Adult Initiation & Sacrament Preparation

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 Alex...

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 clea...

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 gi...

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 ignoran...

During the Easter Season the Church celebrates our faith’s greatest mystery – the Resurrection.  As we transition to Ordinary Time, the Church likes to take a moment to reflect on our other great mysteries.  Last Sunday was the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (what we used to call Corpus Christi).  It is a recognition of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The Word for Corpus Christi Exodus 24:3-8 Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 Hebrews 9:11-15 Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 Our first reading is from the book of Exodus.  Prior to this passage the people of Israel have arrived at Mount Sinai and Moses has received the 10 Commandments (and the entirety of the Law code) from God.  Moses presents this to the people, and as our passage opens, Moses is asking for their acceptance of the Law.  With the approval of the people, the Covenant is ratified by the blood s...

The fifty days of Easter are now behind us, but as is often the case, the Church isn’t quite ready to leave the party.  As we enter this long period of Ordinary Time the Church takes these first two Sundays after Easter to reflect on two of her most sacred mysteries.  This Sunday, with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and next Sunday with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Word for Trinity Sunday Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 Romans 8:14-17 Mathew 28:16-20 We open with a reading from the book of Deuteronomy – the 5th and final book of the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible).  Our passage has Moses speaking to the people of the wonders of the Lord… A God who chose them, Israel, a captive nation under Egypt, for his own.  The continuation of this special relationship, however, requires each party to perform.  In order to receive the grace of the Lord, one must ...

This Sunday we bring the Easter Season to a close with the celebration of Pentecost… that moment when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles, whose gifts allowed them to leave the upper room and spread the Gospel to Jerusalem, all of Judea and Samaria, and throughout the world.  It’s the birthday of the Church! The Word for Pentecost Sunday Acts 2-1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25 John 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27, 16:12-15 Our Sunday readings open fittingly with the Pentecost story in Acts of the Apostles.  This is the story from which our traditional stories of this moment originate.  It is after the Ascension and the Apostles are gathered again in the upper room.  Our passage has two distinct parts.  First is the actual descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, followed by the experience of the people in the street after the Apostles leave the upper room. The first line of o...