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…

Sunday’s Readings: SIR 27:30- 28:7, ROM 14:7-9, MT 18:21-35 Lecturas del Dia FORGIVENESS Nearly ten years before, a son and father had parted ways when the business they shared went bankrupt. The son blamed the father. They did not speak to each other again. Then the father became seriously ill. The mother called the son…

Sunday’s Readings: EZ 33:7-9, ROM 13:8-10, MT 18:15-20Lecturas del Dia A MESSAGE OF LOVE In the final verses of today’s Gospel reading Jesus says that when two or three are gathered in his name, “there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). So we understand that fraternal correction is always undertaken with Jesus…

Sunday’s Readings: JER 20:7-9, ROM 12:1-2, MT 16:21-27Lecturas del Dia THE CROSS OF JESUS The perception of a cross changed dramatically after Jesus’ crucifixion. Before that event, death on a cross was not only horrible, it was degrading. It was a penalty reserved only for the most wretched of criminals. The word “glory” would not…

Sundays Readings: IS 22:19-23, ROM 11:33-36, MT 16:13-20Lecturas del Dia TRUST Keys hold great significance for those who carry them. They represent the trust and authority of the owner when given to another person. We may give our house key to a trusted friend to take care of our matters while we are away. We…

Sunday’s Readings: IS 56:1, 6-7, ROM 11:13-15, 29-32, MT 15:21-28Lecturas del Dia WHY PRAY? The “foreigners” as Isaiah calls them, the “Gentiles” as Paul calls them, or the “Canaanites” as Matthew calls them are called to worship the one true God in prayer. As we listen to to day’s readings, perhaps we are tempted to…