Reflections of the Kingdom

Lazarus and the Rich Man (Dives)   Lectionary: 138 Reading 1 -  Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 Reading 2 -  1 Timothy 6:11-16 Alleluia -  Cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Gospel -  Luke 16:19-31 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.' Justice, both socially and spiritually, is at the heart of today’s readings. Social Justice is about seeing the “unseen”… remembering the “forgotten” in our society. It’s about the men, women and children who only want a better life in a world that God has given to all of us, just not a select few. In our first reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, we hear from Amos, the prophet of social justice. God called him to speak to the rich of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The country was about to be destroyed by the Assyrians while the wealthy “lie on beds of ivory” and “drink wine from bowls,” confident that “the ruin of Joseph” ...

The Narrow Gate Lectionary: 123 Reading 1 -  Isaiah 66:18-21 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 117:1, 2 Reading 2 -  Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 Alleluia -  John 14:6 Gospel -  Luke 13:22-30 Our First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah speaks of a magnificent gathering. This vision is expansive, reaching out to distant coastlands and peoples who have not yet heard of God's glory. It speaks of a time when all people from all nations will be brought as an offering to the Lord, and some will even be taken as priests and Levites. This prophecy foreshadows the universal reach of God's salvation, a theme that resonates deeply with the Gospel. Our Gospel Reading from Saint Luke presents a challenging counterpoint to this expansive vision. As Jesus journeys towards Jerusalem, teaching in towns and villages. We can picture Jesus resting during his travels, seated on a stump or a rock outside a town, or maybe on a low wall inside a town square . He is surrounded by a crowd of followe...

Teach Us To Pray Lectionary: 111 Reading 1 -  Genesis 18:20-32 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8 Reading 2 -  Colossians 2:12-14 Alleluia -  Romans 8:15bc Gospel -  Luke 11:1-13 Today we’re celebrating the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time; and our readings for the Mass invite us to reflect deeply upon the power and nature of prayer. From Abraham's bold intercession on behalf of Sodom, to Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray, we are called to a renewed understanding of our relationship with God. But first we should probably talk about what is prayer … If we look up “prayer” in the English dictionary, we see prayer defined as: a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God .   It come to us from a French word that is based on the Latin precarius, which means ‘obtained by entreaty.’ For many of us, this is what first comes to mind when we pray … we are asking for something from God; after all, it was easy for the Israel...

Feast of Corpus Christi Lectionary: 169 Reading 1 -  Genesis 14:18-20 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 Reading 2 -  1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Alleluia -  John 6:51 Gospel -  Luke 9:11b-17 Introduction My brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ , also known as The Feast of Corpus Christi. Established in the 13th century by Pope Urban IV, having just officially recognized the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena , this is a day to reflect upon … and give thanks for … the incredible gift of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Christian life.  Exposition Our readings today offer a few insights into the meaning of this great sacrament. Our first reading is not very long, but it introduces the mysterious figure of the priest-king Melchizedek , whose name is typically translated as “ King of Righteousness .” This man comes forward, seemingly out of nowhere, and blesses Abram for his mili...

Sixth Sunday of Easter Lectionary: 57 Reading 1 -  Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 Reading 2 -  Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 Alleluia -  John 14:23 Gospel -  John 14:23-29 During these last days of Eastertide before the Feat of the Ascension, we liturgically “re-live” the end of the forty-day period the Apostles spent with Jesus as he prepared them for his departure.  We have no direct record of Jesus’ teachings during this time, either in Acts or the Gospels.  So the Church turns to Jesus’ discourse in John during the Last Supper ... which suits very well, because in it, Jesus speaks extensively about His imminent departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  It is also a reminder that, as they later “remembered” what He had said, and what had been written about Him, and had been done to Him, the original inability of the disciples to understand the words and deeds of Jesus would be overcome … This “ remembering ” w...

Sunday of Divine Mercy Lectionary: 45 Reading 1 -  Acts 5:12-16 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 Reading 2 -  Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 Alleluia -  John 20:29 Gospel -  John 20:19-31 LESSON: The Ultimate Revelation of God's Mercy Each Sunday we commemorate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but in this period after Easter, Sunday takes on an even more illuminating significance.  This Sunday, as we conclude the eight-day solemnity of Easter and continue into the liturgical season of Easter, we celebrate the gift of Divine Mercy. So why is today Divine Mercy Sunday? Saint Faustina Kowalska [koh- VAHL-skuh] was a nun with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Krackow, Poland. Beginning in 1933, Christ granted her a series of apparitions which, at his request, she recorded in a diary now known as Divine Mercy in My Soul . He gave her a mission, saying: “Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want ...