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Showing posts from March, 2025

Fifth Sunday of Lent (Cycle A)

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The Raising of Lazarus Lectionary:  34 Reading 1 -  Ezekiel 37:12-14 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 130:1-8 Reading 2 -  Romans 8:8-11 Verse - John 11:25a, 26 Gospel -  John 11:1-45 Lazarus, come out! LESSON: The Power of God Through Those Who Believe We’re a week away from the start of Holy Week. Our Lord now has his sights set on Jerusalem, and the pace is quickening. In these next two weeks, we’re living just one part of the Gospel passage from today: an encounter with the reality of suffering and death. Jesus is asking us to have faith in him. In today’s First Reading the prophet Ezekiel reminds us of the Lord’s promise to not only to bring us back to life but to bring us home. The background of this passage is the famous "Valley of Dry Bones." The people of Israel were in exile in Babylon. They weren't just sad; they were spiritually and nationally "dead." Their common saying was: "Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off." They d...
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Fourth Sunday of Lent (Cycle C) - "Laetare Sunday"

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The Prodigal Son Lectionary: 33 Reading 1 -  Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 Reading 2 -  2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Alleluia -  Luke 15:18 Gospel -  Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Today is “Laetare Sunday” … getting its name from the beginning of the tradition Latin Mass of the day, where we hear "Laetare Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem”) from Isaiah 66:10.  We have a similar Sunday during Advent where the priests, and deacons, wear rose … or pink colored vestments, but have slightly different meanings.  In Advent, the joy we celebrate is more about what is inside of us, while during Lent, the joy we celebrate is something that is reflected outside of us … it is something that we give away so that others may experience joy with us.  In other words, we throw a party. Today’s readings all talk about the reasons we have to celebrate.  In our first reading, God has brought is people out of the Wilderness to the Promised Land. ...
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Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C)

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The Sermon on the Plain Lectionary: 84 Reading 1 -  Sirach 27:4-7 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 Reading 2 -  1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Alleluia -  Philippians 2:15d, 16a Gospel -  Luke 6:39-45 The Gospel of today is a continuation of the “Sermon on the Plain” that we first heard two (2) Sunday’s ago with the Beatitudes (Chapter 6 of Luke).  Last Sunday, Jesus exhorted us to show mercy and love, to pardon instead of judging and condemning.  Today’s gospel passage continues in the same vein, with practical guidance  on how to behave as disciples of Jesus and a warning against three (3) related dangers.  First, he warns us against looking to others to find faults while ignoring our own faults or lack of introspection.  Second, he warns us about the danger of hypocrisy.  Third, he warns us against harness in judgement.  In today’s scripture, these lessons are synergistic and mutually reinforcing. It is often easier ...
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