Sunday’s Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16/ Heb 9:24-28/ Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44Lecturas del Dia THE POORAs Christians, we hear a lot about the witness and service that we are called to render to the poor among us. However, the poor also have a witness and a service to render to us. Like the actions of the…
Sunday’s Readings:Lecturas del Dia LOVE GODAs we near the end of the liturgical year we listen to Gospel readings from the final stage of Jesus’ ministry—his teaching in Jerusalem. This Sunday Jesus is in conversation with one of the scribes of the temple. In a rare occurrence Jesus and the scribe agree on the two…
Sunday’s Readings: Jer 31:7-9/ Heb 5:1-6/ Mk 10:46-52Lecturas del Dia SIGHTLESS BARTIMAEUS’ VISIONAt first, Bartimaeus is not yet “on the way”— Mark’s “Gospel code” for Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and our journey of discipleship—but at least near the way, “by the roadside” (Mark 10:46). Still only on the sidelines, Bartimaeus cries out what becomes Christianity’s…
Sunday’s Readings: Is 53:10-11/ Heb 4:14-16/ Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45Lecturas del Dia THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRISTAll three readings today support—each in its own way, of course—a reflection on the humanity of Jesus Christ and how that humanity played a key role in the drama of our salvation. Although not chosen specifically to coordinate with…
GIFTS In today’s readings, we discover that material wealth alone does not keep us from discipleship. We will see that there are other gifts more important than material wealth, but even so, it is how we use our gifts that matters most. Today’s scriptures point to the value of the gifts of wisdom, trusting in…
Sundays ReadingsLecturas del Dia THE BARRIERS THAT SEPARATE USWe live in a society that has many technological avenues for stimulation and entertainment, one in whichthe urban population exceeds the non-urban. It is curious that loneliness is a prevalent malady. It is easy to reachout and touch someone, we are told. But—in truth—it is not all…
Sunday’s Readings: Nm 11:25-29/Jas 5:1-6/Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48Lecturas del Dia PROCLAIM THE WONDER OF GODThe gift of the Spirit is given freely, not according to human expectations, but according to the generosity of God. Joshua wants Moses to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying in the camp, when they were not with the others as…
THE MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIPThe geography of today’s Gospel is significant. Jesus is completing his ministry in Galilee and beginning his journeyto Jerusalem, where he will meet both death and resurrection. The prediction of his death placed here is the second of three in Mark’s Gospel, and as usual it is the occasion for an important…
Sunday’s Readings: Is 50:5-9a/ Jas 2:14-18/ Mk 8:27-35Lecturas del Dia IT’S ALL ABOUT CONTROLFrom toddlerhood to old age, we grow in mastery of our own lives, our bodies, and our destiny. This mastery is hard-won, and we don’t let go of autonomy easily. Much of this self-mastery involves the avoidance of pain or discomfort, so…
Sunday’s Readings: Is 35:4-7a; Jas 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37 Lecturas del dia THE MESSIAH FORETOLDToday’s story of the cure of a deaf man with a speech impediment is a good example of how much is contained in a simple miracle story. The Greek word mogilalos appears only here in all of the New Testament. It is…