Solemnity of Christ the King – Year A
Today we celebrate the conclusion of another liturgical year. We have systematically celebrated the gift of God’s self-giving love to us humans, restoring us to a state wherein we can achieve the original Divine design for us … participation in God’s life of love.
Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
The Gospel today has a play on words in English. A talent in Jesus’ time was a unit of coin of a large amount. A talent for us in English is of course the special gifts that God gives to each one of us.
Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
The readings today provide an antonym between the Gospel’s message of rejoicing and the Second Reading’s message about grieving. Both are part of life and can be very close to each other. Today I may attend a solemn profession, tomorrow a funeral.
Thirty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
A quick glance at today’s first reading and gospel could lead us to declare this Sunday: Clergy Depreciation Day.
These readings offer profiles of ministry. Not all of these profiles are for our imitation, as you probably noticed. They are more a listing of what not to do, how not to act.
Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
After silencing the disingenuous questions of the Sadducees, Jesus addresses the Pharisees whose question about the law was equally insincere. Although it is not expressed here, the follow-up of his response about loving God and neighbor is a warning to his hearers not to follow the example of the religious leaders, but to listen to the spirit of the law…
Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
Flattery is excessive praise, usually employed to lower someone’s guard and make him vulnerable to being used or attacked. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is being set-up by a hostile group who hope to trap him in a maze of conflicting allegiances.
Twenty-eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
The reign of God is not so much about the menu as it about the guest list. Who can argue with the menu of juicy, rich foods and pure, choice wines? The first reading from the prophet Isaiah is a description of God’s great dream and hope…
Twenty-sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
Some years back, I had a conversation with a friend of mine, Ed, about the joys and struggles of fatherhood. He has seven children, and thus a great deal of experience and wisdom. So when I have questions about raising children–or if I am simply looking for a homily idea–Ed is often a good source.
Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
This parable may sound as if it described an imaginary situation, but that is far from the case. Apart from the terms of payment, the parable describes the kind of thing that frequently happened in Palestine, when the grape harvest ripened towards the end of September, and close on its heels the rains came. Any worker was welcome…
Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
Who hasn’t become acutely aware lately how angry, aggressive and abusive our interactions have become? This is not a sudden occurrence, as some would have it, that began only with the most recent presidential election cycle. It has been moving in this ugly direction for quite some time. Who doesn’t get angry sometimes?