Today’s readings Saint Catherine was born at Siena, in the region of Tuscany in Italy. When she was six years old Jesus appeared to Catherine and blessed her. As many parents do for their children, her mother and father wanted her to be happily married, preferably to a rich man. But Catherine wanted to be… Continue reading Saint Catherine of Siena
Month: April 2019
Easter Thursday
Today’s readings The time between Easter and Pentecost is often referred to as the period of Mystagogy. Mystagogy is a Greek word meaning “looking back on the mysteries.” It is a time of unpacking what we have just been through, and coming to see, with eyes enlightened by faith, the meaning of things we may… Continue reading Easter Thursday
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Today’s readings I often tell the children in our school that if there’s just one thing they ought to know about God, one thing they ever learn about God, and that is that God loves them more than anything, that would be enough. It’s the thing that I hope they remember me saying, because that’s the… Continue reading Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
Today’s readings “You shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:28). I love that last line from the last of the Old Testament readings we heard tonight. There is a covenant, there has always been a covenant, there always will be a covenant. God created us in love, and he loves us first and… Continue reading The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
Monday of Holy Week
Today’s readings There are two things going on in today’s Scripture readings. First, we have the Jews, and now Judas among them, who are very jealous of Jesus and are seeking to arrest and kill him. And not just him, but anyone who encourages people to believe in him, like Lazarus in today’s Gospel. In… Continue reading Monday of Holy Week
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Today’s readings Palm Sunday is, quite honestly, a feast with a bit of a split personality. We start out on a seemingly triumphant note. Jesus enters Jerusalem, the Holy City, and the center of the Jewish religion; the city he has been journeying toward throughout the gospel narrative, and he enters it to the adulation of… Continue reading Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today’s readings Caiaphas had no idea how prophetic his words were. Actually, as far as the intent of his words went, they were nothing but selfish. The Jews didn’t want to lose their standing with the Romans. As it was, they had an uneasy peace. The Romans pretty much let them practice their religion as… Continue reading Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today’s readings Today’s Liturgy of the Word helps us to reflect on God’s promises. Ever since God made the first covenant with Abraham, he has been renewing that covenant in ever stronger ways with all of the people he created and loves. Abraham was able to see the land God promised him, but could not… Continue reading Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer to the Elect
Today’s readings: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8e-9 | Psalm 23 | Romans 8:14-17, 26-27 | Matthew 6:9-13 Today we did the RCIA presentation of the Lord’s Prayer to the Elect at our evening Mass. There are special readings for that, as above. Where do you go when you’re at the end of your rope? Bob was… Continue reading Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer to the Elect
The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Cycle C Readings)
Today’s readings Back in the sixth century before the birth of Christ, the Israelites were in a bad way. They had been separated from their God by sin: against God’s commands, they had betrayed their covenant with the Lord and made foreign alliances, which he had forbidden them to do. He forbade this because he knew that… Continue reading The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Cycle C Readings)