The Ascension of the Lord
THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, YEAR A MATTHEW 28:16-20 (Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 1:17-23) The Gospel of Matthew closes with the Great Commission – the gospel selection for the Ascension of Jesus. In Matthew 28, the faithful women disciples from Galilee had watch...Read full story »
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Selections from the Last Supper Discourse of Jesus with its theme of departure continues on this Sunday, but with a difference. Last Sunday the emphasis was on faith in Jesus, and faith in God as the same faith. This Sunday the emphasis is on love - love of Jesus by his disciples. This gospel...Read full story »
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Fifth Sunday of Easter
For the Fifth Sunday of Easter, the liturgy presents us with a gospel reading from Jesus’ Last Supper Discourse in the Gospel of John. Seems a bit odd as we work our way toward the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. Although the farewell theme of the Last Supper Discourse applies first of all...Read full story »
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Christians are familiar with the parable of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It is found in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John. The first 10 verses of chapter 10 contain two parables that introduce the Good Shepherd parable. A parable is a comparison which teaches a lesson. The first little pa...Read full story »
Thursday, May 04, 2017
Third Sunday of Easter
A masterful composition is Luke’s story of Jesus’ encounter with two of his disciples returning from Passover in Jerusalem to their hometown Emmaus. En route they were discussing the events they had witnessed in Jerusalem – the death of Jesus and now a report from some women who h...Read full story »
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Second Sunday of Easter
There are three parts in this Sunday’s gospel reading. The first part takes place on the evening of the first day of the week (Sunday), on the same day as Jesus’ resurrection. It was a busy day. Jesus had appeared to Mary of Magdala. He commissioned her to announce his resurrection, ...Read full story »
Thursday, April 20, 2017
The Resurrection of the Lord
It was the first day of the week, the day we call Sunday. The body of Jesus had been entombed late Friday afternoon. On the Sabbath all Jews rested, including the disciples of Jesus. Mark, Matthew, and Luke tell us that the women who followed Jesus from Galilee had watched the burial of his body. L...Read full story »
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew is the longest in the four gospels. Matthew composed his gospel in the mid-80’s of the first Christian century. It is clear that he follows the outline of the Passion in the Gospel of Mark, composed about 15 years earlier than Matthew....Read full story »
Wednesday, April 05, 2017
Fifth Sunday of Lent
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A JOHN 11:1-45 (Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11) The third of the great Lenten gospels for the instruction of catechumens before baptism is the resurrection of Lazarus. It is the last of the seven miracles of Jesus that John narrates. John does not use the ordinary terms...Read full story »
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Lent
The second of the three great Lenten gospel readings for the preparation of catechumens is John’s story of the man born blind. The other gospels have stories of Jesus restoring sight to the blind. This story in John is different. Jesus creates sight where there never was sight. The story is f...Read full story »
Thursday, March 23, 2017
