Free Republic 3rd Qtr 2025 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $10,604
13%  
Woo hoo!! And we're now over 13%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.

Keyword: sacredpage

Brevity: Headers | « Text »
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Entertaining God: The Readings for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

    07/19/2025 2:29:46 PM PDT · by fidelis · 3 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | July 18, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThis Sunday, as we continue to accompany Jesus on his fateful journey to Jerusalem in the Gospel of Luke, we are confronted with a pair of Readings in which human beings host a meal for God: Abraham for the LORD in the First Reading; Martha and Mary for Jesus in the Gospel. But is it really possible for us to “do God a favor” by giving him a nice meal? We are going to discover that, while God graciously accepts our services, it’s really about what God does for us, not what we can do for him....
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Won't You Be My Neighbor? Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    07/12/2025 11:40:32 AM PDT · by fidelis · 3 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | July 08, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaFred Rogers used to sing at the opening of his classic children’s show: It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood A beautiful day for a neighbor Would you be mine? Could you be mine? … Won't you be my neighbor? Won't you please, won't you please? Please won't you be my neighbor? Fred Rogers was a highly theological educated man, who also gave generous grants to St. Vincent’s College and Seminary (Roman Catholic) in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. I think he was well aware of the theological significance of the concept of “neighbor,” which we will explore through the...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Gathering the New Jerusalem: Readings for 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

    07/05/2025 11:56:43 AM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | June 30, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaIn the Readings for this Sunday, Jesus continues his final journey, his fateful "death march" toward Jerusalem (Luke 9–19, the "Travel Narrative") that began formally in Luke 9:51. The past several Sundays have foreshadowed Jesus' coming suffering and death, but this Sunday we get a reprieve as themes of suffering recede into the background. We are temporarily caught up in the joy of Jesus' ministry, as he assembles around himself a congregation of disciples who constitute a spiritual "Jerusalem." In the healing ministry of Jesus and his disciples, we see a fulfillment of certain prophecies of peace...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Deliver Us from Evil: Readings for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

    06/28/2025 10:20:32 AM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | June 29, 2012 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThis Sunday is the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul and a very great feast day for the Church. Saints Peter and Paul represent, respectively, the leaders of the Church’s mission to the Jews and to the Gentiles (Gal 2:7). The Church celebrates their feasts on the same day, because the Church’s proclamation of the gospel is founded on their dual mission: “the gospel … is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (i.e. the Gentile)” (Rom 1:16). Since the earliest times, and...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Eucharist and Priesthood: Readings for the Feast of Corpus Christi

    06/21/2025 10:17:49 AM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | June 18, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaI love the early summer liturgical "trifecta" of Pentecost, Trinity, and Corpus Christi, forming a kind of "encore" to the joyful Easter Season focusing in succession on three fundamental realities of the Christian life: The Church, the Triune Godhead, and the Eucharist. This "trifecta" comes to an end this week with the celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Readings for this Solemnity obviously focus on types and descriptions of the Eucharist, but there is a notably priestly theme that also runs through them. In this way, we observe the connection between priesthood and Eucharist....
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Readings for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

    06/14/2025 8:35:18 PM PDT · by fidelis · 3 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | June 15, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaPentecost is not supposed to mark a spiritual highpoint, from which we then regress and go back to being our slovenly selves. Rather, Pentecost should be a dramatic infusion of spiritual energy climaxing a period of formation that has been ongoing since the first week of Advent. Pentecost propels us, like a shot out of a cannon, into the “world” of Ordinary Time, in order to do effective combat with sin, death, and the Devil. This Sunday marks approximately the half-way point in the liturgical year, and at this temporal center, we pause to reflect on the...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: The Readings for Pentecost During the Day

    06/07/2025 6:59:12 PM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | June 07, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John Bergsma [Pentecost Vigil Readings: Genesis 11:1-9 (Babel); Exodus 19:3-8a; 16-20b (Sinai); Ezekiel 37:1-14 (dry bones); Joel 3:1-5 (old men will dream, dreams…); Romans 8:22-27 (Spirit prays for us); John 7:37-39 (rivers of living water).(see separate thread for these readings)] Let's discuss the Readings for Pentecost Sunday Mass during the Day. The First Reading is the account of Pentecost itself, from Acts 2:1-11. 1When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in...
  • Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Readings for the Pentecost Vigil

    06/07/2025 6:50:36 PM PDT · by fidelis · 3 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | June 07, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaPentecost is a very important feast in the liturgical life of the Church, and it has its own vigil. Not only so, but the Readings for the Vigil are particularly rich. I cannot think of another that has such a wide variety of options, for example, for the First Reading. Even though only one First Reading will be proclaimed in any given Mass, it is well worth pondering them all, in order to come to understand the significance of Pentecost more deeply: The First Reading Options for the Vigil: 1. Genesis 11:1-9, the Tower of Babel: The...
  • [The Sacred Page] King of Heaven and Earth: Ascension Day!

    06/01/2025 7:45:50 AM PDT · by fidelis · 5 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | May 28, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaAscension Day, unfortunately, is not observed in a uniform manner across the United States. Catholics in Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England will observe it on Thursday; the rest of the country observes it this Sunday. The First Reading and Psalm for this Solemnity are always Acts 1:1-11 and Psalm 47. Year C has the option to employ Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23 instead of Ephesians 4:17-23 as the Second Reading (both are discussed below) and proclaims Luke 24:46-53 as the Gospel. This is an unusual Lord’s Day, in which the “action” of the Feast Day actually takes...
  • [The Sacred Page] Readings for the 7th Sunday of Easter

    06/01/2025 7:39:51 AM PDT · by fidelis · 1 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | May 28, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaHere is a commentary on the Readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, and let me begin by saying, if you have a Seventh Sunday of Easter, you are indeed blessed! This is an important Sunday: it is climactic, the last Sunday before Pentecost in the Easter Season. The architects of the Vatican II lectionary saved very important readings for this date, notably the High Priestly Prayer of John 17. This magnificent prayer is the longest of Jesus’ prayers recorded in Scripture, and it is the climax of the Last Supper Discourse (John 13-17), the longest discourse...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: The Kingdom of Love: The Readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter

    05/24/2025 1:15:38 PM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | May 22, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaWe have arrived at the Sixth Week of Easter and continue to bask in the glow of the story of the growth of the early Church in Acts, the vision of heaven from the Book of Revelation, and the consolation of Jesus’ words to the Apostles in the Upper Room from John. It’s a trifecta of glory in these Readings. If last Sunday we noted a “kingdom of love” theme, this week we notice an emphasis on the idea of the “kingdom of peace.” In Acts (1st Reading) we see the measures that were necessary to keep...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: The Kingdom of Love: Readings for 5th Sunday of Easter

    05/17/2025 11:24:54 AM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | May 16, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThe Easter Season is passing quickly. Already it is more than half over, as we progress toward the great Feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. We want the Season to slow down, so that we may savor the joy and consolation of these readings from Acts and John that dominate the Easter Cycle, but tempus fugit. The Readings for this Fifth Sunday of Easter describe the growth of the Kingdom of God, which is manifested on earth as the Church. The first two readings and the psalm are tied together with Kingdom images, and the Gospel reminds us...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Both "Lamb" and "Shepherd"? Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

    05/10/2025 11:40:07 AM PDT · by fidelis · 3 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | May 11, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThis upcoming Lord’s Day is often known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” since each year the Gospel reading is taken from John 10, the “Good Shepherd Discourse.” It’s also often observed as a day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, since priests and religious are visible manifestations to us of Christ in his role as the Good Shepherd. Most of the Readings are tied together by a shepherding theme. 1. The First Reading continues the traditional Christian practice of reading Acts during the season of Easter. We are up to Acts 13, the point...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: The Primacy of Peter and of Love: Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter

    05/03/2025 10:39:10 AM PDT · by fidelis · 4 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | May 03, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThis week is the Third Sunday of Easter, and our readings highlight the primacy of Peter among the Apostles, and the primacy of love in following Jesus. In the First Reading this week (Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41) we see Peter’s primacy (“Peter and the apostles said in reply …”) in leading the early Church through the experience of persecution, and in boldly proclaiming the Gospel despite sustained and serious cultural opposition. As commentators point out, we witness here a power struggle between the new and the old priestly leadership of the people of God. the Sanhedrin represents the...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page:

    04/26/2025 11:50:01 AM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | March 31, 2016 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThis coming Sunday is the Second Sunday of the Octave of Easter, also known as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” The theme of God’s mercy runs through the readings. 1. In the First Reading, we see an outpouring of God’s mercy through the hands of the Apostles, who are given a gift of God’s power for the healing of physical illnesses and those plagued by evil spirits: Reading 1: Acts 5:12-16Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Readings for Easter Day

    04/19/2025 6:44:53 PM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | April 18, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaHoly Mother Church offers us Readings from Scripture this Easter Sunday that comprise an elegant review and statement of the whole Gospel message. In particular, they focus our attention on the Resurrection, the Eucharist, and the relationship between the two. 1. The First Reading is Acts 10:34a, 37-43: Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Jesus Cheered, Then Killed: Readings for Palm/Passion Sunday

    04/12/2025 8:10:11 PM PDT · by fidelis · 1 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | April 11, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThis Sunday’s readings might seem bipolar or schizophrenic. We begin Mass with exultant cheering as we relive Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We end the Readings on a note of solemn silence, unable to process the reality of one of the most egregious abuses of judicial process and power in human history, in which the only innocent man ever to live is executed. What does it all mean? Despite a few mysterious prophetic texts that seemed to intimate this possibility, the idea that the Messiah could arrive and subsequently be killed was radically counter-intuitive to most of...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Jesus and the New Exodus: Readings for the 5th Sunday of Lent

    04/05/2025 10:18:18 AM PDT · by fidelis · 5 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | April 04, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaLent is drawing to a close. This week we celebrate the last Sunday of Lent before the beginning of Passion Week. This Sunday is period of “quiet” between Laetare Sunday and Passion/Palm Sunday, our last opportunity to meditate on the ‘ordinary’ struggle of Lent before the intensity of the events in the last week of Our Lord’s life. Let’s use it well! The Readings for this week focus on the theme of a “New Exodus.” Just as Moses was a savior figure who lead Israel to freedom through the Red Sea, so Jesus leads us to freedom...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: A Whole New World: Readings for Laetare Sunday

    03/29/2025 1:51:20 PM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | March 26, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaThe readings for this upcoming Fourth Sunday of Lent open up to us a "whole new world," a different way of living, a form of life St. Paul calls "a new creation." The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as "Laetare Sunday," from the Latin Introit of the Mass, "Laetare Jerusalem," "Rejoice, O Jerusalem" (Isaiah 66:10). This mid-point of Lent is traditionally a somewhat festive Sunday, to encourage the faithful to see "the light at the end of the tunnel," as more than half of the fasting and mortification of Lent is behind us. The use of...
  • [Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Bearing the Fruit of Repentance: Mass Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Lent

    03/22/2025 9:15:21 AM PDT · by fidelis · 2 replies
    The Sacred Page Blog ^ | March 21, 2019 | Dr. John Bergsma
    By Dr. John BergsmaIn this third week of our spiritual journey through Lent, the Scripture readings remind us of what we might call the “Moses stage” of salvation history, and also drive home the theme of repentance during this holy season. 1. Our First Reading is Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-1Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see...