Deuteronomy 26:4 – 10

This past Wednesday, we embarked again on the journey of Lent, a journey toward Easter.  This Sunday, as we begin the season of Lent, we hear Moses recall the various stages of Israel’s journey: Jacob’s migration to Egypt, and the events surrounding the original Passover.  It then concludes with the ritual prescribed to thank God who has blessed the people Israel in their journey as it recalls both God’s care for his people in providing them with food for another year and the Passover.  It is from […]

1 Samuel 26:2, 7 – 9, 12 – 13, 22 – 23

We hear from the First Book of Samuel this Sunday.  It is one of the Historical Books.  We haven’t heard from it for a long time, so let’s review it a little.  It is the first of the Historical Books, which present the history of Israel from the time of Samuel to the Maccabees, from approximately 1000 to 100BC.  Of course, it is important to remember that histories in those days did not serve the same purpose as our […]

Isaiah 62: 1 – 5

As we return to ordinary time, that is, time ordered according to God’s plan for his Kingdom, we hear from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  Since it is from chapter 62, we know that it is from Trito-Isaiah, and concerns the post-exilic time for Israel.  This part of Isaiah has, as its primary purpose, the encouragement of the anawim as they return to rebuild Jerusalem.  Our first reading contains just such a passage of hope for God’s people at one of the lowest moments of […]

(Opening prayer:  Jn 1:29 – 34)

Isaiah 40:1 – 5, 9 – 11

We hear again from the prophet Isaiah this Sunday, from the beginning of the portion of this book that most scripture scholars identify as part of Deutero-Isaiah (chapter 40 – 55).  As you will read in your footnotes, these chapters – 40 – 55 – are usually designated Second Isaiah (or Deutero-Isaiah) and are believed to have been written by an anonymous prophet toward the end of the Babylonian exile.  There are several significant difference between the first 39 […]

Micah 5:1 – 4a

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of the Prophet Micah.   Like Baruch and Zephaniah of the last two weeks, we don’t hear from Micah very often – in fact, we only hear from him once in the three year Sunday liturgical cycle and five times in the weekday cycle – so let’s review what we know about and his book.  Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, as you will see from your Bible Timeline.  Unlike Isaiah, however, he was not native to Jerusalem – according […]

Isaiah 61:1 – 2a, 10 – 11

The Third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday because, in both the first and second readings, we are called to rejoice; the Lord is near!  As we quickly approach Christmas, we wait in eager anticipation of the coming of the Lord.  Let’s keep that in mind as we reflect on this Sunday’s readings.

This Sunday, we will hear again from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  The section we will hear is from the 61^st chapter, so we know that it is from […]

Baruch 5:1 – 9

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Baruch.  The name is interesting; as you all know, it is derived from the Hebrew – בָּרוּךְ‎ – which means “Blessing.”  We don’t hear often from Baruch; in fact, this is the only time we hear from him on Sunday in the entire three-year cycle.  It is one of the many options at the Easter Vigil, but is seldom selected because others are more appropriate.  So, let’s review what we know about him and his book. 

The opening […]

Daniel 7:13-14

This Sunday, we will hear again from the Book of Daniel. Again, the passage was clearly chosen to prepare us for the Gospel.  Let’s review our current understanding about this book; you will recall that we heard a passage from it just last Sunday.  We have come to understand this book as being apocalyptic in style, written around 165BC.  An uncritical reading of the book would lead us to conclude that it is a sort of biography written about an historical person who lived during the time of Nebuchadnezzar, […]

Opening Prayer:  Daniel 7: 13-14

Daniel 12:1 – 3

As we come to the end of the liturgical year – next Sunday is already the last Sunday of the Year when we celebrate the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – we remember it as Christ the King – we are given an opportunity to reflect on the end of time.  All three readings speak of the end of the world and the final judgment.

This Sunday, we will first hear from the Book of the Prophet Daniel. Again, […]