is Palm Sunday.  The same crowd that cheered as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem is the same crowd that only a few days later is shouting for his execution.  How can this be?  Our own recent history has similar moments – The stay-at-home orders for the COVID-19 pandemic, the September 11th terror attacks, the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, and for those who are older, the assassination of John F. Kennedy or the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor.  History defining moments that, for those who lived through them become emblazoned in their memories and can move an entire society to say, “everything is different now.”  This is Palm Sunday: The Word for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Luke 19:28-40 Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 As is our tradition, our gospel readings for...

If you are attending a Mass where they are not celebrating the Scrutinies, these are the readings you will hear: Practice what you preach.  Pope Francis, when declaring the Jubilee Year of Mercy for 2016, he stressed the importance of doing just that – being a living example of God’s mercy and love.  In our readings this week we learn that righteousness without mercy is nothing short of being a bully, beating up on others without consideration for the humanity of another and the context of their situation.  What would Jesus do? The Word for the 5th Sunday of Lent Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11 Our first reading is from Deutero or Second-Isaiah.  Israel is sitting in Exile in Babylon, and here the prophet is telling us that God sees the events of the past as just that, the past.  In other words, whatever sin the people of Israel may have committed in the past should be put aside.  God, who can make all things happen...

Last week, the 4th Sunday of Lent, marked the halfway point of the season – Laetare Sunday – one of only two times during the year where the presiding priest wears rose colored vestments instead of the seasonal purple.  This week we begin to sense the end of Lent is near.  In horse racing terms we’re rounding the final turn heading into the stretch.  This is the last Sunday before Palm Sunday.  For many people, the end of our lives here on earth means death – the end of our existence, but as our readings teach us this week, death is not an end, but a transition: The Word for the 5th Sunday of Lent Ezekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 We open with a reading from the prophet Ezekiel.  While not often read during the Liturgical cycle, Ezekiel is considered one of the major prophets and his message is as unique as his calling.  Ezekiel, having been born into the priestly class, received his call to prophecy 10 years into the ...

If you are attending a Mass where they are not celebrating the Scrutinies, these are the readings you will hear: Reconciliation.  We Catholics know this word through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, what we also call “confession” or “penance.”  The act of approaching God, through the priest, to seek forgiveness of our sins.  It allows us to let go of the baggage that prevents us from being in right relationship with God and his Church.  That reconciliation is what allows us to share in God’s glory, but it also can be our greatest challenge. The Word for the 4th Sunday of Lent Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 We open with a reading from the Book of Joshua.  Joshua, of course, being the protégé of Moses who is tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land.  The passage opens with God telling Joshua “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”  What does that mean?  Some other Englis...

Our journey through Salvation History continues as we enter the 4th week of Lent.  Not only are we exposed to some pivotal moments in our journey of faith, but in remembering our Baptism we continue to reflect on the symbols and meanings of this sacrament: The Word for the 4th Sunday of Lent - Cycle A Scrutiny 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 Our first reading is from 1st Book of Samuel.  Samuel, as you may remember, was the last of the Judges, and the person to whom the people of Israel came to ask for a king.  This was not what God wanted, but he granted their request, and Saul is appointed as the first King of Israel.  At this point in the narrative, Saul is getting on in years, and the people need a successor.  None of Saul’s sons are suited to the task, so God points Samuel to David, whom he anoints as the chosen one.  But how does this story fit with our Psalm in which we sing, “The Lord is my shepherd...

If you are attending a Mass where they are not celebrating the Scrutinies, these are the readings you will hear: Repent and prepare the way of the Lord!  While we may recall these words as the cry of John the Baptist announcing the coming of the Christ, we should not forget that these words have followed us since the dawn of creation all the way down to this very day.  God’s mercy is there waiting for all, but have we answered the call? The Word for the 3rd Sunday of Lent – Cycle C Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 9 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9 Our readings during this Lent have reminded us of our Covenant relationship with God, answering God’s call to be his people.  Last week we heard the story of Abram, and this week we witness God’s call to the next great patriarch, Moses.  At this point in our narrative Moses has fled Egypt and has been living in the land of Midian.  While tending the flock, Moses is drawn up the mountain of God b...

We are now deep into our Lenten season of reflection, and from this Sunday through to Palm Sunday, our readings take on much deeper meaning as we continue our journey through Salvation History.  In fact, the Church has found this cycle of readings to be so important she has chosen them to be used specifically for the OCIA in the Scrutiny Rites.  So if you attend a Mass where the Scrutinies are taking place, these are the readings you will here: The Word for the 3rd Sunday of Lent – Cycle A Exodus 17:3-7 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 We open a reading from the book of Exodus.  At this point the Israelites have escaped Pharaoh and his army having crossed the Red Sea.  They are now free but have yet to reach Mount Sinai.  They are traveling through the “wilderness,” a barren stretch of land between the sea and the Sinai.  Their food was running out so the Lord gave them manna.  Now the water is running out and there is none to be fo...

Revelation and covenant.  These are core elements of our faith.  Revelation is how God has “revealed” himself to us – how God has made is presence known to us.  Covenant is the basis of our relationship with God – how he seeks a continuing and growing relationship with us.  Both these elements play a role in understanding our readings on this 2nd Sunday of Lent: The Word for the 2nd Sunday of Lent Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 9:28b-36 Our first reading is from the book of Genesis.  Here we learn of the covenants made between God and Abram (who we will know later as Abraham).  The opening of our passage reminds us of the covenant where God promised that Abram’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars.  From there God promises Abram the land – a place where his descendants will live – the “promised land” that Moses will later lead the people.  But Abram needs proof.  How will he know that it...

With Ash Wednesday we begin our 40-day journey through the Season of Lent.  While this is an important time for all Catholics, it is particularly important for those adults preparing to receive their Sacraments.  While they are preparing for their Baptism, those of us who are already baptized are meant to reflect on our own Baptism.  Like Jesus in the desert, we use this time to deepen our faith through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (Pray – Fast – Give) – a faith that reminds us that even with our flaws, we are chosen by God to be his people. The Word for the 1st Sunday of Lent Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13 Our first reading is from the book of Deuteronomy.  Here we see Moses preparing the people of Israel to enter the promised land.  He tells them to prepare a sacrifice, and as they are presenting it, remind themselves of where they came from, the ancestors of Abraham (My father was a wandering Aramean), the ...

As with last week’s readings, our readings for the 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time are usually passed over for other feast days, but since Easter is somewhat late this year, we get to finish out this stretch of Ordinary Time with some readings we rarely get to hear during Sunday Mass: The Word for the 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time Sirach 27:4-7 Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Luke 6:39-45 Our first reading comes from the book of Sirach, also known as the Wisdom of Ben Sira, a great sage from Jerusalem who embraced the Wisdom tradition.  The work was originally finished around 175 BCE and was later translated into Greek by the author’s grandson sometime after 117 BCE during the Jewish diaspora that flourished in the later Ancient Greek Empire.  Since our earliest manuscripts for this book were found in Greek, it does not hold the same canonical status for Jews and Protestants, but more recent archeological finds have verified its Hebrew origins.  Like all Wisdo...

It is rare that we hear these readings for the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time because our calendar usually has more important celebrations on this particular Sunday, but with Easter falling where it does this year, we have a unique opportunity to study and celebrate these readings selected for this the 7th Sunday or Ordinary Time: The Word for the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Luke 6:17, 27-38 We open with a reading from the 1st Book of Samuel with a rather interesting story about King Saul (the first of the Israelite kings) and his protégé and successor, David.  To understand this story, one needs to understand the relationship between Saul and David.  At the people’s insistence, and God’s acquiescence, Samuel anoints Saul as the first King of Israel.  But things are not going well for Saul.  After being chosen by God, Saul has turned is back on God and his prophet Samuel.  Beca...

Depending on the Liturgical calendar and the timing of Lent, we don’t always have the opportunity to celebrate the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time.  But this year we have a chance to dive into some of the most important Christian teachings, which we will see have their roots in much older texts: The Word for the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time Jeremiah 17:5-8 Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, and 6 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20 Luke 6:17, 20-26 Our first reading comes to us from Jeremiah, that prophet who came to prominence under the great King Josiah, only to see the people turn back to idolatry and witness the inevitable destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of the kingdom of Judah.  This Sunday’s passage is from his oracles in the days of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son and successor.  Here he decries those who put their faith in men, and praises those who put their faith in God.  Those who trust in man are like a dessert whereas those who trust in the Lord are like a tree planted near a stre...

If there’s an over-arching theme to the readings for these first weeks of Ordinary Time, it would be “a call to mission.”  It starts with Jesus answering the call through his Baptism and the beginning of his ministry.  We see this theme continue in this week’s readings as others now answer the call: The Word for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 Our first reading is from the book of the prophet Isaiah.  Most of the stories of the prophets begin, quite logically, with the story of their calling.  The book on Isaiah, however, follows a slightly different construct.  It opens with his great oracle of indictment against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.  This continues for the first 5 chapters.  Finally, when we get to Chapter 6, we go from oratory to narrative history.  This is where we begin our first reading with the story of Isaiah’s calling.  This story is presen...

February 2nd is the date chosen by the Church to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.  When a significant feast day falls on a Sunday, the Church sets aside the readings for that normal week to celebrate the feast with these special readings: The Word for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Malachi 3:1-43 Psalm 24: 7, 8, 9, 10 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32 While the Catholic Church today refers to this day as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, traditionally it has also been called the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, and the Meeting of the Lord .  Prior to the Second Vatican Council, Candlemas was a time where beeswax candles were blessed for use throughout the year, a tradition still followed in some parish communities.  Today the celebration focuses more on the prophecy of Simeon, and Pope John Paul II chose it as a time for renewal of religious vows (not to be confused...

“In the beginning there was the Word…”  These are the dramatic opening lines from the Gospel according to John, and though we will not be reading from John’s Gospel this Sunday, these words ring true for our readings for this 3rd Sunday of Ordinary time.  The people are in the midst of something new, a new beginning that, as our readings will show, begin with The Word… The Word for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 (or 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27) Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Our first reading is from the book of the Prophet Nehemiah.  Nehemiah, along with the priest/prophet Ezra, are the architects of the Restoration of Israel.  Their great Exile in Babylon is over and through the grace of the Persian King, Cyrus the Great, Israel is free to return to their land, to rebuild the Temple and to rebuild their lives as the people of God.  In an effort to guild them in this new beginning, Nehemiah and Ezra g...

New beginnings.  This is the promise of the New Year.  We bid farewell to the troubles of the previous year and approach the new year in front of us fresh with enthusiasm and hope.  Our new year’s resolutions are a common expression of those new beginnings.  As we enter into Ordinary Time we appropriately focus on this idea of new beginnings with our readings for this Sunday… The Word for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11 Our first reading is from Third, or Trito -Isaiah.  Here the followers of the original prophet Isaiah foretell of a new beginning for the people of Israel.  Their Exile in Babylon is over!  Israel’s sins have been expiated and her vindication will become a beacon to all the other nations.  Where God was once someone to be feared (as in the earlier Mosaic texts), He now seems giddy with delight over his people, so much so he refers to the people as his brid...

What better way to bring the Christmas season to a close than with the celebration of the moment where Jesus was consecrated to his ministry – the celebration of The Baptism of the Lord.  Whereas Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, Christmas is the season where prophecy and expectation are fulfilled – born to us is the Christ, the one we have been waiting for is here! The Word for The Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 (or Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11) Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 (or Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30) Acts 10:34-38 (or Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7) Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 This Sunday’s celebration offers us two possible sets of readings, so I have chosen the alternate readings for this commentary since these are the ones we have used recently most often. Our first reading, from Second Isaiah, is a prophecy of hope for the people of Israel held captive in Exile in Babylon.  To our Christian ears, however, it also sounds a lot like John the Baptist preaching...

If Easter is our highest holy day, the Epiphany is rightly the second.  It is the celebration of the realization that through Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection that God's salvation is a gift for all people, everywhere.  It is this feast that defines us as Christians, revealing not only that this child, Jesus, is the Christ, but that the grace of reconciling the people to God is not exclusive – it is a universal invitation for all people. The Word for the Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-2 Our first reading comes from the later chapters of Isaiah (third or trito -Isaiah).  Here the prophet sees a glorious vision for Jerusalem:  The city shall be radiant and become a beacon for all the nations.  And that is the key point of this reading today – That all people, all kingdoms, will see Jerusalem, God's city and God's people, as the light and life, and be drawn to her and the glory of the Lord....