By: By Father Douglas Grandon Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 21 Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145:2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20c-24,27a; Matthew 20:1-16a If you have ever been tempted to grumble about your employer or your salary, consider the plight of the common laborer living in first-century Israel: The normal working day was 10 hours long, not counting […]
Continue readingBy: By Barbara Roedel Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Sept. 14 Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 78:1bc-2,34-35,36-37,38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 It’s painful to contemplate the cross. There is no denying the horrific suffering of the cross — the degradation, pain and humiliation are beyond imaging. It was a terrible way to die and […]
Continue readingBy: By Barbara Roedel Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 7 Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2,6-7,8-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20 Today’s readings challenge us to be active listeners. In the first reading, the Lord tells Ezekiel that he is to listen and act when he hears the Lord’s voice. The Lord advises the prophet that he […]
Continue readingBy: By Sister Michelle Rheinlander, OSB Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 31 Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2,3-4,5-6,8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 What profit would there be to gain the whole world with all its power, material wealth and prestige and forfeit one’s life? That age-old question is still critical in our 21st century just as […]
Continue readingBy: By Sister Michelle Rheinlander, OSB Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 24 Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-2,2-3,6,8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20 It is difficult for us to imagine a world without Christ and all that his presence means. Today we see Christ naming Peter as the “rock” on which he will build his church and […]
Continue readingBy: Sister Michelle Rheinlander, OSB Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 10 1 Kings 19:9a,11-13a; Psalm 85:9,10,11-12,13-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33 Each of our readings today focuses on people filled with fear and offers a common antidote — the healing presence of God personified in Jesus. His presence fights fear. Elijah experienced excruciating fear because […]
Continue readingBy: Sister Michelle Rheinlander, OSB Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 3 Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145:8-9,15-16,17-18; Romans 8:35,37-39; Matthew 14:13-21 Our readings today tell us of a very personal God as he presents himself through the prophet Isaiah in pre-Christian days and in Jesus, who became one of us. Each account presupposes that to reach […]
Continue readingBy: Barbara Roedel Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, June 29 Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 34:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,7-18; Matthew 16:13-19 Names and images reveal how we see a person, what our experience of that person is, and what role they play in our lives. In today’s Gospel, Jesus questioned Peter as to what the […]
Continue readingPentecost Sunday, May 11 (At the Vigil) Genesis 11:1-9 or Exodus 19:3-8a,16-20b or Ezekiel 37:1-14 or Joel 3:1-5; Psalm 104:1-2,24,35,27-28,29,30; Romans 8:22-27; John 7:37-39. (Mass during the day) Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1,24,29-30,31,34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7,12-13; John 20:19-23 At our vigil this Saturday we have the choice of one reading from the four presented, each of […]
Continue readingBy: Barbara Roedel Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 8 Hosea 6:3-6; Psalm 50:1,8,12-13,14-15;Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13 Today’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus inviting Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. This invitation is discussed over a meal with Jesus and his disciples, Matthew and other tax collectors, and sinners. When the Pharisees observed […]
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