Adult Initiation & Sacrament Preparation

Actions speak louder than words.  When Jesus railed against the Pharisees and the Scribes, this was one of the key elements he used to call attention to their hypocrisy.  While putting on the face of piety they consistently ignored the needs of the poor and more often than not, stood as a barrier, not a facilitator to building a relationship with God.  While our readings for this Sunday remind us that we must follow the Law set down by the Lord, neither should we ignore the spirit of that law. The Word for the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5 James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Our first reading comes from the Book of Deuteronomy.  Here Moses is presenting the Law of God to the people of Israel.  Our passage is actually from two different sections – the first, from the opening of Chapter 4 where Moses enjoins them to her the law and not to add or subtract from it.  For the second part our text jumps o...

Do you have what it takes to follow the Lord?  Our readings this week give us a challenge – do we follow society or do we follow the Lord.  Not everything God says is easy to follow.  Not everything Jesus said or taught was easy for his disciples to accept.   The Word for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21 Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32 John 6:60-69 Our first reading comes from the book of Joshua.  Joshua stood beside Moses and Aaron as they marched out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, and now has taken over from Moses to lead the Israelites into the promised land.  Unfortunately, as the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, there were others already living there, forcing them into some military engagements.  After winning a series of successful struggles, Joshua has now gathered all the people together to give them a choice… to follow the gods of their ancestors, or to follow the Lord. Ou...

Because August 15 is the feast of the Assumption of Mary, the readings of this 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time are put aside so that we can celebrate this most important solemnity: The Word for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass during the Day Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 1:39-56 For this feast day dedicated to Mary, we put aside the Hebrew Scriptures and begin with a reading from the Book of Revelation.  Here in this passage we have an image of Mary that is not unlike many of the artistic representations we’ve seen in paintings, frescos, mosaics, and statues.  But then the vision turns darker as we learn that this woman is about to give birth with a dragon preparing to devour the child.  But God is looking out for them as the child is “caught up to God” and the woman flees to a safe place in the desert.  Then we hear the declaration from Heaven of salvation coming from this Anointed On...

During last week’s readings we were introduced to Jesus as the bread of life.  Just as God provided manna in the desert for the Israelites, God gave us his son so that we may live.  This week we continue with this theme of bread as we dive deeper into our understanding of bread bringing life. The Word for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Ephesians 4:30-5:2 John 6:41-51 We open with a reading from the 1st Book of Kings.  As we enter the narrative the great prophet Elijah is on the run (as Jezebel has falsely accused him of killing all the other prophets).  He’s traveling South, out of Israel, through Judah, on his way to Mt. Horab, the mountain of the Lord.  Halfway through his journey he’s ready to give up.  As he sleeps, however, an angel of the Lord brings him a hearth cake and a jug of water.  Strengthened by this food, he is able to continue his journey of forty days and forty nights (yes, that well known ...

Bread is perhaps the oldest prepared food known to mankind and can be found in one form or another throughout the world and throughout all cultures.  It is considered a staple of life, and thus carries with it a significance beyond mere sustenance.  Its importance is also reflected in our scriptures as we see in this Sunday’s readings: The Word for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Psalm 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54 Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 John 6:24-35 Our first reading comes from the Book of Exodus.  Moses has been successful in bringing the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, but their joy as a free people is short lived when they are faced with the realities of finding food and water for their long journey through the desert.  Moses brings their complaints to God, who in turn promises that they will not go hungry, providing then with manna, bread from Heaven.  This experience has such a deep and significant meaning that it carries through to our Ps...

The Lord will provide.  It’s a phrase we hear often, especially when we find ourselves in situations of need.  But for as often as we may hear it, how often do we honestly, sincerely, believe it?  Or when we find ourselves in need, how many of us find the strength to turn it over to God?  Our readings this week show us how faith in the Lord can lead to his answering of our needs… The Word for the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2 Kings 4:42-44 Psalm 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18 Ephesians 4:1-6 John 6:1-15 Our first reading is a story of the Prophet Elisha from the Second Book of Kings.  Elisha, as we remember, was apprenticed to the great prophet Elijah, and served in the Northern Kingdom Israel during the period of the monarchy.  He is known for his many works of wonder, including this week’s passage about the barley loaves.  A man from some distance away came to Elisha to give him twenty barley loaves made from his first harvest as an offering to the prophet...

The Church is defined as the People of God – that is, all of us.  But as with any large group of people, there would be utter chaos if we didn’t have anyone to guide us, a shepherd to literally show us the way. The Word for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34 Our first reading is from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.  Jeremiah, as you may recall, was witness to the final days of the Kingdom of Judah.  Jeremiah was called to prophecy in support of the reform minded King Josiah.  But that support of the monarchy was short-lived with Josiah’s premature death, and Jeremiah was forced to watch the eventual downturn and first fall of Jerusalem in 568.  While he tried to council King Zedekiah (placed on the throne by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar), he eventually failed, and with that came the destruction of Jerusalem in 587.  Jeremiah fled to Egypt while the rest of Israel was taken into Exi...