Sunday’s Readings: EZ 34:11-12, 15-17, 1 COR 15:20-26,28, MT 25:31-46Lecturas del Dia THE SHEPHERD KING The job of shepherd and the job of king couldn’t be more different from each other. Shepherds are on the lowest rung of society, kings are at the top. But God says, through the prophet Ezekiel, that the Messiah will…
Sundays Reading’s: PRV 31:10-13, 19-20,30-31, 1THES 5:1-6, MT 25:14-30Lecturas del Dia CHANGE OUR LIVES The letters of Paul to the Thessalonians are among his earliest writings, and are driven by his belief and the belief of the entire early Christian community that the return of Christ was imminent, and that devoting time or attention to…
Sunday Readings: WIS 6:12-16, 1 THES 4:13-18 OR 4:13-14, MT 25:1-13Lecturas del Dia EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED If it ever crossed your mind that Jesus was somewhat lacking in a sense of humor, today’s Gospel should belie any such notion. Jesus’ story of the five wise and five foolish bridesmaids is downright hilarious. The circumstances ofthe…
Sunday’s Readings: RV 7:2-4,9-14, 1 JN 3:1-3, MT 5:1-12ALecturas del Dia OUR HOPE AND GOD’S PROMISE The Church uses these waning November days and darker skies as the season to remind us of the last things. Today’s feast, the Solemnity of All Saints, is the centerpiece of three days that point to doctrines we proclaim…
Sundays Readings: EX 22:20-26, 1 THES 1:5C-10, MT 22:34-40Lecturas del Dia LIVING JUSTLY “You give that back right now!” How many of us have heard that line, probably more than once, as we were growing up? We come home with the trophy of what we thought was a really sweet deal, only to have our…
IN GOD ALONE Isaiah speaks to us today of Cyrus, King of Persia, anointed by the Lord. God calls Cyrus by name and leads him in service to the Israelites. In this passage we hear that it is the Lord who gives Cyrus his title, who arms him against his enemies, and who opens doors…
Sunday’s Readings: IS 25:6-10A, PHIL 4:12-14, 19-20, MT 22:1-14 OR 22:1-10Lecturas Del Dia GOD REVEALED TO THE NATIONS What wonderful images we have today of the reign of God! Isaiah speaks to us of a great feast—a heavenly feast—a feast of abundance with rich foods and choice wines. It is the Lord’s own affair, Isaiah…
Sunday’s Readings: IS 5:1-7, PHIL 4:6-9,MT 21:33-43 Lecturas del Dia THE GIFT OF THE REIGN OF GOD Matthew’s Gospel today expands on Isaiah’s ballad considerably. A comparison with the same story in Mark’s Gospel clearly shows us that here the author is busy teaching this community of Jewish Christians: “This is a story about Israel…
Sunday’s Readings: EZ 18:25-28, PHIL 2:1-11 or 2:1-5, MT 21:28-32Lecturas del Dia FAMILIAR INSIGHTS Spiritual teachers tend to repeat themselves, and to repeat other teachers. Maybe there really aren’t that many different truths to tell. Just a lot of slow, sleepy human beings—like us—who need to hear the basics over and over. Consider today’s readings.…
Sunday’s Readings: IS 55:6-9, PHIL1:20C-24, 27A, MT 20:1-16ALecturas del Dia DIRECTION Isaiah tells us something that we already know, and yet seem to forget every now and then. He tells us, essentially, that God is God and we are not. When we’re confused and troubled and can’t figure everything out, it might be wise to…