III Sunday of Lent 2021

Sunday’s Readinds: Ex 20:1-17; 1 Cor 1:22-25; Jn 2:13-25Lecturas del Dia TOTAL ALLEGIANCE In previous weeks we have seen how the theme of covenant—as a preparation for the baptismal covenant celebrated at Easter—occupies an important place in ourcycle of Lenten readings. The notion of covenant as a relationship between two parties carries with it an…

II Sunday of Lent / IIDomingo de Cuaresma 2021

Sunday’s Readings: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10Lecturas del Dia HISTORY OF SALVATIONThe first reading today continues the “history of salvation” narrative that we hear throughout Lent this year. Today’s story was among the best-loved in the Jewish tradition (surely Joseph told the story to young Jesus as he formed him in…

I Sunday of Lent/I Domingo de Cuaresma 2021

Sunday’s Readings: Gn 9:8-15, 1 Pt 3:18-22, Mk 1:12-15Lecturas del Dia REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL Lent is the time of year we devote to scrutinizing our lives in the light of our baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Today’s readings are a nice shorthand catechism of what our baptized lives mean.…

VI Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

Sunday’s Readings: Lv 13:1-2, 44-46; 1 Cor 10:31—11:1; Mk 1:40-45Lecturas del Dia JESUS’ WAYToday’s readings present a contrast between “Jesus’ way” and the “old way.” An example of the old way is the law given to Moses and Aaron about leprosy: the leper was unclean and cast out of the community. Jesus’ way is the…

V Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

Sundays Readings: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7, 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23, Mk 1:29-39Lecturas del Dia THE GOOD NEWS Today’s readings begin with a few verses from the book of Job. First, Job complains that his nights drag on endlessly. Then, worse yet, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; / they come to an end without…

IV Sunday Ordinary Time

Sundays Readings: Dt 18:15-20, 1 Cor 7:32-35, Mk 1:21-28Lecturas del Dia FALSE PROPHETS, TRUE PROPHETS In Deuteronomy today we hear that God’s very words will fill the mouth of a true prophet, but a false prophet will, in a manner of speaking, put mere mortalwords into God’s mouth. In Mark’s Gospel, we see Jesus teaching…

III Sunday Ordinary Time 2021

A NEW DAY DAWNS Today we hear how Jonah, sent by God to warn the people, storms through the streets of Nineveh, scaring the citizens out of their wits. And it works! God has a change of heart, seeing “by their actions” how the people turn from evil (Jonah 3:10). A new day dawns. Next…

II Sunday Ordinary Time

Sundays Readings: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Jn 1:35-42 Lecturas del Dia SPEAK, LORD, WE ARE LISTENING In today’s first reading God keeps calling out in the night to a sleeping boy. Neither the boy, Samuel, nor his teacher, Eli, understands who is calling. But God’s persistence convinces them. Samuel is then…

The Baptism Of the Lord 2020

Sundays ReadingsLecturas del Dia THE WATERS OF BAPTISM When new sod is put in, it needs constant saturation with water. Landscapers say that this “knits” the sod to the soil. The same when a branch is grafted onto a tree: the poultice that joins them at the splice must be kept wet at all times.…

Epiphany Of the Lord 2021

Sundays Readings: Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12Lecturas del Dia PROMISE FULFILLED Isaiah reminds the people of God that the land shall be restored to their possession, they shall rejoice to see their people return from the bondage of exile, and they shall be a light to the nations. In other words, through the…