XXVII Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

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…

XXVI Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

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…

XXV Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

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…

XXIV Sunday Ordinary Time

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…

XXIII Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

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…

XXII Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

Sunday’s Readings: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8;/Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27/Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23Lecturas del Dia DOERS OF THE WORDThe second reading for today begins a five-week series of selections from James, a letter that is classified among the so-called “catholic” (or universal) epistles because they are addressed to a general audience rather than to one particular community.…

XXI Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

Sunday’s Readings: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b, Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32, Jn 6:60-69Lecturas del Dia DECISIONSThere is an axiom that states, “Not to decide is to decide.” This saying was popular in the turbulent times of the Vietnam War. It urged us not to allow others to answer the moral questions raised by our nation’s…

XX The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2021

Sunday’s Readings: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2, 1 Cor 15:54b-57, Lk 11:27-28Lecturas del Dia THE DESTINY OF ALL MORTAL FLESHThe celebration of today’s feast on a Sunday is unusual on our Roman Catholic calendar. Our observance ofthe Lord’s Day is held in such high esteem that few other feasts replace it. Occasionally there is a…

XIX Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

Sundays Readings: 1 Kgs 19:4-8; Eph 4:30—5:2; Jn 6:41-51Lecturas del Dia CIVIL DISCOURSE “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” These words bring us up short! What could we be doing to grieve the Holy Spirit? Alas, the same things that the Ephesians were doing in the time of Paul, that is, fighting, shouting,…

XVIII Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

Sunday’s Readings: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15; Eph 4:17, 20-24; Jn 6:24-35Lecturas del Dia THE BREAD OF LIFEToday’s Gospel has the crowd asking Jesus three questions. First, “When did you get here,” to which Jesus responds by rebuking them for their failure to grasp his miracle as a “sign,” an occasion to put faith in him. Their…