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Showing posts from March, 2025

Pentecost Sunday (Cycle A) - Mass during the Day

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Pentecost (Day) Lectionary:  63 Reading 1 -  Acts 2:1-11 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34 Reading 2 -  1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 Alleluia Gospel -  John 20:19-23 Receive the Holy Spirit LESSON: The Church's Work: Reuniting Mankind Today our 50 day Easter season concludes with Pentecost Sunday, commemorating that day in the early Church … when the Father and the Son poured out the Holy Spirit in a special way upon the Apostles … who then took up the mission of proclaiming the Gospel throughout the whole world.  This makes Pentecost one of the most significant moments in our Christian faith. However, before it was a Catholic feast, it was a Jewish feast … and when we look at Pentecost in that context, we add a deeper and richer understanding of what it all means for us today. In its Greek origin, the word “Pentecost” means simply “fifty” … and … for Christians … occurs 50 days after the Easter Resurrection of our Lord Jesus and marks ...
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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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