Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: Procession Gospel: Mark 11:1-10 1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 2nd Reading Philippians 2:6-11 Responsorial: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47 Palm Sunday, A Day to Fix our Eyes on Jesus and His Death on the Cross Not . . . something to be grasped. (Philippians […]
ST. JOSEPH was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter when God raised him to the highest sanctity, and fitted him to be the spouse of His Virgin Mother, and foster-father and guardian of the Incarnate Word. Joseph was, says the Holy Scripture, a just […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 2nd Reading Hebrews 5:7-9 Responsorial: Psalm 51:3-4, 12-15 Gospel: John 12:20-33 Experiencing God’s Mercy and Love, and Sharing it with Others Create a clean heart in me, O God. (Psalm Response) Today’s Responsorial Psalm portrays King David’s response to God after […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-23 2nd Reading Ephesians 2:4-10 Responsorial: Psalm 137:1-6 Gospel: John 3:14-21 Responding to God’s Gracious Gift of Salvation This is not from you; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) Paul is emphatic: we have been saved by grace, not […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Exodus 20:1-17 Responsorial: Psalm 19:8-11 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Gospel: John 2:13-25 Lent, A Time to Allow the Lord to Set Us Free from Sinful Habits I . . . brought you out of . . . that place of slavery. (Exodus 20:2) Despite […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 Responsorial: Psalm 116:10, 15-19 2nd Reading: Romans 8:31-34 Gospel: Mark 9:2-10 Lent, An Opportunity for a Deeper Response to God’s Call Here I am! (Genesis 22:1) Abraham must have felt trapped. He had already given up so much to […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Genesis 9:8-15 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Responsorial: Psalm 25:4-9 Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 Experiencing God’s Forgiveness and Cleansing Power Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation It is . . . an appeal to God for a clear conscience. (1 Peter 3:21) While St. Peter is describing […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 Responsorial: Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1 Gospel: Mark 1:40-45 The Importance of Doing Everything for the Glory of God Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Job 7:1-4, 6-7 Responsorial: Psalm 147:1-6 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 I have become all things to all. (1 Corinthians 9:22) Jesus once told his disciples that the road to heaven is narrow and sparsely populated (Matthew 7:14). But […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 Opening Our Hearts to Hear Jesus Speaking to Us A new teaching with authority . . . (Mark 1:27) You know when you see empty words. A celebrity issues […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Responsorial: Psalm 25:4-9 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 Hearing and Responding to God’s Call to Evangelize Come. (Mark 1:17) Scripture has a way of condensing a lot of information into a few short sentences, and today’s Gospel […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19 Responsorial: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-103 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20 Gospel: John 1:35-42 The Importance of Learning to hear God’s voice and Saying Yes to Him Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.” (1 Samuel 3:5) […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 Responsorial: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 2nd Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 The Epiphany, A Reminder to Join the Lord in Building his Kingdom Arise! Shine, for your light has come. (Isaiah 60:1) What extravagant promises this reading contains! The […]
The mother of the messiah has been called many things in the last 2000 years –the Virgin Mary, Our Lady, the Blessed Mother. But call her “the Mother of God,” and you’ll see some Christians squirm. This is nothing new. One day in the early fifth century, a priest preached a stirring sermon in the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-5 2nd Reading: Colossians 3:12-21 Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 Becoming Holy Faith-Filled Families, Reflecting God’s Love to One Another The child’s father and mother were amazed. (Luke 2:33) So here we are, on the cusp of a new year. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 Responsorial: Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29 2nd Reading: Romans 16:25-27 Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Advent: A Time to Thank the Lord for His Unmerited Grace and Favor You have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30) We all know how […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 Responsorial: Luke 1:46-50, 53-54 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28 Responding to the Call to Pray without Ceasing Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Without ceasing? That sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Take heart! Paul doesn’t really mean […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Responsorial: Psalm 85:9-14 2nd Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14 Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 Advent, A Time to Open Ourselves to a Deeper Infilling of the Holy Spirit He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:8) The Holy Spirit—he makes all […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7 Responsorial: Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Gospel: Mark 13:33-37 Advent, A Season of Hope and Expectation Be watchful! Be alert! (Mark 13:33) It’s the First Sunday of Advent, and you have just received an invitation: […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 The Second Coming of Jesus Christ When the Son of Man comes in his glory . . . (Matthew 25:31) Thinking about the Second Coming of Jesus […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-5 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 Joining Jesus in Building his Kingdom Here on Earth When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them. (1 Thessalonians 5:3) Today’s readings might […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Wisdom 6:12-16 Responsorial: Psalm 63:2-8 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 Being Alert, Awake, and Ready to Meet the Lord When He Comes Those who were ready went into the wedding feast. (Matthew 25:10) Today’s parable of the ten virgins urges […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Malachi 1:14–2:2, 8-10 Responsorial: Psalm 131:1-3 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13 Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12 The Centrality of Love in All Our Relationships With such affection . . .(1 Thessalonians 2:8) Isn’t it remarkable how easy it is to think it’s our job […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10 Responsorial: Psalm 23 2nd Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 Accepting Jesus’ Invitation to Receive Him in a Deeper Way How is it that you came in here without a wedding garment? (Matthew 22:12) According to Jesus’ parable, some who […]
