Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings. The purpose of this commentary is threefold: to give you
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the background for each reading;
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a better understanding of its message; and
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the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.
I hope you find it helpful!
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
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 [...]
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
Genesis 2:18 - 24 This Sunday, we will 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. We all remember that it derives its name from the Greek translation γενεσης of the first word of that book in Hebrew בראשית – both words mean “beginning. “In the beginning, God created…” we [...]
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
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. This Greek [...]
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year B)
Opening Prayer: Mt 27:41-44 Wisdom 2: 12, 17 - 20 Welcome back, everyone, as we return to Bible Study/Faith Sharing in person and virtually. I hope you all had a great summer and that you and your families are well. Our God continues to remain with us and his plan for us continues to unfold, just as it has throughout the ages. We just need the wisdom, humility and courage to understand and accept it. This upcoming Sunday’s readings help us to do just that so let’s begin by [...]
THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (Year B)
Deuteronomy 4:32 – 34, 39 – 40 God revealed himself to Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham. And, he revealed himself by name to Moses and entered into a covenant relationship with Israel through him. In this Sunday’s reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses enjoins the people to put their faith in God because he has demonstrated such great power for them. The text we will hear on Sunday is part of a magnificent, comprehensive homily on the election of Israel. It is one of the stylistic and theological [...]
PENTECOST SUNDAY (Year B)
On this, Pentecost Sunday, we come to the end of the Easter Season as we celebrate the birth of the Church and hear an exhortation of how we are to live as the Church. Different readings are prescribed for the Vigil Mass than for the Mass on Sunday and that there are options for both sets of readings. I will reflect on the readings for Sunday that I will use at the Masses I will celebrate. I don’t know which readings Fr. Reilly will use, so don’t be surprised if [...]