Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 18 1 Samuel 3:3b-10,19; Psalm 40:2,4,7-8,8-9,10; 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a,17-20; John 1:35-42 I suspect that all of us can relate to being called sometime in our life. I think of being called by my mother to help with a project she was undertaking. I also think of being called to […]
Continue readingThe Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 11 Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7 or Isaiah 55:1-11; Psalm 29:1-2,3-4,9-10 or Isaiah 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11 With today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we conclude the Christmas cycle. This feast bridges Jesus’ early life and the beginning of his public ministry. […]
Continue readingBy: By Sister Rachel Bergschneider, OSB Epiphany of the Lord, Jan. 4 Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 The feast of the Epiphany is one of the most intriguing stories in Scripture. We hear of magi, gifts, tension with authority, flight, star, manger. What do we make of all the subplots — important […]
Continue readingBy: By Msgr. Stuart Swetland Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 21 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Psalm 89:2-3,4-5,27,29; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 Sometimes a wait can seem forever. A traffic jam, long check-out lines, a doctor’s office, the airport — all of these can try one’s patience and make time seem to stand still. For children, the […]
Continue readingBy: By Msgr. Stuart Swetland Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 14 Isaiah 61:1-2a,10-11; (Psalm) Luke 1:46-48,49-50,53-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-28 Who are you? This question is often asked. In our modern world our identity can be our most guarded possession. We are asked to offer proof of identity all the time: traveling, shopping, on […]
Continue readingBy: By Msgr. Stuart Swetland Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 7 Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalm 85:9-10,11-12,13-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Advent is a season of preparation. Last week we were called to be watchful and alert — to awaken to the possibility of a deeper encounter with God; to be “deeply shaken” into recognizing the […]
Continue readingBy: By Msgr. Stuart Swetland First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 30 Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b and 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 Happy New Year! This November’s end is a time of new beginnings. A new liturgical year is upon us as we begin the beautiful season of Advent in preparation for the Christmas season. […]
Continue readingBy: By Father Douglas Grandon Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov. 16 Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31; Psalm 128:1-2,3,4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30 I remember with great fondness learning to read with thin, hard-covered “Golden Books,” one of which was the “Golden Book of ABCs.” A is for apple. B is for ball. C is for cat. […]
Continue readingBy: By Father Douglas Grandon Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, Nov. 9 Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12; Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11,16-17; John 2:13-22 In the year 311, the Edict of Toleration decriminalized Christianity, bringing an end to the long, bloody era of anti-Christian persecution. In 313, the Edict of Milan further secured […]
Continue readingCommemoration of All the Faithful Departed, Nov. 2 (Selected from the many options for this day) Wisdom 3:1-9; Psalm 23:1-3a,3b-4,5,6; Romans 5:5-11 or Romans 6:3-9; John 6:37-40 During my years as a Protestant pastor, I thought praying for departed Christians was a waste of time. I acknowledged that many Christians died without completing their journey […]
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