Wisdom 12:13, 16 – 19

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

As we celebrate the 16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we address an issue that is certainly on our minds today as we continue to struggle with the coronavirus pandemic: does evil exist?  This virus certainly seems to be a force of evil.  It has forced us […]

Isaiah 55:10 – 11

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

This Sunday, we will hear just two verses from Isaiah, chapter 55.  Since it is from one of the chapters between 40 and 55, we know that it is deutero-Isaiah, a prophecy dating to the time of the Babylonian Exile (587 – 539BC).  As always, it prepares […]

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

ZECHariah 9:9-10

We hear from the Book of the prophet Zechariah only twice in the entire three-year Sunday readings cycle: on the 12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time in year C and this Sunday, the 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time in year A.  So, let’s review who Zechariah is, when he […]

2 Kings 4:8 – 11, 14 – 16a

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

This Sunday, we will hear one of Elisha’s miraculous pronouncements, one of a series of miracles performed at his hand.  It prepares us for the Gospel.  We haven’t read from 2 Kings for a long time, so let’s place it in context.  Recall […]

Matthew 10:26 – 33

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

We return to Ordinary Time, picking up where we left off before Lent and Easter.  Remember, the Gospel of Matthew is the featured gospel this year – Year A.  Ordinarily, we begin with the first reading.  This week, however, I would like to begin with the Gospel, […]

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

Today’s solemnity – those of us who are my age and older recall it as Corpus Christi – has its origin in the Middle Ages as an expression of the faithful’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament during a time when very few felt worthy to receive our Lord in Holy […]

Welcome to my annotated commentary of Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings provide us.

 On Pentecost Sunday, you will see that different readings are prescribed for the Vigil Mass than for the Mass on Sunday.  I will reflect on the readings for the Sunday Masses only.

John 20:19-23

On the Second Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading is the same in all three years of the Liturgical […]