Now what?
The Second Sunday of Easter – B – April 7 2024 Christ is risen, alleluia! Now what? If our Lenten observance was more than just an annual effort to become better people, how are we living radically different lives because … 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
Going further
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 11, 2024 So far, Jesus has been moving about Galilee with relative freedom and ease. But after healing a leper, he experiences a reversal of roles. The leper, once isolated from public, … Read More
Raised up to serve
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 4, 2024 If you’re tempted to make any mother-in-law jokes today, restrain yourself. The subject of Jesus’s first healing miracle in Mark’s Gospel—like all women in the Gospels—deserves more respect and serious … Read More
“Heal the wounds”
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 28, 2024 Inaugurating his public ministry, Jesus proclaimed this message: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). Then … Read More