Deuteronomy 6:2-6

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Deuteronomy.  It is again clear that this reading was selected to complement the gospel reading this Sunday, which also speaks of the great commandments.  This reading is taken from the section in the Book of Deuteronomy that presents the law that Moses relates God has presented to his people.  They are to continue to follow this law as they enter into the Promised Land.  After presenting the Ten Commandments, and recalling how God had given them to the people at […]

Isaiah 53:10 – 11

This Sunday, we will again hear from the Book of the prophet Isaiah.  It is from chapter 53 so we recognize that it is from deutero-Isaiah, which dates to the time of the Babylonian exile.  We will hear two verses from the last of four “Servant-of-the-Lord” also known as “Suffering Servant” oracles.  Because he fulfilled the divine will by suffering for the sins of others, the Servant will be rewarded by the Lord.  I invite you to read from 52:13 to fully understand the two verses we […]

Wisdom 7:7-11

This Sunday, we will again hear from the Book of Wisdom. This book is known as the Wisdom of Solomon in the LXX manuscript and the Book of Wisdom in the Vulgate. It was most probably originally written in Greek, not Hebrew, somewhere between 100 – 50BC, probably in Alexandria, Egypt, one of the largest centers of the Jewish Diaspora, by an anonymous author. He was a devout, Greek-speaking Jew, acquainted with Greek philosophy and culture, probably a native of Alexandria. The purpose of the author was to strengthen […]

Genesis 2:18 – 24

This Sunday, we hear the story of the creation of woman from the Book of Genesis. It has been quite a while since we have heard from this, the first book of the Bible, so let’s review the who, what, when, where, why and to whom of this most important book.  It derives its name from the Greek translation γενεσης of the first word of that book in Hebrew בראשית – both words mean “beginning. The opening words of this book are: “In the beginning, God created…”  […]

Numbers 11:25 – 29

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Numbers.  As usual, it is a passage that prepares us for the Gospel.  And, as has been the case over the past few weeks, it is taken from a book that we have not heard from in a while, so let’s review the who, what, when, where, why and to whom. It is the fourth book in the Torah and derives its name from the Vulgate title, “Numeri” which is taken from the Greek αριθμοι.  What word do […]