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The Readings for the Holy Thursday Mass focus on the continuity between the ancient Jewish Passover and the institution of the Eucharist. As the Passover was the meal that marked the transition from slavery to Egypt to the freedom of the Exodus, so the Eucharist is the meal that marks the transition from slavery to sin to the glorious freedom of the children of God. 1. Our First Reading is from Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14: The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it...

This 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 first-century Jews. Yet...

Lent 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 through the waters...

The 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 festive rose-colored vestments...

In 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 that the bush,...

Slavery is not a good thing. God's liberation of the people of Israel from the condition of slavery—an event we call "the Exodus," literally, "the road out"—is one of the most important events and motifs in the whole Bible.Although loosely related, the Readings for this Sunday are linked by the theme of the Exodus. In the First Reading, the Exodus is prophesied; in the Gospel, Jesus begins a New Exodus that culminates in the Last Supper and Calvary.1. Our First Reading is Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18:The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the...

At the beginning of Lent, the Church reads to us the account of Jesus doing spiritual combat with the devil in the wilderness, reminding us that Lent is a time of warfare. Through our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we do battle with the power of the devil in our lives, and with God’s grace, defeat him decisively. 1. The First Reading is Deuteronomy 26:4-10: Moses spoke to the people, saying: “The priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God. Then you shall declare before...

Several years ago Charles Barkley, when confronted with the misdeeds of his private life, famously quipped, “I’m not paid to be a role model. I’m paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court.” He went on to rake in quite a bundle of cash making an “I’m no role model” commercial with Nike. Many people felt, despite the appearance of laudable honesty, Barkley’s posturing was a kind of excuse to escape culpability for the bad example he sets for youth. It’s too bad that the young don’t have many prominent role models to follow these days, especially since we all...

In many years, we wouldn’t have a seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, because of how Lent usually falls, but we do this year, and it is providential, because the teachings of the Readings for this Lord’s Day are particularly relevant. The Readings are united by the theme of love for enemies, which is one of the most difficult forms of love to practice. The First Reading and the Gospel show that, in both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant eras, God is on the side of those who pay back hatred with love. 1. Our First Reading is 1...

As we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke in Ordinary Time, Jesus keeps teaching us that his kingdom, the Kingdom of God, reverses many of our expectations and stereotypes. His is a kingdom where the typical markings of “blessing”—health, wealth, prosperity, power—are doomed to woe, and the typical markings of “curse”—weakness, sickness, poverty, humiliation—are signs of happiness and rejoicing. What is going on? Jesus’ teaching “upsets our apple cart” and forces us to think more deeply about who God is and who we are. 1. Our First Reading is from Jeremiah 17:5-8:Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the...

Our Readings for this Sunday combine two major themes: awe and apostolate. Both Isaiah and Peter are awed and ashamed to find themselves in the presence of God; but both are subsequently sent out (in Greek, apostello) on mission for the Almighty. We, too, feel our unworthiness and need of mercy in God’s presence, and also our responsibility to spread the Good News of mercy to all people. 1. Our First Reading is Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8: In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling...

The Readings for today's Feast Day focus on the theme of the priesthood of Christ, seeing a kind of sacerdotal significance to this first entrance of the Messiah into the Temple. These Readings prompt us to meditate firstly on how Jesus has served and continues to serve as our great High Priest, but also how his priesthood is lived out in our own lives, since we share in his priesthood by virtue of our Baptism. 1. The First Reading is Mal 3:1-4:Thus says the Lord GOD: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; And suddenly...

Why Do People Hate the "Good Person"? The 4th Sunday in OT The Readings for this Sunday show both Jesus and Jeremiah facing opposition for speaking God’s truth to their contemporaries. They raise interesting questions about why it is that the “good person” so often suffers at the hands of others, and offer encouragement to those who experience this suffering. 1. Our First Reading is Jer 1:4-5, 17-19: The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I...