Prune our hearts
The Fifth Sunday of Easter – B – April 28 2024 Much has happened in the Acts of the Apostles since last week’s passage. Peter, John, and the man they had healed are released from the religious leaders’ questioning but … Read More
Heed and follow
The Fourth Sunday of Easter – B – April 21 2024 We get another speech from Peter in today’s first reading but with a different context. Last week, Peter preached the Gospel to a crowd whose ears and hearts were … Read More
New life in Christ
The Third Sunday of Easter – B – April 14 2024 Disabled from birth, he couldn’t imagine what it was like to stand. But now he was walking and jumping and praising God! When he saw Peter and John at … Read More
We are Loved and Longed For
The Fifth Sunday of Lent – March 10, 2024 Today’s first reading continues our Lenten journey of restoration. The prophet Jeremiah’s writing focuses mostly on Judah’s faithlessness and exile. But this part, called the “Book of Comfort” (chapters 30–33), describes … Read More
Called home
The Fourth Sunday of Lent – March 10, 2024 The final section of today’s first reading is the Emperor of Persia’s decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. After years of rule by … Read More
Let the Year A readings speak
The Third Sunday of Lent – March 3, 2024 “Why can’t we use Year B or C readings for the Scrutinies? We’ve written prayers to fit so the assembly wouldn’t miss out on them.” I hear this every time we’re … Read More
So that reason may give way
The Second Sunday of Lent – February 25, 2024 In the Sunday Lectionary, the first reading is meant to complement the Gospel pericope. Why then is the Transfiguration paired with the testing of Abraham? Both are “terrifying” in different ways. … Read More
The beauty of a covenant
The First Sunday of Lent – February 18, 2024 Last we heard these readings, the world was one year into a global pandemic. For many of us, it felt like we had been stuck in an ark all year while … Read More
Contrition that is perfected by love
Ash Wednesday – February 14, 2024 “There’s no crying in baseball!” we hear in A League of Their Own. But according to the prophet Joel, there sure need to be a few tears shed in repentance: “Even now, says the … Read More