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 C)
2 Kings 5:14 - 17 This Sunday, we will hear from the Second Book of Kings. 1 and 2 Kings are among the Historical Books of the Bible. Along with 1 and 2 Samuel, they record the activities of Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon, as well as many of the kings of the divided kingdom after Solomon. Originally, 1 and 2 Samuel formed a single book. The LXX (the oldest Greek version of the Old Testament, traditionally said to have been translated by 70 or 72 Jewish scholars at the [...]
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year C)
Amos 8:4 - 7 This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of the Prophet Amos. As usual, it prepares us for the Gospel. Let’s quickly review the who, what, when, where, why and to whom of this book. Let’s pull out our Biblical Timeline; let me know who needs one. Amos came from Tekoa in the southern kingdom of Juda, but prophesied in the northern kingdom, apparently around the temple of Bethel. The first verse of the book tells us the name of the prophet – Amos, his profession [...]
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Year C)
Please note that this will be my last commentary until September; have a great summer! John 14:23 - 29 Last Sunday, we heard the prologue to John’s Last Supper Discourses, in which the new commandment – to love one another – was introduced. This Sunday, we hear a portion of the first Last Supper Discourse. It appears to be a continuation of last week’s presentation on love. As you will see in your footnote, most scholars consider the section of 13:31 – 17:26 to be Johannine compositions, modeled on farewell [...]
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (Year C)
John 10:27 - 30 This Sunday, we hear a portion of the beautiful, symbolic presentation of Jesus known as the Good Shepherd. Of course, we do not hear Jesus refer to himself in these terms this Sunday; that happens earlier (cf. 10:14). The verses we hear on Sunday are part of his discourse against the Pharisees. The good shepherd discourse continues the theme of attack on the Pharisees that ends John 9. We will recall the account of the man born blind whom Jesus cured. In this account, we see [...]
FIFTH SUNDAY LENT (Year C)
Isaiah 43:16 - 21 On the first Sunday of Lent, we heard Moses recall the power of God leading the people to Egypt and then out of Egypt into the Promised Land. On the Second Sunday, we heard of God making a covenant with Abraham, in which he promised him that land. On the Third Sunday, we heard the powerful story of God revealing himself to Moses in the desert, telling Moses that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Last Sunday, we heard Joshua recall the time [...]
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Year C)
We have reached the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday. Like Gaudete Sunday in Advent, we rejoice this Sunday because Lent is almost over. The Entrance Antiphon, which we will not hear because we will sing an Entrance Chant, begins with “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who are mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.” This short passage from the prophet Isaiah (cf. 66:10-11) sets the stage for today’s celebration. In both the first reading from the Book of Joshua [...]