The Baptism of the Lord (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Fun fact:
This week we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, the official end of the Christmas Season (According to the liturgical calendar, Ordinary Time doesn’t officially begin until the Monday after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday after Epiphany.)

1^ST READING (IS 42: 1-4, 6-7)
(In Ordinary Time, the 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Isaiah is a prophet with whom we’re all familiar, even if just by name. In terms of length, Isaiah takes the cake for the Old Testament prophets at a total of 66 chapters. It is often called “The Fifth Gospel” because it bears witness to Christ unparalleled by any book in the OT.

He prophesied for close to 79 years, during what is arguably the worst time in Israel’s history. Put simply, the people had turned their back on God in a serious way, for a seriously long time (think idol worship, really bad-behaving kings, and exile).

But God gave Isaiah a message to share: Despite the deep darkness in which Israel found themselves, a great light would come.

For Isaiah, the vision of God’s majesty was so overwhelming that military and political power faded in significance. He constantly called his people back to reliance on God’s promises and away from vain attempts to find security in human plans and intrigues.

Kingship & Servant Songs:
Isaiah is known for his 4 “servant songs.” This verbiage resurfaces in the New Testament (and in today’s Gospel). Isaiah writes to a people who are familiar with kings being anointed in their land at huge ceremonies.

They would have heard this kind of language at one of those ceremonies – for example, when David anointed Solomon. In speaking to them in this familiar style, his message is more likely to stick. As you hear this reading at mass, take note that what Jesus does when He comes to live among us in human form – fulfills the prophecy we hear from Isaiah.

Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (122)
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;
    I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
    and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
    at the fountain of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
    among the nations make known his deeds,
      proclaim how exalted is his name.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
    let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
    for great in your midst
    is the Holy One of Israel!

2^nd READING: ACTS 10: 34-38
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters.It speaks to how the early church spread the Word of Christ after his passion, death and resurrection).

Usually in the 2nd reading, we hear from one of the Paul’s. In this pivotal scene from Acts, Peter, the Rock on whom Christ built the Church, the first Pope, makes a striking announcement to the people – and to us:

Salvation through Christ – which comes through baptism –  is not just available to Jews, but also to the Gentiles! This was a shocking discovery. Let’s pause and consider why.

Everyone who was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah – including the Apostles and Jesus – were Jewish. So to them, their Messiah had come.

What they didn’t understand was this was now a New Covenant – this would mean a “new faith” (Christianity) – new practices, new teachings. The concept of a “new faith” or “a new Church” was not yet established.

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”

If I were Peter or Paul, charged with that task, I can only imagine the reliance I would need to put on my prayer life and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Bonus Material: Who exactly was Cornelius?

He’s a Roman Centurian – a Gentile. In the reading, Peter preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and other Gentiles for the first time.   Here’s where it gets cool.

After preaching the gospel (keep reading in Acts 10), Peter sees the gentiles experience the same things that had happened at Pentecost – like speaking in tongues – so he recognizes this turn of events as a “second Pentecost” – when the Holy Spirit came down and baptized 3,000 people all at ones. Peter proceeds to baptize this group of men.

It’s Peter’s “a-ha” moment: He knows with certainty that God wants ALL people to receive salvation through His Church, beginning with baptism. 

Mark 1: 7-11
(This is the highest point in the liturgy. It is why we stand; we are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ himself)

The prophets of old said “Before the Messiah comes, look for Elijah.”

John the Baptist is acting like “the new Elijah” – who leads the way to Jesus.  John brought words of power to the people to whom he preached, and the people thought he might be the Christ. In the reading, the people have just been baptized by John, but John now describes the One who is to Come.

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: 
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water; 
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee 
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open 
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, 
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Why is Jesus baptized if He’s God? I like this explanation from Catholic Online:

“The Word Incarnate stands in the waters of the earth which was created through Him, and begins the re-creation of everything. Into these waters, through which the people of Israel were once delivered, the entire human race is now invited to follow Jesus. What was once the means of God’s judgment and purification at the time of Noah, now fills the Baptismal font where men and women are delivered from sin and made new.”

Wow. At this moment, for the first time, we see all three persons of God present simultaneously: Jesus is there, the Holy Spirit descends on Him like a Dove, and the voice of God the Father is heard from above quoting the servant song of Isaiah 42:

“You are my beloved Son, with You I am well pleased.” Wow again.

Where in our lives do we need to be cleansed? Where do we need to be ‘re-created’ and begin anew?

Although we’ve already been baptized, our sacramental life – through Eucharist and Reconciliation – are the tools Jesus left on Earth for us so that we would have access to His Sacramental, Heavenly Grace.

Epiphany of Our Lord (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings. 
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Fun Fact:
The book of Isaiah is often called “the Fifth Gospel” – and can be divided into 2 main parts.

1. Chapters 1-39: The book of judgment. (Summary: God’s people aren’t listening. They’re worshipping idols.)
   
2. Chapters 40-66: The book of consolation. (Summary: God is ever-loving. He will never tire from trying to save his people. He will save those who turn back.)
   
   We’re in part 2 today – the first 6 verses of chapter 60.

Isaiah 60: 1-6
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Today we hear a beautiful, poetic reading that truly “consoles.” Isaiah wrote this after Babylon was ruined.

He “dreams” a bit here, and reminds the people that with the birth of Christ (which, of course, hadn’t happened yet when this was written), salvation would come, too.

Dark as it was at the time, this is cause for celebration! In the reading, Christ is equated to images of light and shining radiance. We see the harmony that is to be once Christ comes and we all become one with Him (at the end of time):

This reading foreshadows the gospel.  As you listen, picture the 3 kings traveling to Bethlehem…

“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples;
But upon you (3 kings) the LORD shines, and over you (the star) appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. 
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Psalm 72: Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

From Christianity.com: “This psalm belongs to Solomon in part, but to Christ more fully and clearly. Solomon was both the king and the king’s son, and his father wanted the wisdom of God to be in him.

Although Solomon’s reign came to an end, Christ’s never will. You’ll hear “father/son” language in the first verse…

O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.

Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

Paul makes 2 points in this letter:
1) The fullness of God’s mystery has not been fully revealed until now, (when God revealed it to Paul), and
2) The mystery says that Gentiles – not just Jews – share in the salvation God offers. 

The 2nd point about the Gentiles having access to salvation? This really gob-smacked the Church. For centuries, gentiles were outsiders – unclean and unfit to experience God’s promises.

Paul still “lowers the bomb” with gentleness, knowing it might sting his audience a little.

“You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: That the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Remember how our psalm talked about Solomon’s kingship, and how it eventually ended? Jesus is seen here as “the new Solomon.”

Only HIS kingship never ends.

Today, the magi come to Jerusalem to see the Christ Child – the three kings, or the three “wise men.” But when King Herod heard this, he became irate. 

“What? Someone else is being praised in MY kingdom? I’ll have none of that, for I am the only King!” 

The city of Jerusalem was right behind him on this, the reading tells us.

Herod gathered the chief priests and elders. “What say you?” he asked. The chief priests answered with an Old Testament verse in which a prophet foretold this would happen:

“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you (Bethlehem) shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” 

King Herod hears this, does not like it, and calls the magi to him.

“Go find the child, and send word of where I can find him. I want to pay him a visit too…” 

Now of course Herod doesn’t want to pay him homage, he wants to kill Jesus. He just needs Jesus’ location. (Sounds like a great CSI episode, doesn’t it?)

But here’s where it gets cool – Joseph listens to another angel in another dream to save Jesus’s life:

The kings travel to Bethlehem, guided by the great star. They arrive, pay homage, and then – because those fantastic, always-on-their-toes angels were doing their jobs well – the Holy Family left on another route. Why? They had been warned to do so in a dream, and they listened.

As we embark on a New Year, let us be like the 3 kings – let us be wise, let us walk by His light, let us pay close attention to our dreams – and however else the Lord speaks to us  – and let us pay him homage day after day after day.

Makes me want to keep an eye out for angels in my dreams… and definitely, to listen better to God in general. God bless your week!

Full reading is below:

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, 
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, 
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.

Happy New Year!

2nd Sunday of Advent – Year B

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

As you know, we’re in Advent for 4 weeks. The church looks different during this season:

The church decor (and the border of this blog) is purple for weeks 1, 2 and 4 (purple signifies royalty); rose/pink for week 3 (pink signifies “joy”), and the “hope” of the Messiah to come.

If you have an Advent wreath, today’s the day to light your second purple candle. Consider involving children in this ritual and saying a short prayer as a family!

Fun Fact about St Mark:
We are now in year B – it’s all about Mark! Mark is dubbed “The Hollywood Gospel.” He moves fast and catches the highlights of Jesus’s ministry, his life, death and resurrection. He says “Immediately” a total of 41 times in his writing – that’s a lot!

Isaiah 40: 1-5; 9-11
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Oh what a beautiful reading this week! It’s one of Isaiah’s most “famous” – it begins, “Comfort, give comfort to my people.” I just love that line. Sit back and listen to the lector read this and just enjoy it’s beauty. You will hear:

• Themes of comfort. God wants to bring comfort to his afflicted people. He does this by bringing us Jesus.
• We hear what Christ will DO. He will make our winding roads straight again. He will fill in the valleys. The imagery here is beautiful. Just know that it is an analogy for our sins; with Adam, our covenant was broken. We once had a STRAIGHT PATH to God. When sin crept in, we make that road windy, unclear, full of stumbling blocks. The point here is that Jesus STRAIGHTENS that path. We must welcome Him this Christmas into our hearts and homes and families!
• We hear about a voice. One crying out from the desert. One shouting from the mountain tops. Whose voice is that? It is ours. It is also the people of Israel. We cry out for God’s guiding hand. Listen further for the power that God’s presence and word brings.

How do you need to hear the words “Comfort, give comfort to my child (insert your name here).” How can God give you comfort this season?

Psalm 85: Lord Let us See Your Kindness and Grant us Your Salvation:
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

See themes of “the voice” from reading 1 and what we hear. See themes of what we are to prepare (“the Way”):

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD—for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.

2 Peter 3: 8-14
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Today we hear from Peter. He too speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

This is St. Peter’s 2nd letter, in which he writes just beautifully about what we are to expect when it comes to Christ’s promise and how we are to live until he comes again. Another reference here to a theme for today: PEACE.

I love the first line about 1 day being like 1000 years, and 1000 years like 1 day. Now that’s something to contemplate this week during your prayer time. Which of your bad days has felt like 1000 years? The death of a loved one, a spouse or child, a divorce etc. How has 1000 years felt like 1 day?

To me I can only think of our world and how it will remain broken until Christ comes again, no matter who is in power, no matter what political structure is in place. We act today like the unfaithful Israelites of 1000+ years ago.

Let us listen to the hope St. Peter gives:

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years
and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,”
but he is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar
and the elements will be dissolved by fire,
and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.

Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought you to be,
conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God…

Mark 1:1-8
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

We are in the very first 8 verses of Mark’s gospel today, as the first verse notes:

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

It’s a really perfect reading for Advent. Why? It’s where our hearts should be. It references Isaiah (from R1) and it echoes those verses “Prepare the way, crying out in the desert). John the Baptist talks about how he is not worthy to baptize as Christ will; he isn’t even worthy to untie his shoes!

It’s just a time to stop and say, wow. We are preparing for something truly amazing this Advent: The coming of our savior.

How is your Advent preparation going? Don’t expect too much of yourself and set yourself up for disappointment. For example, if you need to carve out more prayer time and that’s a goal of yours this Advent, start small.

Each morning I try to pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be before my feet hit the floor. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. But on the mornings I do it, I feel happy I’ve “said Hello” to God and thanked Him for the breath in my lungs that day (before I turn my phone on to check messages…). It’s small, but it matters, and it brings me a sliver of peace for the day.

We still have 2 weeks before Christmas. Commit to one small action this week and THEN, ask God to help you reach it! As we heard on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception this week? “For Nothing is Impossible For God.” 🙂 Today’s gospel reading is below. God bless your week!

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

1st Sunday of Advent (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Where are We Today?
We are in week 1 of Advent – happy new church year! Last year was Year A (Matthew); now we are in Year B. The vast majority of our gospels will be from Mark.

There is something cool about the fact that last Sunday we celebrated Jesus Christ as King of the Universe, and now we are circled back to ‘the beginning’ – back to waiting for him to arrive as a babe in a manger.

How long the people of God waited for Him to come. But indeed He did! Today is all about waiting and watching.

IS 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7
(The first reading is Old Testament, it always links to the gospel.)

The first reading this week is Isaiah; we are at the tail end of this long and rich book. The 2nd half of Isaiah is called The Book of Consolation (the 1st half is the Book of Judgment).

Today we see a time in God’s relationship with his people where the lightbulb goes off – that is, the people finally (after generations go by) see they angered God. They finally want to recommit themselves to Him. 

For some time now, after tiring of trying to get the people to turn back, God has been quiet, silent. Today we hear the people calling him and asking to return.

They now want to be clay and let Him be the potter (putty in His hands). The Israelites want to renew the covenant God made with their father in faith, Abraham.

They are like the prodigal son coming home.

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,
while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,
such as they had not heard of from of old.

No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who wait for him.
Would that you might meet us doing right,
that we were mindful of you in our ways!

Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;
all of us have become like unclean people,
all our good deeds are like polluted rags;
we have all withered like leaves,
and our guilt carries us away like the wind.

There is none who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to cling to you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands.

Psalm 80: Lord Let us Turn to You, Let us See Your Face and We Shall Be Saved
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

The psalm today is the people’s prayer to God that he will take them back. “Lord let us turn to you, let us see your face and we shall be saved.” On Christmas Day we DO see his face and we ARE saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

 1 COR 1:3-9
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

These are the first few verses of Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth – it is basically the greeting.  Paul reminds the people God is ever faithful! This is like the “answer” to the Israelites in the first reading when they ask, God, can we come back? Can we return and RENEW the covenant?

Paul tells them Yes!!!

Do you feel you cannot return to God for some reason? Remember God’s infinite mercy. Go to him and tell Him you regret the decisions you have made. He wants you to return to full communion with Him! It is never too late! Recommit to God this Advent Season. Return to Him in the New Church Year.

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark 13:33-37
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

The gospel today is all about watching. We must watch! We know not the hour nor the day God will call us home.

We do not know when He will come again. Jesus tells us to stay awake, be ready, watch!

Both for the first coming (Jesus coming in the flesh, as a baby at Christmas) AND for the second coming.

Jesus is coming to us at Christmas. Are we ready? How are we preparing? How are watching?

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.  Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today’s theme – Stay Awake – the Lord is Coming!
(One more week in Ordinary Time and Advent is upon us!)

Why is Wisdom referred to as “She”?
First we must think, if there is a “She”, who is the “He?” The “He” is God (the Father), later Jesus Christ, who came as a man. This implies a male-female bond which is carried through scripture. This bond reflects God’s covenant relationship with His people. It is reflected in marriages today as well, and helps us understand why that marriage is between one male and one female:

1. God the Father speaks often of His beloved “Bride” – the people of Israel.
2. Jesus Christ (male) and His “Bride” the Church.
3. The Groom (male) and His Bride (female).

Many cultures personify Wisdom as a woman.

Wisdom 6: 12-16
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

The seven books of scripture that are categorized as “Wisdom Literature” include Wisdom of Solomon, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Song of Songs, Job and Proverbs.

The Book of Wisdom was written about 50 years before the coming of Christ.  This book tells us quite literally, of the wisdom of King Solomon. It’s as if someone sat down to write “the best of” when it came to Solomon’s wise sayings and perspectives. Wisdom – here personified as a female (“she”) – helps us try to grasp one of the greatest of the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Fear of the Lord. This is not “fear” as in to be afraid, but rather awe.

Resplendent and unfading is wisdom,
and she is readily perceived by those who love her,
and found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire;
Whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed,
for he shall find her sitting by his gate.
For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence,
and whoever for her sake keeps vigil
shall quickly be free from care;
because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her,
and graciously appears to them in the ways,
and meets them with all solicitude.

Responsorial Psalm 63: My Soul is Thirsting for You, O Lord My God.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Themes here – as in the first reading – focus on our never-ending thirst for God, for His infinite wisdom, for our desire to know and love Him fully.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

Today we hear St. Paul talk about the need to stay awake and help those who have fallen asleep:

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive,
who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,
will come down from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.

We also hear one of the only hints in scripture that exists concerning the Resurrection and His Second Coming – the promise that we have the chance to live in Heaven with God forever if we follow His commands.

Matthew 25: 1-13
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Today’s themes are about staying awake and not waiting until it is too late to ask God for entrance into the kingdom. We must have enough oil in our lamps for the entire journey of life. Where do we get this oil? From the sacraments, from our Church, from constant growth in our faith.

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to:

• 10 virgins who took their lamps, 5 of them wise, 5 of them foolish.
• The foolish brought no oil, the wise did.
• When the bridegroom (Christ) called in the middle of the night, the foolish virgins asked to borrow oil from the wise.
• The wise refused to share, knowing it could lead to their own demise – not meeting the bridegroom.

I struggle with this reading, I confess. Aren’t we taught – from the time we are but toddlers – to share? Aren’t we supposed to give, be charitable, and serve others? Yes of course we are.

However.

Each virgin was given the opportunity to obtain oil. The foolish carelessly neglected to do so. For the wise virgins to share their oil, that means they might not meet the bridegroom (enter Heaven). Today the lesson is less about sharing and being charitable than it is about being prepared for Christ’s coming.

What are we doing to prepare? Do we have oil in our lamps? Are we frequent recipients of the sacraments? Do we love God above all else and love our neighbor as ourselves, as the gospel a few weeks ago commanded?

If the Lord comes tonight for us, are we ready with oil to great Him? Or would we be running hastily to clean up our houses – our souls – to be ready for Him? Are we saying to Him, “Yes Lord, I am ready!” Or “Wait Lord, just a minute! I just have a few more things to do before I go!”

Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight your path. (And stay tuned, that reading is coming up in Advent when we read Isaiah, who prophesied about that very thing!)

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

This week’s theme is The Banquet. (Are you dressed and ready?)

Fun Fact:
God speaks simply to His people in scripture. He wants His people so they can grasp His ideas easily. Light and dark. Parables about sheep and vineyards, watchtowers and winepresses. And of course there’s food. The banquet. Bread and wine. The very substances God chose to transform himself into – these are central images. Today we ponder the Banquet.

Isaiah 25: 6-10A
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

We return tto “Book 1” of Isaiah, the Book of Judgment. Chapter 25 is all about The Banquet. It’s a great idea to read just a few verses before the reading to get a sense of context. In chapter 24, we see Isaiah talking about the Lord laying waste to the land, to the vineyard, to His disobedient people. There are many verses about sour wine: “The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted groan. They no longer drink wine and sing;

• In chapter 24, we see Isaiah talking about the Lord laying waste to the land, to the vineyard, to His disobedient people. There are many verses about sour wine: “The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted groan. They no longer drink wine and sing;  strong brew is bitter to those who drink it.
• Chapter 25 shifts the tone. These verses praise God for carrying out his plan to destroy the enemy and to save the poor of his people. They announce the victory banquet to be celebrated in the Lord’s city.

Today’s reading is about Banquet, which foreshadows the Banquet of the Eucharist on the night Jesus was condemned.

It is also about the veil. The veil is a critical image when it comes to understanding our faith. In the temple, there hung a veil. It hung between the Holy of Holies (where the presence of God was) and the rest of the temple. It was a sacred dividing line that separated the people from their God.

As you may know, when Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was split from top to bottom. Why? Becuase Jesus’s death gave us access to God in a new way. We were no longer separated from Him as in the Old Testament. It was the beginning of a new and better relationship with our God through his Church. 

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.

What veil in your life separates you from God’s mercy and love?

What veil do you string up for others who want to know and love you better? How can you tear these veils from top to bottom?

Psalm 23: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

The response today brings banquet language; it reminds us God is with us always. The house of the Lord is our church, where we celebrate the Banquet of the Eucharist with God, his saints and angels, and all the heavenly hosts:

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

We are at the end of Paul’s “Letter of Joy.” He thanks his readers for caring for him while in prison. He sounds as if he’s speaking from his deathbed. His message is one of unity and rejoicing in the Lord. These are tasks he passes on to Timothy and Titus, bishops who succeed him. Today he speaks of the inner strength – that which can only be given by God – that carries him through every trial.

In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 22: 1-14
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Linked to R1, Jesus tells the parable of the Marriage Feast. One of the relationships I found most fascinating throughout biblical school was that of the marriage covenant:

1. First, the covenant between God and Israel (through Abraham),
2. Second, the covenant reference of Jesus (the bridegroom) and His Church (bride), and
3. Third, the covenant many of us live, the one between a man and a woman in marriage.

We become intimately united with Christ at mass through the Eucharist. United in the same way these covenants unite the bride and groom.

The parable of the Marriage Feast is an allegory of salvation history culminating in Jesus Christ.

• The King is God. He prepares a heavenly banquet for his son (and for you and me).
• The first round of servants – this is cool – are the Old Testament Prophets. They are called to summon Israel. They call Israel and ask them to turn back to God.
• Some invited guests (the Jews) ignore the prophets. Others kill them.
• God will destroy their city Jerusalem and send a second round of servants, the apostles. They invite Gentiles (the not-originally chosen), both bad and good to the banquet.
• Those who lack proper attire are cast into darkness.

What can we glean from this image? To me it means we should Show Up. Show Up for God. Wear your best attire – not just your physical clothing, but what are you wearing on your soul? Gratitude or Envy? Kindness or Jealousy? Generosity or Judgment? Compassion or Injustice?

Show up for God this week. Be invited to His Banquet. This life we live is a dress rehearsal. Every week when we attend mass on Earth; the Banquet of the Eucharist. This my friends, is a dress rehearsal for the Heavenly Banquet where we hope to live forever in God’s glory.

Are we dressed for the Banquet? It’s not too late to put on our shoes and straighten our tie. It’s never. Too. Late.
God waits for us.

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

or

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.”

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday’s mass readings.

Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

He turned and said to Peter, “Get Behind Me, Satan.”

 

JER 20:7-9

(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Jeremiah is one of the 4 Major Prophets. He tried desperately to tell the Israelites to return to the Lord, lest their city be destroyed and they be cast into exile by the Babylonians (which they were).

\A few verses earlier, Jeremiah shared a message from the LORD: “I will bring upon this city all the evil I have spoken against it, because they have become stubborn and have not obeyed my words.”

But Passhur, a chief priest of the house of the Lord, would hear none of it.

He threw Jeremiah in the stocks. Jeremiah doesn’t flinch – he tells Passhur the Lord names him (Passhur) “terror on every side.”

He says “You, Pashhur, and all the members of your household shall go into exile. To Babylon you shall go; there you shall die and be buried, you and all your friends, because you have prophesied lies to them.”

The next verse is our reading.  Jeremiah speaks to the Lord. It is his deep interior crisis. Hear his words. Consider how Jeremiah must feel. Then think about times when you’ve felt the same way. Jeremiah felt duped by the Lord, and he says so, right to God.

When a loved one dies or is diagnosed with terminal illness. When a child is sick or being badly bullied.  When your home and city are flooded beyond recognition. When you are battling poverty. Unemployment. Injustice. Abuse. Bankruptcy. Terror on every side.

You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.
All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me.

Whenever I speak, I must cry out,
violence and outrage is my message;
the word of the LORD has brought me
derision and reproach all the day.

I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

But wait! for King David is about to lift our souls to their rightful place… 

Psalm 63: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

This psalm was written by David in the wilderness. Jeremiah was also in a wilderness of sorts, feeling abandoned by God. Even during these moments, our soul thirsts for the presence of God.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

ROM 12:1-2

(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

This is Paul’s final section of the letter to the Romans (16 chapters in all). He gives some “moral catechesis”, teaching us how to apply the theology to real life.

He gives us a hint at today’s gospel when Jesus propehsies about the bodily death he will endure. Paul talks about what our bodies are truly for, according to God our Father: A living sacrifice, pure and holy.  How different from the world’s current opinion, don’t you think?

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.

MT 16:21-27

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

“Get behind me, Satan.” These are the words Jesus says to Peter when he tells Jesus, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”

Why is Jesus so direct?
Why does he call Peter “Satan?”
Peter becomes our first pope and just last week Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom! What’s going on here?

Last week, Peter made his complete confession:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

This week, Peter is the tempter:
“No such thing shall ever happen to you, Lord.”

Last week’s words were inspired by The Father. This week, Peter shows his human weakness. He stands in the way of Jesus’s path to the cross.

Jesus tells Peter to “get behind Him” – not because Peter should “go away” or “get out of here,” but so that Peter might follow. So that Peter might return to his rightful place and let Jesus lead.

This image is so powerful. Peter is the rock upon whom Jesus built His Church. A rock can be strong and mighty, powerful and heavy. It can also – when in the way – trip people, cause pain, and make people lose their way.

Let’s think about a total eclipse. Think about God as the Sun and Peter as the Moon (a huge rock!). When Peter gets in the way of God, darkness follows. But the light of the Sun, the light of God, will come again, and that is the light we are called to follow.

Jesus tells us all today, “Get behind me.” Let us ask ourselves: How am I in God’s way? Wow, what a question worth pondering.

If we are in a painful place in our lives as Jeremiah was, where do we need to “fall in” and let God lead?

Let us pray for the strength to tell Him: “Lord, You are the Christ. The son of the Living God. I don’t know where I’m going. But I will follow your lead. Even to the cross. The cross of salvation.”

Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Join us every week for background on this Sunday’s mass readings.

Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

This week’s theme is about Kingdoms and Keys.

IS 22:19-23

(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Scripture is one giant jigsaw puzzle. Some stories are more familiar than others, but all are important. At first glance and without some help, most of us have no idea what this reading is about. But it’s super important and worthwhile to crack it open. Let’s go.

Here’s the deal on these unfamiliar names, Shebna and Eliakim.

In the Old Testament, similar to today, Kings had “Prime Ministers” – or right-hand men. They were “over the house” when the king was not present. SHEBNA is this prime minister. He’s under King Hezekiah – one of the only good kings in all of scripture.

Hezekiah was good. Unlike other kings who leaned on other militia and neighboring allies for support when times were tough, Hezekiah trusted God completely.

If Shebna is the prime minister of a good king, why does God say he’ll toss Shebna out and fill his seat with this Eliakim guy? It’s because of this:

Armies were coming to destroy the kingdom. Hezekiah trusted God and asked his kingdom to also trust God. But his right-hand man Shebna didn’t trust God. Instead, as insurance, Shebna …. bought himself an expensive tomb in case he died. Just in case God failed them.

When God found out about this and saw the tomb Shebna bought, he said (just one verse before today’s reading), “What have you here? Whom have you here, that you have hewn for yourself a tomb here, Hewing a tomb on high, carving a resting place in the rock?” The LORD shall hurl you down headlong, mortal man!”

In other words, “What are you thinking, Shebna? I’m God. Trust in Me. All the way.”

So in today’s reading, God replaces Shebna with Eliakim, a trustworthy servant:

Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:
“I will thrust you from your office
and pull you down from your station.
On that day I will summon my servant
Eliakim, son of Hilkiah;
I will clothe him with your robe,
and gird him with your sash,
and give over to him your authority.
He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and to the house of Judah.
I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder;
when he opens, no one shall shut
when he shuts, no one shall open.
I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot,
to be a place of honor for his family.”

Let’s reflect: How are we doing with our complete trust in God? Are we more like Shebna, planning for God to be wrong – or is God pleased with our faithfulness, putting us in a place of honor for his family?

138: Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Read this verse again after you get to the end of the post. Sounds like it’s coming right out of Peter’s mouth (or Eliakim) after receiving the keys:

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple.

ROM 11:33-36

(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

The reading today is short, so pasted below. St. Paul closes a major portion of his letter offering awe and wonderment at the greatness of God, saying it is unsearchable and inscrutable. Interestingly, he is basically paraphrasing a verse in Isaiah 40 that goes like this: “Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?” And truly, who can?

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given the Lord anything
that he may be repaid?
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.

MT 16:13-20
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Banquet of the Word. That is why we stand. We are about to hear from Christ himself.)

Today Jesus gives Peter the Keys to the kingdom. What we see here is the completion of the Old Testament imagery.

• King Hezekiah’s right-hand man = Shebna (then Eliakam). He sits over the house (The Kingdom).
• Jesus’s right-hand man (Jesus is also a King of course)= Peter, the first pope. He sits over the house (The Church) when the King (Jesus) is not present. So until the end of time, the popes sit over the Church because the King – Jesus – is not physically present (though He is present sacramentally).

Note that Jesus gave the keys to His Kingdom to Peter knowing full well he would deny Him at the cross. Not one denial but three. But Jesus knew Peter’s heart.

How many times do we need to be reminded that we do not need to be perfect to be loved by God? He just wants our HEARTS.

The other beautiful part of the story has to do with WHERE Jesus is when he gives the keys to Peter. They are standing near a huge temple built for Caesar that had been hewn into the side of a ROCK, near Caeserea Phillipi.

Jesus basically stood there and said 3 things:

• This temple hewn into the rock is NOT the rock on which I build my Church. I build it on you Peter, an admirable man. (The government of the time built that thing over there, but it’s an earthly temple.)
• The gates of Hell will not prevail against my Church. The Church over which Peter – and every pope after him – oversees. (It helps to know that at that phony temple built into the rock, a pit existed where human sacrifices were made, children were thrown to their deaths. A pit of Hell one might say.)  There would be no death of this kind in Jesus’s kingdom. The gates of Hell would lose every time.
• What do you need when you’re locked out of your house? Your car? Your safety deposit box? You need a key. My friends, Jesus tells us today that The Catholic Church is our key. The key that unlocks everything. And we all have access to the keys of Heaven! Jesus handed those keys to Peter, and through the Sacraments, He hands them to us. We can never be locked out of God’s love. Of His promises. We must only follow Him.

As St. Paul said today, “To him be glory forever. Amen.” Let’s use our keys this week!

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.

August 15: The Assumption of Mary

Greetings!
A special post today on our Holy Day of Celebration, The Assumption of Mary.  First, a definition of terms:

(a) To be “assumed” means “to be escorted up.” Mary was assumed into Heaven.

(b) Jesus “ascended”, going to Heaven on His own power. At the end of this post, we’ll just look at the Gospel in 2 parts: 1) The interaction with Elizabeth and 2) Mary’s Magnificat.

Even if you don’t read any further, one thing to know about Mary is that she is more special than any of the saints who have gone before her.

Mary is the only person who has been assumed BODY AND SOUL into Heaven.  

All of us will die. Our souls will go to an eternal place – Heaven, we hope. But our bodies stay on earth until Christ comes again at the Second Coming.

But Mary? She had no sin, no shred of a stain of sin. So, in Monopoly terms, she got to “pass GO, collect 200 blessings, and go straight to Heaven.”

Depending on your mood today, here are 3 ways to pray and honor Mary:

(1) If you’re in a serious, prayerful mood today, here’s a beautiful version of Ave Maria you can listen to that honors Mary our Mother.

~~~~~

(2) If you’re in a more playful mood, there are two important videos to listen to today, from the esteemed film, “Sister Act.”

My bet is on your church singing one or both of these songs today (ours does every year). If you don’t want to smile as you sing these in the pew, don’t watch them.

But it has become a family tradition for me and my kids to turn up the volume and honor Mary (and Whoopi Goldberg) with a smile. Hopefully, when they’re older and grown, every August 15, they’ll find their way to this video on youtube, and more importantly, get themselves to mass.

Here’s the bad version:

Here’s the rockin’ version:

~~~~~

(3) If you are in a scholarly mood today, read on and unpack the gospel with me. It is one of the coolest connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We can use the chart below and answer the very important question,

“How is Mary the fulfillment of the Old Covenant concept of the
“Ark of the Covenant?”

Gospel
Luke 1: 39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb,  and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, 

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

Let’s break the gospel down into 2 parts:

Setting:
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said:

Below, we’ll break apart each phrase of the reading and compare it to the Old Testament King David, who was looking for the Ark of the Covenant. “Ark of the Covenant” = “The Dwelling Place of God.”

Event	Old Testament	New Testament
“Traveled to the hill country in haste”	David goes out to retrieve the ark of the covenant from the Philistines (who had stolen it). Ark = the dwelling place of God.	Mary is the new ark (the dwelling place of God). She leaves her home to visit Elizabeth.
Length of time in wilderness	3 months	3 months
What is in the ark?	Stone tablets (10 commandments), Aaron’s priestly rod, shew-bread (manna).	The Word Incarnate, The Great High priest, The Eucharist.
Where did they travel? Many prophets (Isaiah, Samuel, Jeremiah) declared the Christ would come from the line of David, which is the tribe of Judah	David goes to Baalejudah, a city of Judah (in the southern kingdom)	Mary travels to a town of Judah.
Who stands before the Ark	David	John the Baptist
Action of Leaping and dancing	Once David retrieves the ark from the Philistine army, he “danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Sam 6: 14).	He “leaped for joy” in Elizabeth’s womb the moment the sound of Mary’s greeting met her ears.
The phrase “To cry out in a loud voice.” This is the Greek term “Exclaimed.”	Phrase only used 6x in OT. It is only used by Levitical priests when they are standing in front of the ark to Praise God. (see Ezra 3:12, Lev 9:24)	Elizabeth is a Levite. At the time of the visitation, it had been generations since the presence of God was in the temple. She uses this Levitical term for the first time in many generations. Later, Jesus “cries out in a loud voice” from the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”

Elizabeth’s words:
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Event	Old Testament	New Testament
“Blessed Are You Among Women” only used in reference to 3 women in the bible.	Prophetesses Judith and Jael both crushed the heads of enemy leaders in the Old Testament (Judith crushed head of Nebuchadnezzar’s army and Jael crushed head of Canaanite army).	In Rev 12, Mary strikes at the head of the enemy army (Satan). Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out “Most Blessed are you among women.”
“Mother of my Lord” A title last used centuries ago. A reference to the Queen Mother – this was the mother of the reigning King.	When David retrieves the ark, he says “How is it that the ark of my Lord should come to me?” (2 Sam 6:9).	“How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth bestows on Mary this royal title, noting that she is our Queen Mother.
Sound of a greeting	When Kings enter, trumpets sound, people cry for joy.	Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and recognizes that the sound of Mary’s greeting is like that of a royal entrance.
Relationship between the King and his people – a thematic comparison:	As a result of their wickedness, OT Kings proverbially “consumed” the people. God says through the prophet Micah 3:2-4: You who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people, who eat the flesh off their bones; who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from them, break their bones into pieces and chop them up like meat in a kettle like flesh in a cauldron.”	As a result of God’s great love and generosity, this relationship is now reversed – The people will consume their King, their Shepherd, both in the banquet of the Word and in the banquet of the Eucharist – the Mass.

Part 2: This is Mary’s prayer today. It mirrors an Old Testament prayer spoken by Miriam (pasted below Mary’s prayer).

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

Miriam (a name which means “Mary”) was with Moses after God freed them from the Egyptians, from the grasp of slavery. After He opened the waters of the Red Sea in the Exodus, Miriam sang to God in prayer. There are many similarities between these two prayers, and they are just beautiful reflections on the amazing gifts and goodness of God:

Miriam’s prayer of thanksgiving:

“I will sing to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
    he has hurled into the sea.

² “The Lord is my strength and my defense^[a];
    he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
³ The Lord is a warrior;
    the Lord is his name.
⁴ Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.^[b]
5 The deep waters have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.
⁶ Your right hand, Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
    shattered the enemy.

⁷ “In the greatness of your majesty
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
    it consumed them like stubble.
⁸ By the blast of your nostrils
    the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
⁹ The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
¹⁰ But you blew with your breath,
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.
¹¹ Who among the gods
    is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
    working wonders?

¹² “You stretch out your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.
¹³ In your unfailing love you will lead
    the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.
¹⁴ The nations will hear and tremble;
    anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
¹⁵ The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people^[c] of Canaan will melt away;
¹⁶     terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought^[d] pass by.
¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them
    on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
    the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

¹⁸ “The Lord reigns
    for ever and ever.”

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.

Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

 

Today’s gospel:”Lord, Save me!”

 

1 KGS 19:9A, 11-13A

(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

This week’s reading is back in the first book of Kings, (where we were 2 weeks ago). Today Elijah, perhaps the most key prophet in the Old Testament, is our main character.

Elijah has been fleeing the wrath of Jezebel. She was the wife of a really, really bad king (Ahab) who encouraged the worship of idols and the killing of prophets. Elijah was told to travel 40 days to the mountain of God (of note is that Moses also spent 40 days and nights atop this mountain with God).

God tells Elijah to come out of the cave and see the Lord passing by. We find out that the Lord was not in the heavy wind, nor the earthquake, nor the raging fire. God was in the tiny whispering sound. How Elijah knew where God was, we do not know. But when Elijah hears God’s whisper, he wraps his cloak about his face and recognizes God’s mysterious presence.

Do we listen for God in the small quiet spaces of life?

More importantly, do we recognize Him there?

God speaks in the silence.

At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.” 

A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire. 

After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Responsorial Psalm 85: 
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

This psalm was written after the Jews had returned from exile and had been rebuilding the temple and the people of God. They beg to see His kindness and be granted His salvation:

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD — for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

ROM 9:1-5

(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters and speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

Here, Paul is responding to the Jews’ rejection of Christ. This is why he is in “great sorrow and anguish” and continues to speak the truth.

Throughout chapters 9-11 in Romans (we’re at the start of chapter 9), Paul feels rejected because the Jews rejected Christ. He is hurt. Yet Paul does not hold back from the truth that Christ has come for all – even those who have hurt and rejected Christ.

We also see Paul move from sorrow and anguish at the beginning of the reading to praise by the end, “God blessed forever. Amen.”

As Christians we will suffer. We will see Christ rejected on a daily basis. How can we also continue to speak the truth as Paul did? To be vulnerable when others hurt us and speak the truth, and further – love them still?

Brothers and sisters:
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;
my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.

They are Israelites;
theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, is the Christ,
who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

MT 14:22-33

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Oh what a beautiful reading today!

First, we see Jesus go away from the crowds and up to a mountain to pray. Similar to Elijah fleeing Jezebel alone, then heading to a mountain to pray. He finds God in a small whisper.

We can see here that Jesus sought silence so He could speak to His Father. He needed quiet too! Now let’s get to the analogy at work in this reading. It is worth contemplation and for you journalers out there – some journaling:

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

First, we see a boat that was being tossed in the waves. That’s you and me when times are hard. We’ve lost a loved one. Or a job. Or our house. A relationship has gone bad. A child is sick. We are depressed. Our marriages are in a stormy season.

Then Jesus tells Peter to come out of that boat – in the stormy sea – and walk to Him on the water. (What?! Walking on the sea??)

This is where we must know that something greater than us is always at work amidst our storms. The question is – do we see Jesus’s hand outstretched when we are on the water of our storms…or do we start to sink? I know for me, I often start to sink.

Jesus tells them, “Do not be afraid.” Do you know how many times this phrase is used in scripture?

365.

Yep, three hundred and sixty-five times – the same as the number of days in a year. What a powerful message. We are commanded to Be Not Afraid! Just think what might happen in our lives at home, at work, in school in the world if we took Jesus at His word.

Peter sees Jesus but becomes frightened. He doubts and begins to sink. When we doubt God, we too will sink.

Peter cries, “Lord, Save me!”

What does Jesus do now?

Does he watch Peter sink just a little lower to “teach him a lesson.” Does he wait for Peter to realize his wrong? Does he wait until Peter’s chin is submerged but not his nose or eyes? No.

The scripture tells us that Jesus stretched his hand out IMMEDIATELY. Then, once he is safe, he corrects him. This is a lesson for us when someone else wrongs us. Our spouses. Our children. Our family members or friends. Stretch out your hand RIGHT THEN. And later, have the conversation.

Where do we doubt in our faith lives?

Where do we doubt with those we love? We cannot go forward this week without God’s outstretched hand. We can grab hold of His and instead of sinking, STAND. And we can believe!

Believe what you read. Believe what you hear in the scriptures. Believe because it is true. God has chosen us as his own. His hand is outstretched for us right now – immediately.

Our only move needs to be – to grab it. To hold on tight. And not let go.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

||    Today’s Theme is “Comfort”    ||

Reading 1: Isaiah 55: 1-3
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

We are back in Isaiah this week – one of the longest books in scripture. Chapter 55 is, as you might expect, almost the end.

Isaiah is often dubbed “the 5th gospel” because of the immense coverage the writer gives to Christ’s life, death and resurrection. The 2nd half of this book is “The Book of Consolation” (the 1st half is called “The Book of Judgment.”

We can hear the sentiments of consolation in this reading – we are invited to come to the Lord for comfort!

What do you need comfort for this week? See yourself in this reading and know that the Lord is near, and that He deeply desires to stand with us when we need comfort. He is The Great Comforter.

Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!

Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.

Responsorial Psalm: 145
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Listen to the themes of comfort in these beautiful verses, which add to the theme of the first reading.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.

 

2nd reading: Romans 8: 35, 37-39
(The 2nd reading is usually from one Paul’s letters. It speaks to how the early church was built after the passion, death and resurrection of Christ).

We’ve been in the 8th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans for a long time now – today he’s highlighting UNITY. That is the theme of nearly all of Paul’s letters because that was his purpose whenever he wrote…. he wrote letters to cities that were not unified in the church. They were confused about what to do, what to follow, and what to believe. So Paul’s letters to each city were meant to help guide them.

In today’s reading, Paul focuses on the all-conquering power of God’s love.  He talks about how that kind of Love – the Love of Christ – has overcome every obstacle to Christians’ salvation and every threat to separate them from God:

Brothers and sisters:
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
(The Gospel is the Highest Point of the Liturgy of the Word. We are about to be instructed by Christ Himself, and that is why we stand.)

If we think back to the first reading today, it’s all about comfort. Isaiah says (on behalf of God), “Heed me and you shall eat well.”

And today’s gospel is about coming to God for comfort — for comfort food. That’s right, we’re at the loaves and the fishes gospel today. God gives the people some serious comfort food. So much that there are 12 baskets of leftovers! Talk about filling the people’s bellies all the way, right?

The other piece to think about here is that Jesus had withdrawn to a deserted place at the outset of the reading. He’d just heard about the beheading of John the Baptist and went away.

But His people needed Him. The crowds had come to follow him, and when He saw them He knew: The crowds needed comfort.  They needed food – both the sustaining kind of the Earth, and also the everlasting kind of His Body.

Sometimes when we retreat from the world, or from our families, or from our problems, people (or maybe thoughts) follow us. In my case, that is usually children. I want to step away to a quiet place, and 30 seconds later I hear knocking on my door. I sigh.

I try to remember that before too long, no one will be here to knock and need me. They’ll be grown up and moved out with families of their own. But in the moment that is hard to remember sometimes!

But God is always ready to receive us. He is the ultimate Father figure, and whenever we knock, no matter the reason, he is there to comfort us and “fill our bellies” – physically perhaps and always spiritually.

If you could knock on God’s door right now – right this minute – what would you tell Him you need? “God? I need you. I need this thing and I wonder if you’d help me with it please?”

Let’s knock and know the door shall be opened for us.

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me, ”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.

Today’s theme: “An Understanding Heart that Knows Right From Wrong.”

Where in the Bible Are We?
Our 1st reading is from the Book of Kings. God’s people were in a period of relative peace under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon.

Then the kingdom divided.  Today’s OT reading is right after King David died, at the beginning of Solomon’s reign.

1 KINGS  3: 5, 7-12
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

In a dream, God tells Solomon to ask for whatever he wants and the Lord will grant it. Solomon thanks God for his goodness, and rather than asking for riches and power, Solomon requests:

“Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.”

God was so pleased by this humble request and thus granted Solomon not only this desire, but also a “bonus” of wealth and riches. After our reading ends today God tells Solomon:

“In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days. And if you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and commandments, as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

I wish I could stop here and talk non-stop about how King Solomon remained a faithful and humble king, never turning his back on God and using his gifts wisely and for the good of all. But alas that was not to be.

Don’t get me wrong, King Solomon was humble and honorable – he is a key figure of the Old Testament. But he did stray. Old Testament figures and kings are in scripture so that we might ponder our need for a perfect Savior.

Solomon is the imperfect ruler over Israel who prefigures Jesus; Jesus is the only perfect King and will come to rule over all of Israel -over all the Universe. Though imperfectly, Solomon sets an example of WISDOM. Wisdom is embodied perfectly by our Lord and Savior, who IS Himself, Wisdom.

This week, let us ask for the same request Solomon asked. Lord, give me an understanding heart to judge right from wrong, and the grace to live and love as you did.” Full reading:

The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”

The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him:
“Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.”

Responsorial Psalm 119: Lord I Love Your Commands
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Wow! A quick search of psalm 119 shows it is the longest chapter in the entire body of scripture! Who knew?

It is thought to have been written by King David, and some scholars suggest he used it to teach his son – Solomon – the “ABC’s” of the spiritual life.

Note the verses about loving God more than riches, which later in life Solomon – who surrounded himself with more women and riches than one could ever dream – did not do. Fitting indeed.

I have said, O LORD, that my part
is to keep your words.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

For I love your command
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.

Romans 8: 28-30
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

Paul’s letter to the Romans is centered in salvation and justification through faith in Christ. Chapter 8 is one of the most jam-packed chapters.

Paul continues to tell the Romans that the way to Unity in Christ (the theme of all his letters) – is Unity in Christ’s Church on Earth – and we are all justified to belong.

We are all called to His purpose. All called to His family. All destined for Glory in His everlasting Kingdom: Heaven.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.

MT 13:44-52

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

For the 3rd week in a row, we’re back to Jesus’s parables. This week’s imagery? The Kingdom of Heaven is like…

• A treasure in a field
• A merchant searching for fine pearls
• A net thrown into the sea

This week I think of the mystery of scripture. How can it be so complicated and deep and yet so unbelievably simple as today’s gospel is?

Jesus uses everyday images to speak the simplest of messages. He talks to us in our every day vernacular so that His love and His promise of Heaven are plain and easy to understand – with the understanding heart we hope to receive with His grace.

Yet His word can be complicated at the same time; let’s face it, the bible is intimidating and hard.

Or is it?

At the end of the age, Jesus says we will either be with Him in Heaven as the wheat gathered into His barn, or we will find ourselves void of God’s presence and love forever.

Let us ponder today’s simple message and ask God for the grace to understand His ways and the path to Heaven. Let us follow Solomon’s example and ask for “an understanding heart.”

 

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household
who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today’s Theme:  “The Greatness of God” and “The Gift of Heaven.”

R1 Wisdom: 12-13, 16-19
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

We hear from the book of Wisdom in the First Reading. The Book of Wisdom was written about 50 years before the coming of Christ.

This book tells us quite literally, of the wisdom of King Solomon. It’s as if someone sat down to write “the best of” when it came to Solomon’s wise sayings and perspectives.

Wisdom helps us try to grasp one of the greatest of the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Fear of the Lord. This is not “fear” as in to be afraid, but rather awe.

The main message of the book of Wisdom is to prepare us to see the world and others as God created them (with great love) and to reflect on His perfect creation and His mercy.

Today? We see how great and all-powerful God is; a constant reminder that He is and ought to be at the helm, guiding our every move. We must trust Him!

There is no god besides you who have the care of all,
that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.
For your might is the source of justice;
your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.

For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved;
and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity.
But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency,
and with much lenience you govern us;
for power, whenever you will, attends you.

And you taught your people, by these deeds,
that those who are just must be kind;
and you gave your children good ground for hope
that you would permit repentance for their sins.

Responsorial Psalm 86
“Lord, you are good and forgiving.”
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

You, O LORD, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.

All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O LORD,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.

You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.
Turn toward me, and have pity on me;
give your strength to your servant.

R2 – ROMANS 8:26-27
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the passion, death and resurrection).

Reading 2 is from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, and speaks again about the spirit vs. the flesh, reminding us to be of the former.

The Spirit WILL come to our aid in our weakness. Where do you need help from the Spirit this week? Let us let The Spirit be our Guide when we don’t know what to pray for.

Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.

And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God’s will.

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

The Gospel, though long, is beautiful this week. The Kingdom of Heaven is a MAJOR theme in Matthew’s gospel. The wording above that is underlined is important…

Matthew’s audience was the Jewish people. Many orthodox Jews would not speak or say the name “God.”  When writing, they might substitute letters or syllables, for example, writing “G-d” instead of “God.”

The Jews would reject both Matthew and his message if he said “Kingdom of God.”
Matthew knew this. Instead, he spoke of the “Kingdom of Heaven.”

Today, Jesus speaks in parables to the crowds (generalities) and then cracks them open for deeper meaning for his disciples (specifics).

This week, be a stalk of wheat and not a weed. Be a mustard seed that can grow into a beautiful, large bush in which birds can live. This image reminded me of parenting, and how we are called to be the tree for our children until it is time to let them spread their wings.

But one thing we are never to let go of is God’s word. God’s word is the root of our tree, the trunk, and every piece of that growing tree. We are called live our lives so that we can shine like the sun in the kingdom of Our Father.

Who (or what) are you in these parables?

“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

May God Bless Your Week!

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened
to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.

The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’
His slaves said to him,
‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.

Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
‘First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

He proposed another parable to them.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

He spoke to them another parable.
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.
He spoke to them only in parables,
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation
of the world.

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.

The weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.

They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.

Going through something hard in your life right now? A tough decision? Illness? Challenging relationships? Financial hardships?

Today’s theme is “Be Not Afraid.”
This rendition was done by professional artists during Covid-19.

 

Hear the words from the prophet Jeremiah, St. Paul and Jesus. They all say the same thing: “Be Not Afraid for God is with me always.”

JER 20:10-13

(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

We’re in Jeremiah today, one of the four major prophets (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel). Jeremiah has a very tough job. God called him to warn the Israelites that they would go into exile and be attacked by the Babylonians if they didn’t turn back to God.

Today we hear Jeremiah’s self-talk. He’s in conversation with himself and God about the hardships he is enduring: (“I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!’). He talks himself down and then up again, recalling God is with him: (“But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion”).

Hear his words today and remember than when you feel others are closing on you from all sides, God is with you, too, “like a mighty champion.”

Responsorial Psalm 69
Lord, in your great love, answer me.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

This psalm is truly a “response” to Jeremiah in the first reading.  It’s almost as if you can hear him saying these things to God as he tries to convince the Israelites to turn back to God. He may as well have written the psalm himself!

For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my children,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.

I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness;
in your great mercy turn toward me.

ROM 5:12-15

(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the passion, death and resurrection).

The book of Romans is Paul’s longest letter. It’s packed. Today we’re in the first major section where Paul tells those in Rome that they are in desperate need of a savior. This is the same message from Jeremiah:

• Jeremiah told the Israelites that due to their sins and rejections of God, they are in desperate need of God or they’d be cast into exile by the Babylonians.
• Paul tells us that we are a sinful people and if we reject Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we’ll find ourselves in exile as well (e.g. not enjoying the Heavenly banquet God has prepared for us).

Another similarity is that Jeremiah started out with a negative message (they torment me) and moved to a positive one (God is at my side). Paul does the same saying that we are in sin because of Adam, but ends with hope:  “If by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many?”

MT 10:26-33
(The Gospel is the Highest Point of the Liturgy of the Word. We are about to be instructed by Christ Himself, and that is why we stand )

Today’s gospel is particularly beautiful in light of the above readings. It is almost as if Jesus is speaking not just to us today and his disciples, but also directly to Jeremiah who tries to defend God in Babylon and to those in Rome who ought to listen to St. Paul. Jesus tells all who defend him to Be Not Afraid:

“Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

In closing? Defend the Lord your God at all times. Know that He is with you always. Remember that you need his saving grace. In time he will reveal what we see as concealed.

The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today’s theme:
Today we celebrate the most sacred part of our faith: The Eucharist. The theme could also be viewed as OLD covenant, NEW covenant. The OLD covenant was finite and temporary. The NEW covenant is infinite and everlasting.

DEUTERONOMY 8:2-3, 14B-16A
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

In this reading, Moses reminds the people of all the great works God did for his people, specifically the manna in the desert. He said that food was “A food unknown to your fathers.” He says that twice, in fact. Why is that repeated? What does it mean?

God made a covenant with the Old Testament people. A covenant is like a marriage vow. It is permanent and forever. Just as a husband woos his bride, God, in a sense, “wooed” his people – his “bride” Israel. He showed them his mighty arm as he saved them from Egypt, split the sea, and sent manna as food and water from the rock. The covenant – the wedding vow between God and his people – was the 10 commandments.

All these things, however, are incomplete and temporary. They gave the Israelites a glimpse of what was to come in the NEW covenant, the one Jesus established on the cross. The one we participate in when we approach the Banquet of the Eucharist at every mass.

Moses said to the people:
“Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God,
has directed all your journeying in the desert,
so as to test you by affliction
and find out whether or not it was your intention
to keep his commandments.
He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger,
and then fed you with manna,
a food unknown to you and your fathers,
in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.

“Do not forget the LORD, your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
that place of slavery;
who guided you through the vast and terrible desert
with its saraph serpents and scorpions,
its parched and waterless ground;
who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock
and fed you in the desert with manna,
a food unknown to your fathers.”

Psalm 147: “Praise the Lord Jerusalem”
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

1 CORINTHIANS 10:16-17
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters.  It speaks to how the early church built The Church after the passion, death and resurrection).

This week the reading is short:

Brothers and sisters:
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.

Ultimately, this summarizes for us what our Catholic faith is to us: It is the Eucharist, which is the SOURCE and SUMMIT of our faith.

Paul wrote to an audience in Corinth that did not have full 100% understanding of the Eucharist. Many faithful still practiced Old Testament practices. There was confusion.

Here Paul speaks clearly and re-iterates that when we partake of the Eucharist, we participate in the New Covenant Jesus left. The one he instituted at the Last Supper. The one that opens the gates of Heaven for us as we aim for eternal life. 

Gospel: John 6:51-58

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Arguably one of the most contentious speeches in John’s gospel, we are in John 6. This is known as the Bread of Life Discourse. As Catholics, we take Jesus’s command to eat his body and drink his blood literally. This command is not symbolic. Why?

In the Old Testament, Jewish believers showed their faithfulness to God by doing as God commanded – by eating the flesh of an unblemished, sacrificed lamb. That was how the people showed that they were a covenant people.

This OLD Testament act was incomplete in a sense,
meaning more would come when Jesus entered the picture and walked the earth.

The NEW Covenant ushered in by Christ fulfills the OLD. That happened at the Last Supper.

Jesus commanded the disciples to eat his flesh and drink his blood instead of that of a lamb – because He IS that sacrificial lamb. He turned the page from the OLD covenant to the NEW. The old is gone, and the new is here until Jesus comes again.

We are called to participate with Jesus at the Last Supper when we attend mass. We do not, as some suppose “re-kill” Jesus at mass each week. Through Divine Intervention, we are all transported back to that same Last Supper. We are united with Christ in the upper room, with all who have gone before us, and with all the saints and angels

Today, let us give thanks and praise to God for the gift of the New Covenant, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ! May it lead us to eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Fun Fact:
1. We’re back in Ordinary Time – the color is green in our churches now.
2. It’s summer break. My 4 kids are home with me all day, every day. I apologize the posts lately have been late! I’ll try to post earlier in the coming weeks. 🙂

1st Reading – Exodus 34: 4B-6, 8-9
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

In today’s story, the Lord commands Moses to go BACK up the mountain to get 2 more stone tablets, 2 more tablets with the commandments on them. Why? Because we’re at the point in the story when God had already done that once with Moses, but the people were impatient. They didn’t know why it took so long for Moses to come back to them from atop the mountain.

What was he doing?
When would he come back?
What was wrong?

These may have been their thoughts. So the people, instead of being patient, built a golden calf to worship. This was such a grave sin that it is deemed “The Second Fall” (the first Fall being that of Adam and Eve).

In the reading though, we are after that “Second Fall.” God requests Moses’s presence again. God did not give up on His people, He gave the tablets AGAIN. He gave them a second chance.

Moses hears God say, “The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”

1. Have you ever been impatient with God? When?
2. What did you do to pass the time? Did you “build a golden calf” or were you patient and waiting on the Lord’s timing?
3. Does someone in your life need a second chance to try again?

Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai
as the LORD had commanded him,
taking along the two stone tablets.

Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there
and proclaimed his name, “LORD.”
Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,
“The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”
Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.
Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O Lord,
do come along in our company.
This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins,
and receive us as your own.”

Psalm – Deuteronomy 3: Glory and Praise Forever!
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

The response today comes not from the book of psalms, but from the book of Deuteronomy. This is fitting because in the first reading God gave Moses the law (the tablets) for the second time. “Deuteronomy” literally means “second giving of the law.”

2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters.  It speaks to how the early church built The Church after the, death and resurrection).

These verses come at the tail end of Paul’s second letter to those in Corinth. The people there, the church there, was divided.

Paul works to unite them again, and he drives the point home up until the very end of the letter with these words:

Brothers and sisters, rejoice.
Mend your ways, encourage one another,
agree with one another, live in peace,
and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the holy ones greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

1. With whom do you need to mend ways? Whom can you encourage this week?
2. Do you live in a peaceful home? How do you contribute to peace there? To strife?

Gospel – John 3: 16-18
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Today we hear one of the most famous gospel verses – John 3:16. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

When God gave us Jesus, Jesus eventually left us with the Holy Spirit here on Earth. These three make up our trinitarian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Three in One.

Though not prompted by anything in particular, but knowing its popularity among the masses (at football games, for example), I sat in adoration a ways back thinking of this verse.

The part that stood out was the words “the world.”

God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His only son.

He didn’t love some and not others, young but not old, good but not bad – He loves them ALL. He so loved the world – past, present, future – that He gave us Jesus.

That’s an immense love. I felt small thinking about that. I am a mere grain of sand in God’s world, and yet to Him I am more precious than gold.

So are you. So is every being He created. And He gave us Jesus so we might be led back to the Father through His son.

1. When is the last time you pondered God’s love for you?
2. How can you respond to that love? Are you working toward eternal life with God in Heaven?

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Feast of Pentecost (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because feeling smart about scripture is fun.

 

Buckle up! Today is packed with meaning.

Where in the liturgical year are we?

Today we celebrate Pentecost, which marks the end of the Easter season. In the image above, we are at the black line between “Easter” and “Ordinary Time.”

“Ordinary” does not mean plain, it means ordinal, as in, “in a numbered fashion.” After today,  we return to Old Testament readings for R1, and for Reading 2 we will hear from one of St. Paul’s letters. Because we are in year A, we will continue to hear from Matthew.

Pentecost originated in the Old Testament; it was called the Feast of Harvest. “Pente” + “Cost” translates loosely to “fiftieth (50th).”

Here’s why that matters. Stay with me:

Fun fact:
For the Jews, Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits. This feast marks the day the people gave an offering to the Lord from their first fruits (from the best, heartiest foods they’d grown).

For us today, Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Jesus was crucified. This begs the question, how was Jesus’s death considered a first fruit? Well, if a first fruit is an offering, then Jesus’s death certainly was an offering of his life for our sins.

Reading 1: Acts 2:1-11
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel. During the Easter season the 1st reading is Acts of the Apostles.)

Today we see the gift Jesus left for his people after He Ascends into Heaven – the Holy Spirit. It comes as boldly as ever – in the form of fire. You may recall that in the OT, God’s presence is represented by both Cloud & Fire.

Today it’s all about FIRE.

• God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush.
• When Moses led the Israelites through the desert he was guided by a fire at night.
• God signed a contract with Abraham using fire.

Fire is not always destructive, but as in this case, fire is a sign of God’s intense love for his people.

The reading begins by stating “they were all in one place together.” This is similar to the Feast of Pentecost from the OT, which was a pilgrim feast. Then we hear that a noise like a strong driving wind, and “there appeared to them tongues as a fire which came to rest on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the spirit enabled them.” People from all lands were able to speak their own native languages and yet … understand everyone around them.

This is the complete opposite of the Tower of Babel story from the OT. In that story, God’s people tried to build a tower that would reach the heavens so that they could be more like God. In response to this sinful act, God mixed up their languages so they couldn’t understand each other. Today’s reading is the resolution of that story. The Tower of Babel story is flipped on its head, and now as the Holy Spirit comes down upon the apostles. Everyone can understand one another and there is peace and harmony among the people, as well as great joy. A perfect example of how the OT is the “question” and the NT is the “answer.”

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”

Responsorial Psalm 104:
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)
“Lord send out your spirit and renew the face of the Earth.”

If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters.  During Easter we hear from St. Peter. The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the life death and resurrection).

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is written to help the early church understand the need for Unity. Many of the Corinthians used to be pagans and idolaters.

The reading encourages them to remember that despite our differences we are one in God’s Holy Spirit. That Spirit has been poured out upon the apostles today – the Feast of Pentecost. Paul takes note of the differences we all have and says they all are good. Importantly, these differences do not negate our oneness because all of our ministries are inspired and guided by God.

Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Reflect:
What are your specific gifts from God?
How are you using those to bring glory to God?

(At this point during the mass, many parishes will sing the Veni sancte spiritus which translates Come Holy Spirit. This is also frequently song during confirmation masses.)

Gospel: John 20: 19-23
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

 “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst. He said to them “Peace be with you.’ when he had said this he showed them his hands and his side. He said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me so I send you.’ When he said this he breathed on them and said receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Two things happen in this reading:
1) The sacrament of penance is instituted, and
2) We see a “sending forth” of Jesus’s first priests.

The apostles were asked to carry Christ’s message to the whole world, including His forgiveness. These priests and all priests today are ambassadors for Christ in a special way.

I’ve struggled with John 20:23 – the part about retaining sins. Maybe you have too, and maybe this will help. From Catholic.com:

• “Q: Does a priest always have to forgive a person’s sins?
• A: No, the priest does not always have to forgive your sins. For example, if you confessed the sin of adultery, and the priest asks, “Have you ended the affair?” If you reply, “No, I’ll continue seeing her,” then forgiveness would not be possible because there is no purpose of amendment. A contrite heart – true sorrow for having offended God – is the key.

The advantages of reconciliation are many. From Catholic.com:

Is the Catholic who confesses his sins to a priest any better off than the non-Catholic who confesses directly to God? Yes. First, he seeks forgiveness the way Christ intended. Second, by confessing to a priest, the Catholic learns a lesson in humility, which is avoided when one confesses only through private prayer. Third, the Catholic receives sacramental graces the non-Catholic doesn’t get; through the sacrament of penance sins are forgiven and graces are obtained. Fourth, the Catholic is assured that his sins are forgiven; he does not have to rely on a subjective “feeling.” Lastly, the Catholic can also obtain sound advice on avoiding sin in the future.

When is the last time you went to confession?

If it has been a long time, what exactly is holding you back? 

Pray for the courage to go. Our Lord, waits patiently for us!

6th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today’s theme is “Joy in the Lord.”

Fun Fact:
The verse right before our first reading today has Saul (who becomes St. Paul in the next chapter) persecuting the Church. “But Saul laid waste the Church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” He actually sounds like the angel of death God sent on the night of Passover, who also went “house to house” killing their first-born sons.

1st Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel. During the Easter season the 1st reading is Acts of the Apostles.)

Here we see the apostles as they spread the faith, despite acts from people like Saul. Phillip proclaims the Christ in Samaria. He performed miracles that converted many souls. Notably, these miracles brought great joy to the city.  Once converted in Samaria, Peter and John were sent down to the church St. Philip had converted and brought the fullness of the Holy Spirit [read: confirmation].

The key to this reading in my mind is the joy in the city. The Word of God always brings inexplicable joy.

1. How have you experienced inexplicable joy in your life?
2. How have you been a “Philip” to others this past week? Or has someone brought the Word to you in a new way?

Responsorial Psalm 66: “Let all the Earth cry out to God with joy.”
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Again, hear the joy in this psalm! The joy of living according to God never ends – we must but choose it!

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”

“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.

2nd reading: 1 PT 3:15-18
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. During Easter we hear from St. Peter. The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the,  death and resurrection).

My first thought when seeing this reading and the line, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,” is this web site:  http://thereasonforourhope.org/category/homilies/

A few years ago, as my penance, a priest handed me a CD of a talk given by a Fr. Larry Richards of Erie, PA. I’ve been hooked on Fr. Larry ever since, and his non-profit called the “A Reason for Our Hope Foundation.” He brings this very verse to life in his ministry. He is now a frequent host on EWTN and I love his sharp, humorous style. I sometimes go to the above web site for his 10-minute homily (he records it every week) to hear the gospel from another perspective.

Always be ready to give a reason for YOUR hope. As St. Peter says, do it with gentleness and reverence. “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.”

Think about that – it is better to suffer for doing GOOD, than for doing evil.

1. What does that verse mean to you? What is the Reason for Your Hope in God, in Catholicism?
2. How have you suffered for doing good?

John 14: 15-21
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

A reminder that in John’s gospel, we hear a lot about Jesus and his relationship with God the Father. We read that they are one, and that our way to the Father is through Jesus.

Read and listen to this reading though. How many times do you see the words “I”, “you,” “the Father”, “through”, and “me”? A LOT. It is almost dizzying to hear it read. I think that’s telling in and of itself. The Father and Jesus are so much “one” that we cannot tell one from the other. They are the same, two sides of the same coin, two parts of the same trinity.

We also hear about The Advocate here, which is the third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Advocate acts for us on Earth NOW. He guides the Church. He was left for us by Jesus when he ascended into heaven (The Ascension is next weekend).

The point? If we love Jesus and obey his commandments, He will reveal himself to us. We will experience Jesus and He will show himself to us in new ways – ways that help us better understand why He created us, what our purpose is, and how we can best serve Him. Now that, is great JOY.

1. How has Jesus revealed himself to us in our lives thus far?
2. Which commandments do we struggle to obey that might separate us from our Triune God? As for the grace to follow God always.

3rd Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Fun fact:
The section we hear in the first reading is from Acts chapter 2. Some scholars suggest it is the first time the gospel is publicly proclaimed after the resurrection. That’s pretty cool. We see Peter in a more mature state then during the Passion when he rejected Jesus.

1st Reading – ACTS 2:14, 22-33
(The 1st Reading always links to the Gospel.
During the Easter season it comes from Acts of the Apostles.)

Just a few verses prior to this reading, the apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Now, a more mature and courageous Peter addresses the crowd before him. We start in verse 14 and skip to verse 22.

(In the missing verses, Peter recounts how God “will pour out his Spirit upon all of his sons and daughters” and that “they shall prophesy” on his behalf.  Peter reminds the crowd what happened during the crucifixion and that Jesus was “killed at the hands of lawless men.”)

Then Peter does something interesting.

He speaks of King David and quotes Psalm 16, which David penned. In this hymn, David rejoices and praise for preservation from death. Peter here tells the crowds that though David died, his prayer is fulfilled in the Messiah – the only one to have risen from the dead untouched by sin.

Essentially, Peter draws a clear comparison for his audience that Jesus the Christ has fulfilled the Old Testament promise of David. He is connecting the dots for them, whilst calling them to be sons and daughters and help spread the good news.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and proclaimed:
“You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.
Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
You who are Israelites, hear these words.
Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God
with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs,
which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.
This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,
you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,
because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
For David says of him:
I saw the Lord ever before me,
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.

“My brothers, one can confidently say to you
about the patriarch David that he died and was buried,
and his tomb is in our midst to this day.
But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him
that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,
he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,
that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld
nor did his flesh see corruption.
God raised this Jesus;
of this we are all witnesses.
Exalted at the right hand of God,
he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father
and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”

Reflect:
1. How are we like Peter? Where in our lives have we been spiritually immature and, perhaps by calling on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, how did we then mature?

2. Which gifts of the Holy Spirit will help us most in the week ahead?

Responsorial Psalm 16: “you will show me the path of life”
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

​This psalm is a slam dunk on two accounts.

First, it is the same psalm Peter quoted in the first reading from David. Secondly, the response verse speaks about “the path of life.”

This foreshadows the Gospel reading, the road to Emmaus,  which serves an the archetype of the path of our faith lives as we journey to the gates of Heaven.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.

Reflect:
1. Read the psalm all the way through. Which resonates most with you?

2ND READING: 1 PT 1:17-21
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. Today it’s from Peter. It speaks to how the early church spread the Word of Christ after his passion, death and resurrection).

Hearing again from Peter and his first letter, the audience – both then and now – is being called to holiness. Immediately before the first verse we here at mass, Peter said, “you shall be holy for I am holy.” He’s not referring to himself. This is a quote from the book of Leviticus which was repeated multiple times to the Israelites (due to their stubborn hearts of stone).

Here, Peter wants us to know that God also expects holiness from his people not just in the Old Covenant, but in the New Covenant, too.  We are reminded that we were ransomed by the precious blood of Christ died for our sins. We are to love one another earnestly with soft hearts of flesh (OT reference) not hard hearts of stone (NT reference).

 

Beloved:
If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially
according to each one’s works,
conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning,
realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct,
handed on by your ancestors,
not with perishable things like silver or gold
but with the precious blood of Christ
as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

He was known before the foundation of the world
but revealed in the final time for you,
who through him believe in God
who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,
so that your faith and hope are in God.

Reflect:
1. Where in our lives can we become more holy? What leads us into temptation, and how can we become more aware?
2. When in our lives have we exhibited hearts of stone like the Israelites, and what was the outcome? When in our lives have we exhibited compassionate hearts of flesh, and what was the outcome?

Gospel: LK 24:13-35
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

The Road to Emmaus

​Today we have the road to Emmaus, one of my all-time favorite stories. There is so much meaning it is difficult to unpack it all here. I hope your homilist cracks it open for you. Key pieces:

• It’s Easter morning. The two who walk with Jesus do not recognize Him.
• The irony: They ask, “Are you the only one who doesn’t know what happened this weekend?” Reality: Jesus is the only one who DOES know what happened!
• We see here The First Mass. How?
  • Jesus preached the Word “beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” He did this for the 7 mile walk – talk about an in-depth bible study! This corresponds to the Liturgy of the Word. We hear from the Old Testament, often the prophets, and a priest interprets the gospel, which concerns Jesus’s teachings. 
  • Then the two said, “Stay with us!” Jesus did. He then took bread and blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. This corresponds to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Jesus feeds us with his body and blood, in the form of bread and wine. 

The key here is that the eyes of the two travelers were only opened once they were fed Jesus’s body and blood at table. Before that, they did not fully recognize Him. What did they say after receiving Eucharist?

“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road?”

This speaks so clearly to the Church’s position that it is the Eucharist that is the source and summit of our lives. It is what makes the Catholic faith the fullness of Christ’s Church. Without it, we cannot see nor recognize Him fully.

Reflect:

1. Do we truly believe the Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives? How can we increase our devotion to this sacrament?

2. How does this story change if we assume the two on the road with Jesus are husband and wife, bride and groom? Where else is there marital language in the scriptures?

3. Where am I on my “road to Emmaus?” Do I allow God to walk with me for miles and miles, speaking and preaching to me all that He is? How and when can I invite Him to walk with me more this week?

That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus’ disciples were going
to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,
Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them,
“What are you discussing as you walk along?”
They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,
“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem
who does not know of the things
that have taken place there in these days?”
And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”
They said to him,
“The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over
to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;
and besides all this,
it is now the third day since this took place.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:
they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his body;
they came back and reported
that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
who announced that he was alive.
Then some of those with us went to the tomb
and found things just as the women had described,
but him they did not see.”
And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are!
How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
and enter into his glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
he interpreted to them what referred to him
in all the Scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going,
he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, “Stay with us,
for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”
So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,
but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us
while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem
where they found gathered together
the eleven and those with them who were saying,
“The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”
Then the two recounted
what had taken place on the way
and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Palm Sunday (Year B)

Welcome Back!

Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.

This week’s several themes come to mind:

1. Obedience.
2. Fulfillment of the scriptures.
3. Jesus, the Suffering Servant.
4. Walking with Christ to Calvary.

The Procession:

In this reading (read from the back of the church), Jesus enters Jerusalem. He comes to the city where he will be wrongly accused, put to death, and fulfill the mission for which He was sent. The colt Jesus demands is one without blemish and it has not been ridden. That means it was fit for sacred use.

Zechariah prophesied: “Behold; your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble, and riding on a donkey,” (1 Kgs 1:33-44). The people knew what they saw when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. With palms in hand, they were experiencing a prophetic fulfillment happening right before their eyes.

Thus the words of praise they all exclaim. “Glory in the highest!”

Fun Fact:
There are 4 “Servant Songs” in these chapters of Isaiah:
1) Isaiah 42
2) Isaiah 49
3) Isaiah 50 (we’re in this one today)
4) Isaiah 52

1st Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

The Servant Songs describe the service, suffering, and exaltation of a figure named, “the Servant of the Lord.”

• Songs 1 and 2 name Israel as “the servant.” This servant failed in its mission.
• Songs 3 and 4 talk about the Messiah to come; this “servant” faithfully completes all the work He is given to do.

This reading and the psalm are vivid and intense. They usher us into the deep pain we will read about in the gospel as Christ is crucified. We are invited to see the relationship between God the Father and Israel (his chosen son).

• In the Old Testament, God provided for and protected his Chosen Son, Israel.
• In the New Testament, God calls His Chosen Son Jesus to take on the sins of all people – past, present and future.
• A loving and protective Father hates when his son is picked on or bullied. He wants to shield him. He wants to toss all enemies aside. Think about this as you listen.
• We are hearing the Old Testament prophecy of what the Messiah will face when Christ travels to Calvary. The servant in this servant song is Christ. He will take on the sins of Israel plus the Gentiles. Beaten and bloodied, He willingly takes upon himself the guilt of us all. That is a love that knows no bounds.

Response Psalm 22: “My God, my God Why Have You Abandoned Me?”
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

The sadness in this psalm is palpable. How unbelievable that this Old Testament writing so perfectly matches what Jesus experiences on the cross.

The psalm talks of “Israel” being saved; Jesus will save both Israel and the Gentiles. The Old Testament clearly predicts the New.

2nd Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. It speaks to how the early church spread the Word of Christ after his passion, death and resurrection).

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi – a people who were retired Roman military. They had fought in battle after battle for an earthly commander. Paul writes to this audience using beautiful military imagery and calls them to be soldiers for their Heavenly Commander, God.

The takeaway for me in this reading has to do with the phrase:

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.

Jesus rights all of Adam’s wrongs from the garden. Everything Adam (and Eve) did wrong that got us into this whole mess – Jesus corrects.

• Eve grasped for the fruit of the tree so that she could acquire equality with God. She disobeyed, and Adam her spouse, did nothing to stop her.
• Jesus did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped. Jesus obeyed, and reversed the damage of original sin by sacrificing his life for us. He righted Adam and Eve’s wrong.

GOSPEL: MARK’S ACCOUNT OF THE PASSION

MK 14:1—15:47 

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

There’s so much here to unpack, so I offer a few thoughts.

1. We hear at the beginning, the story of the woman with the alabastar jar who anoints Jesus’s head with oil. The very expensive, nearly priceless oil – she give her ALL to Jesus. In what ways do we give our all to Jesus, and in what ways do we hold back? Salvation and abundant blessing is Christ’s promise to us when we do give our all.
2. Peter denied Christ three times. We all deny Christ in small ways, sometimes big ways. God’s mercy is endless and without limits. When we come to him with contrite hearts to touch his cloak, our sins are but a drop of water in his ocean of mercy. A drop of water! One of the precepts of the Church is to make a good confession once a year. Find out where you can attend confession before Easter in your city or town.
3. We’re called to walk the journey with Jesus when we stand and hear this gospel. Take time today and this week to travel with Christ. Don’t become overwhelmed by details and scriptural knowledge; just walk with Him. Ask Him to reach you with whatever part of His passion he wants to. Ask Him, “Lord, what shall I take from this reading today? What thought exercise do I need in my life? Lord grant me the ears to hear and the eyes to see. I want to fully experience this journey with you. Hold my hand and I’ll hold yours, show me the way to a deeper love with you this Holy Week. I want only to remain by your side.”

Then wait, and listen.  May God bless your Holy Week.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Our theme today again – Be Watchful! The Lord is Coming. Stay Awake!

PRV 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

The seven books of scripture that are categorized as “Wisdom Literature” include Wisdom of Solomon, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Song of Songs, Job and Proverbs.

• Last week we were in Wisdom; this week we’re in Proverbs.
• Last week the “she” was “Wisdom;” this week the “she” is “a worthy wife.”
• Last week we talked about Brides and Grooms. We learned that “Wisdom” is espoused to “God,” and “The Church” is espoused to “Christ.”
• Today we see the earthly covenant of “Bride” and “Groom” as in “Wife” and “Husband.”

Where are you in this scripture reading? If you are married, what can you glean from these words? If you seek marriage, rest in these words to find the mate who can fulfill these characteristics.

As Christians -whether man or woman – we can all try harder to be the “Bride” (the Church) that God calls us to be – the honor the covenant we entered at our baptisms.

When one finds a worthy wife,
her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,
has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil,
all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax
and works with loving hands.
The woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward for her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

Responsorial Psalm – Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Today we more about wives in our responsorial psalm. I love this psalm; with 4 children ages 8, 10, 12, and 14, I daydream about a day when they will call come home for holiday dinners “like olive plants around our table.”

May God grant our family the grace to make such a scene possible!

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.

1 THES 5:1-6

(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

In the 2nd half of this letter, Paul takes on an encouraging theme. He wants those reading the letter to know their citizenship with God is NOT on Earth (he speaks to Veterans of War actually), but their citizenship with God is in Heaven. Listen for the themes of darkness and light. We are Children of the Light!

The theme? Be Ready. He Will Come Like a Thief in the Night.

For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord
will come like a thief at night.

Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief at night.
When people are saying, “Peace and security,”
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.

MT 25:14-30

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Today’s gospel is about the master who gives 5, 2 and 1 talents (currency of the day, but a double entendre of course, as we can read this gospel and consider our God-given “talents).

We all know this story. The one with 5 goes out and makes 5 more. The worker with 2 goes out and makes 2 more. The man with 1 went and buried his talent in the ground. The master – God personified – calls him a “wicked, lazy servant” who is thrown out, called “useless” and is ultimately locked out.

The message is simple.

• What are your talents? Do you sing, dance, counsel, listen, or study well?
• What are you doing with the talents? Spending them, saving them (for what?), or burying them?
•  More importantly, what is God calling you to do with your talents? He gave you those talents for a specific reason. The reason is to build up His Kingdom. When is the last time you asked Him how you’re doing with your talents?

This week go to God. Ask HIM for strength and courage to use your talents better this Advent season and beyond. He WILL tell you!

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.

“After a long time
the master of those servants came back
and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents came forward
bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.

Fun Fact #1:
Who was Cyrus (mentioned in Reading 1)? Cyrus was the king of Persia. The Persians were an enormous, powerful army.  All you really need to know is that after generations of bad kings who sought to harm the Jewish people, Cyrus was a “light among the darkness.” In the first year of his reign, he issued the decree of liberation to the Jews. He made a decree that the Temple should be rebuilt so that the Jews should be free to return to their land. Thank God for Cyrus!

Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Notice how the Lord grasps the hand of Cyrus, his anointed one. The Lord blesses Cyrus for being a beacon of light to his people on His behalf. The Lord says here that he has called Cyrus by name; he has called us ALL by name. Do we grasp His hand?

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:

For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel, my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.

I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.

Responsorial Psalm 96: Give the Lord Glory and Honor.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

This beautiful psalm sounds like exactly what the people of Israel would have said to God and to Cyrus. Because Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their land and rebuild the temple, they were so grateful! So full of thanksgiving!

Listen to the psalm as if it is the Jews speaking to Cyrus and to God. This last verse picks up images of last week’s reading when we were asked to be “dressed” for the banquet of Heaven:

Worship the LORD, in holy attire;
tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations: The LORD is king,
he governs the peoples with equity.

1 Thessalonians 1: 1:-5B
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

Today we have the very first 5 verses of Paul’s first letter to those in Thessalonica. Paul’s letters are just like the letters you and I write to our loved ones. They have an introduction/greeting, the “meat” of the letter or the content, lesson to be learned, and then a conclusion.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace.

We give thanks to God always for all of you,
remembering you in our prayers,
unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love
and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father,
knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God,
how you were chosen.

For our gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. 

The underlined piece of the reading, if ever you are looking for it, shows how God’s plan for us did not ONLY come through words (or Scripture, the Bible), but also through Tradition and the Magisterium.

These three – Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium – these are the 3 legged stool on which the Catholic Church stands. This is what sets us apart from our Protestant brothers and sisters who stand on Scripture alone.

Matthew 22: 15-21
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Catching the Pharisees in hypocrisy, Jesus holds the coin with Caesar’s image.

Today we have a potentially confusing reading. Let’s unpack it bit by bit. You know the one I mean, the one that ends with this verse: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.”

1. The reading begins with the Pharisees wanting to trap Jesus and find fault in him.
2. They addressed him as Teacher and said, “you are a truthful man; you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. (This is all said to “butter him up.”) Tell us, then, is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
3. Jesus responds. He knows the malice of their hearts, their intent to trap Him. He draws back the veil between them, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.”
4. They handed him the Roman coin. He said “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.”
5. Jesus brings the insight forward: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

What just happened? Actually, Jesus played a joke of sorts on his questioners.

In order to get this “first century joke”, you have to know 2 things. 1) Jesus is having this conversation in the temple. And 2) in the temple? There are no graven images allowed – because it would suggest idolatry. So after Jesus is challenged, he says to them:

“Hey wait a minute, why don’t you show me that coin in your pocket? The one you pay taxes with?”

Then the Pharisees show him a coin with Caesar’s head on it – which they are not allowed to have in the temple. In this moment, picture their faces turning beet red and realizing – “Doh! We’ve been had.”

Ultimately, the Pharisees are all show but no heart. We see this example yet again today, when they are supposedly a righteous people but so consumed with detail that they fail to see the bigger picture.

Summary:
In today’s first reading God chooses Cyrus and blesses him who will be a beacon of light for his people. The gospel shows us the hypocrisy that can creep in when we go against God’s plan and choose our own “gods”, our own graven images. We are always better off going with God’s originial plan and giving him “Glory and Honor” as our psalm says!

The Pharisees went off
and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,
“Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion,
for you do not regard a person’s status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax.”
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”
They replied, “Caesar’s.”
At that he said to them,
“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today’s key theme is “Forgiveness.”

The king forgives the servant’s debt.

 

Fun Fact:
The seven books of scripture that are categorized as “Wisdom Literature” include Wisdom of Solomon, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Song of Songs, Job and Proverbs.

 

 

Fun Facts about the book of Sirach (today’s 1st reading):

• Sirach was written ~200 years before Christ. God’s chosen people were ruled by the Greeks at that time, in another sort of Exile. Without a king of their own, and the presence of God no longer in the temple, the people felt lost.
•  The people felt God was far away from them. (I’ve felt this way before, have you?) So what did they do? They sought signs of God’s presence,  and direction on how to recognize him,  how to live as godly people. Sirach is a “how to” book so we can do the same now. Time to dig in.

Sirach: 27:30-28:7
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

The book of Sirach answers the question, “How do I live wisely?”

In last week’s reading, we were challenged to “speak up” on God’s behalf. Ths week we hear advice on how to live wisely. So many excellent pieces are here and suitable for prayerful contemplation before the blessed Sacrament, or just self-reflection while driving. A portion here (bolded phrases foreshadow our gospel):

Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.
The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice;
then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.

Remember your last days, set enmity aside;
remember death and decay, and cease from sin!
Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor;
remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.

Who in your life are you working to forgive?
Do you expect forgiveness from God but hold back from giving it to others?
Ask God to help you model his mercy.

Responsorial psalm 103:
The Lord is Kind and Merciful, slow to anger and rich in compassion.
(The Psalm is a response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

This is my favorite psalm, in fact I am often found humming it around the house often with a lot of…”pep” shall we say? (I’m not kidding when I say that my kids know to choose this for my funeral … guaranteed smiles.)

The most simple of messages from this well-known psalm. The Lord is Kind. And He is Ever-Merciful. No matter how far we stray or for how long, He will always, always ALWAYS take us back. For He is Kind and Merciful, slow to anger and rich – overflowing actually – in compassion. How can we model these traits this week?

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.

Romans 14: 7-9
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

This is a reading of juxtapositions and parallelisms. The word “live” or “life” is here 6 times. We’ll hear the word “dies” or “dead” 5 times. (Mathematically then, life wins!)

Some scholars believe this is Paul re-wording an old Christian hymn of his day that re-lives Christ’s death and resurrection, “Lives for oneself…dies for oneself…live for the Lord…die for the Lord.”

It also reminds us what happens to us at baptism – we die for ourselves and begin to live for the Lord…defend the Lord…follow the Lord and His ways.

My favorite verse: “For if we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord.”

All for the glory of God – sounds like a win-win to me. 

Brothers and sisters:
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Matthew 18: 21-35
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Today it’s all about forgiveness. A long but familiar gospel. Quick recap:

1. A king forgives an excessive amount to a slave who begs forgiveness.
2. Then a contrasting, puzzling piece: The slave – whose enormous debt was just forgiven – turns around and refuses to forgive another man’s much smaller debt.
3. The king calls back the unforgiving servant (whom the king had forgiven) and punishes him for lacking, to quote the psalm, “kindness and mercy.”

Recall that last week we heard “next steps” on how to forgive someone. Talk to them first, take it to caring friends who can help, and finally The Church.

Today Jesus underscores the need for us to model the forgiveness and mercy He offers us. The abundant, overflowing, boundless forgiveness – he will always forgive!! BUT. We must seek that forgiveness with our hearts, not our ulterior motives (e.g. of not having to repay the debt).

Final Thought: This gospel took me to the most famous of all prayers, The Our Father. “…and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Did you know that the key words to this commonly misunderstood line are “as we“?  The “as we” does not mean “while;” it means “in keeping with the way that” (or “in light of the way that”). 

• Rephrased: “Forgive us our trespasses in keeping with the way that we forgive those who trespass against us.”
• Simpler still: Forgive me my sins in light of the way that I forgive others.

The point is, if we cannot forgive one another we have no room to expect God to forgive us. That view of God can become dangerously presumptive: “Oh He’ll forgive me – He’s God! That’s what He promises and that’s what He does.”

Dangerous – sound the alarm.

How can we hold grudges on earth – sometimes for decades – and then expect Him to blot out some of our darkest moments, ushering us happily into Heaven?

He commands us to forgive as He does.  We have a lifetime to practice this.

Who’s your first subject this week? How can you seek God in prayer for this “spiritual project?” As always, He’s at the ready to help you.

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive?
As many as seven times?” 
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. 
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. 
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt. 
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan. 
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount. 
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused. 
Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison
until he paid back the debt. 
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair. 
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! 
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt. 
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today’s theme = The yoke. “My yoke is easy and my burden, light.”

Above: A standard yoke.

Fun Fact about Reading 1:
Today we are in Zechariah, one of the minor prophets. For a refresher on the concept of The Divided Kingdom – a key event in understanding the bible – check out the beginning of these posts from January 2016 and March 2017.

Fun Fact about Reading 2:
Paul talks to the Romans about the concept of “flesh” and “spirit.” We can improve our understanding if we know what a gnostic is. Gnosticism was a heresy from the early church. They did not believe Christ was ever fully human. Instead they believed:

All matter (our bodies, things “of the flesh”) = EVIL
Relating to the spirit (of God) = GOOD

ZEC 9:9-10
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Zechariah spoke to the Israelites after the kingdom divided and before the Exile. Today we have his most famous prophesy (in bold):

Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

This gets to be more fun now because we can link this verse to the New Testament words of Matthew 21: 4-5 which says of Jesus:

This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

“Say to daughter Zion, ‘Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

We clearly see Zechariah’s prophecy fulfilled when Jesus – the Just Savior – enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on an ass.

PS 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

“I will praise your name forever, my King and my God.”

A fitting song that offers verse after verse of praise, thanksgiving, and reminders of God’s faithfulness to his people – both then and now.

I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.

ROM 8:9, 11-13
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the, death and resurrection).

As you listen to Paul’s words, remember that we are to be predominantly Spirit, not Flesh:

Brothers and sisters:
You are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

He tells us if we live in the flesh we will die, whereas if we live in the Spirit (of Christ) we will live with Him forever.

1. How do we live according to the flesh in our own lives? How does this keep us farther from God?
2. How can we live in the Spirit a little more this week? What small step toward Christ can we take this week? Maybe it’s a prayer before getting out of bed. Time in adoration. A kindness toward another.

Let us live in the spirit this week!

MT 11:25-30
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

A little context helps here…Let’s back up a few verses.

Before Jesus says the words of today’s gospel, he warned the towns and speaks in a corrective tone: “He began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon,^* they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.'”

He then speaks words of praise for God the Father and their oneness. Jesus speaks words of judgment for the sake of restoration.

This is a major and key theme of the entire bible:
From Judgment to Restoration.

Many prophets spoke words of judgment for the sake of restoration. God’s actions in the Old Testament were actions of judgment for the sake of restoration. Before the words of today’s gospel, Jesus spoke words of judgment. Now let’s listen to his words of restoration:

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The reference here to a yoke usually connotes slavery of persons or animals:

Jesus flips this image on its head. HIS yoke is a tool that unites us to Him.

We WANT to be tied to him and lead by Him. HIS yoke, unlike those attached to animals or slaves, is light…even easy. We are called to unite with Jesus and embrace his yoke willingly.

Reflect: Are we more often yoked to Christ, or are we yoked to sin? It’s probably a mixture of both. The key is that we desire to tip the balance so that we are more often yoked to Christ during our days, and less often yoked to sin.

May God bless your week!

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.

Today’s themes:
1. When we make a place for God in our lives, He will reward us both in life and in Heaven.
2. Opposites and juxtapositions can be both confusing and clear.

2 KGS 4:8-11, 14-16A
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Ever heard it said that God has a sense of humor? There’s some real irony in the scriptures when it comes to the 2 books of Kings. During one of my bible studies, someone asked,

“Why are these books even in scripture? So much of the content is just about a bunch of bad behaving, selfish, idol-worshiping kings! How did these books make the cut and end up in the bible, the Word of God?”

Great question. The simple answer is that God sometimes shows us what not to do, in order to teach us what to do. This is the case in the books of Kings.

We see kings who fight, worship idols, kill, scheme, cheat and lie. Scholars think this is so we can:

1) recognize that earthly kings were never God’s idea (the Israelites begged Samuel, “Give us a king to lead us!”) and

2) Earthly kings, whether they try to be good or don’t – are imperfect. God is the only true and perfect King.

Today, Elisha the prophet (he took Elijah’s place) travels to a town and a woman invites him in to serve him food and give him rest. Elisha comes to town often, so the woman makes a semi-permanent place for him. He can come whenever he’s there (think Mother-in-law suite).

Seeing this act of love and disposition toward the good, Elisha rewards her with the gift of her first child.

1. In our lives, how do we make space for God? Do we have an “in-law suite” for Jesus and invite Him in on a daily basis?
2. What does it look like, and how do we participate in that space? Maybe we have a special prayer chair, a corner of the dresser with a crucifix or rosary, perhaps we set aside time to read scripture or other literature. How can your space be “dusted off” this week?

One day Elisha came to Shunem,
where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her.
Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.
So she said to her husband, “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God.
Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof
and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp,
so that when he comes to us he can stay there.”
Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.

Later Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?”
His servant Gehazi answered, “Yes!
She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.”
Elisha said, “Call her.”
When the woman had been called and stood at the door,
Elisha promised, “This time next year
you will be fondling a baby son.”

Psalm 89: Forever I will Sing the Goodness of the Lord
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Listen to the psalm’s words today. Picture the woman in the first reading singing it to the Lord after, despite her late age, Elisha granted her the blessing of a son.

The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever;”
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

ROM 6:3-4, 8-11
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters.The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the, death and resurrection).

We’ll be in Paul’s letter to the Romans from now until mid-September!  In the first portion (today), Paul reminds the people they are in desperate need of a Savior.

He tell them this with juxtapositions and opposites. Jesus will do this in the gospel, too. In order for us to RISE with Christ, we must first DIE with Christ. In order to enjoy Heaven, we must endure suffering. He continues, as you’ll hear.

This is not Paul just ranting. These are words we must consider deeply. Maybe our sufferings are the loss of a loved one. Cancer or terminal illness. Miscarriage. Difficult children. Fallen away family members. Marital strife. Financial peril. Depression. Joblessness. The list goes on.

As baptized Christians, are we ready and willing to unite ourselves to Christ’s glory and His suffering? That’s a serious question. Paul says in order to have newness of life with Christ, we must “be dead to sin” as He was.

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.

If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;
as to his life, he lives for God.
Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin
and living for God in Christ Jesus.

MT 10:37-42

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Today’s gospel is a beauty. It’s full of opposites; thought provoking juxtapositions.

In the first line, we have to clear the air though. Jesus says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” This does not mean we shouldn’t love your mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter or friend!

Jesus is using hyperbole. He means that our love for these people should be a mere shadow compared to the love we have for Our God, Our Heavenly Father. That goes back to the question, do you have a mother-in-law suite for God?).

Here come the opposites:

• Whoever finds his life will lose it,
  and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
• Whoever receives you receives me,
  and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
• Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
  will receive a prophet’s reward (think back to Elisha the prophet in reading 1)
• Whoever receives a righteous man
  because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
• Whoever gives only a cup of cold water
  to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—

Amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

What are we to do with these phrases? WE are supposed to be the “whoever” in these statements (except for the first one). Let’s go back and re-read those 5 bullets above. Now that “he” in the last line of the gospel? That’s “whoever.”

Some of us might not like being called “whoever,” but that’s who God calls us to be today. Whoever does those things in the bullets will “surely not lose his reward.”

Jesus said to his apostles:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

5th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Find this weekend’s readings here.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today’s theme? The Way.

Happy Mother’s Day! Today we see readings that reflect “homes” or “houses.” It’s pretty cool, especially since that’s where we are spending so much of our time these days!

• In R1 we see The Church “house” grow. It adds another “room.” Now we have more than priests, we have deacons too.
• In R2 Peter tells us to “let yourselves be built in to a spiritual house.” That house must be built on Christ, our cornerstone.
• In the Gospel we are told that God has built a room for us in His Heavenly house. In order to find our way to that dwelling place, we must follow Jesus, who leads us to The Father.

R1: ACTS 6:1-7
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel. During the Easter season the 1st reading is Acts of the Apostles.)

Today we are in Acts chapter 6 and we are introduced to St. Stephen. He was the first martyr after the resurrection. He is also one of the deacons that had been ordained due to the growth of the church at this point.

Similar to today, the priests were in the churches and cities for the purpose of performing the sacraments and presiding over mass. The deacons were ordained to be helpers, to serve the growing church.

Deacons devoted themselves to 1) prayer and 2) the ministry of the word. That doesn’t just mean learning scripture, it means ministering The Word (The Word = Jesus) to the community.

As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

We all have a role in the Church. How are we “ministers of “The Word” in our lives?

From whom do we learn how to do this? How is God calling us to minister to Him this week?

Psalm 33: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Listen to these verses as they respond to the first reading and its call to minister to The Word:

Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

Reading 2: 1 PT 2:4-9
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters.  During Easter we hear from St. Peter. The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the, death and resurrection).

Here, Peter addresses a group who is being challenged to keep the faith. The environment is hostile to their way of life and they need strength, which Peter provides.

It is the well-known reading, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” The stone of course is Christ – the hard and strong foundation of our faith lives. Though he has been rejected (killed and hung on a tree), he remains the cornerstone – the Alpha and the Omega.

The last few lines are a wonderful summary of the beautiful faith into which we have been baptized. Spoken to us too in our current lives, we ought to pay heed to these words:

Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,
and
A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.

You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own,
so that you may announce the praises” of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Gospel: John 14:1-12
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Why are we in John’s Gospel?
We are in John this week, and have been for a most of Eastertide. John is NOT one of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).

Matthew, Mark and Luke pave our liturgical years and are heard over and over as Year A (Matthew), Year B (Mark) and Year C (Luke). We are currently in Year A, but in Eastertide we often hear from John. He is in a category all his own because of 2 key pieces:

1. The Bread of Life discourse (Chapter 6)
2. So much of John’s gospel talks about the relationship between Jesus and The Father.

Today’s Gospel:
Today’s reading is all about #2 above. We can just listen to the gospel and take to heart what we hear.  We can also note that at the time of Jesus, those who followed Him were called “The Way.” (Jesus often said, I am “The Way.”) This phrase is also part of the Road to Emmaus gospel from 2 weeks ago:

“…Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way
and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.”

Back to the followers… they were called “The Way”, and it again gives added meaning to the phrase when we hear it in the Gospel. Today we hear that there is a dwelling place – a room in His house for us all – in Heaven. Isn’t that cool?

That place is there right now, prepared for us by God himself. He wants us there with Him when we depart this Earth. Jesus says the only way there is through Jesus to the Father.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”

Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.

Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.”

1. Are we following the way – the path – to our Heavenly home? If so, how? If not, how are we veering away?

2. How are our earthly homes models of the heavenly home we aim to live in someday? How can we improve that house (our families, our homes, our communities)?

May God bless your week!

4th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Today we have themes of listening to voices – listening to Peter in R1 and R2. And also images in the Psalm and the Gospel of us as sheep and Christ as The Great Shepherd.

R1: Acts of the Apostles 2:14a, 36-41
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel. During the Easter season the 1st reading is Acts of the Apostles.)

Today we hear “Part 2” of Peter’s speech from last week.  Pentecost had already taken place. Some scholars suggest this is first time the gospel was publicly proclaimed after the resurrection. We see Peter in a more mature state then during the Passion when he rejected Jesus. He speaks, and the crowds today – they do listen. So much so that they are “cut to the heart.”

Peter says, “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

When they heard this, they were “cut to the heart.” This image is quite strong and dramatic. Recall that in the Old Testament, God speaks of the Israelites’ hearts of stone. Throughout Jesus’s ministry He speaks about a heart of flesh that is soft, malleable and open to His grace. It seems that here we see the words of Peter “cut” the hearts of the hearers. This suggests that The Truth Peter speaks is penetrating their hearts of stone and beginning to transition their hearts into hearts of flesh.

Reflect: 1) When has your heart been one of stone? One of flesh? 2) When you (or someone else) see your heart more stone-like, what actions do you take to soften it?

Responsorial Psalm: 23 “The Lord is My Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

A familiar and beautiful response, this psalm foreshadows the Gospel reading today about the sheepgate. Its words teach us to put our faith and trust in God 100%. When we are baptized in Christ and confirmed in the Holy Spirit as those at Pentecost were, we can say with confidence that “The Lord is my shepherd and that we want for nothing.”

R2: 1 Peter 2: 20b-25
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters.  During Easter we hear from St. Peter. The 2nd reading speaks to how the early church built The Church after the, death and resurrection).

In this reading Peter urges his readers – and us – to imitate what Christ did for us on the cross: To embrace suffering. “If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you…”

It certainly is a strange feeling to know that God calls us to suffer. But the gift is unwrapped and opened for us if we are able to embrace it as Jesus did instead of eschewing it and wishing it away. This is the great mystery of life and contrary to all that society “teaches.” That suffering is not only something we should expect, but also that we ought to embrace us. Further, that we should know for certain that it will bring us closer to Jesus’s sacred heart.

The last verses tell us what to expect in the gospel: “For you had gone astray like sheep,
but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.”

Reflect:
1) When you have suffered in your life, how have you either rejected or embraced the suffering? Do you see it as a grace or a burden?
2) Who in your life has been a model of embracing suffering?

John: 10: 1-10
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

In the Old Testament God was often portrayed as a “shepherd” of his covenant people. This is a beautiful image relayed by Jesus. We see a familiar landscape of sheep – some wandering and some closer in, a shepherd and a sheepgate.

“Whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.”

The disciples don’t understand his analogy at first, so he becomes increasingly direct. He also uses His name – recall that Moses asked God what his name was and He replied that his name was “I AM.”

“I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved.”

Reflect: 

1. How good are we at recognizing God’s voice? He speaks to us each in different ways. What’s his strategy with you?
2. In your life right now, in what ways do you seek to recognize and respond to His voice?

Let us always be able to recognize the voice of our shepherd! If we stay near, he will never let us go astray. May God bless your week!

2nd Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday (Year A)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.

Click here for the readings.

Fun fact #1 – Lent vs. Easter

Easter is the most glorious season of the Church year. Although we spent 40 days “in the wilderness” for Lent, the Church communicates the joy of Easter by exceeding the time in the wilderness and celebrating the resurrection for 50 days in a row. So by all means, continue to wish one another a Happy Easter!

Fun fact #2 – Goodbye Old Testament…for a while
At the vigil mass on Holy Saturday, we heard from the Old Testament and St. Paul for the last time until Pentecost (June 3). During the Easter season (for year A), every reading is from the New Testament – another way the Church emphasizes the New Covenant into which we were baptized when Christ died on the cross.

• The 1st reading until Pentecost is from the acts of the apostles.
• The 2nd reading is from the first letter of Saint Peter, our first Pope.

So buckle up, we are going to unpack these two books from now until June 3.

1st Reading: Acts 2: 42-47
(The 1st Reading is usually Old Testament, but during Easter it’s from Acts of the Apostles. It always links to the Gospel.)

Acts was written by Saint Luke; it’s basically “Part II” of St. Luke’s gospel. It is filled with action and adventure as the apostles built God’s Church on Earth. One of the most important lines is Acts 1:8, because it gives an outline of the book: Jesus tells the apostles,

“You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.”

First we’ll see what the apostles do in Jerusalem.

Then they’ll move out to Judea and Samaria.

Lastly, they’ll make efforts to spread the gospel “to the ends of the earth.” Think of these parts as you would a target, with Jerusalem on the innermost circle.

The apostles move from inner to outer. As Catholics, we’re still working on that outer circle “to the ends of the earth.”

Today’s reading:

Today Jesus gives to the apostles to power to forgive sins in His name. What an incredible, amazing gift. When we receive the sacrament of reconciliation, the priests rely on the same power that Jesus gives these apostles in this reading. The power Jesus gave the apostles then, is the same power that has been passed down through generations of ordained Catholic priests.

Every time we go to confession, we receive the benefits that are described in this reading. A flood of grace from God is available to us whenever we want to go. He is the Divine Counselor, our Divine Healer. We are His children, his prodigal sons and daughters.

If it has been a while for you, consider receiving this sacrament this week.  Be Not Afraid!

Another theme to note is “communal living.” This is to contrast from the constant feeling of division and separation from God that was present in the Old Testament. When you read the reading, notice how much togetherness you see and hear:

• They devoted themselves…to 1) the communal life, 2) to the breaking of bread, and 3) to the prayers.
• Many wonders and signs were done among them.
• All who believed were together and held all things in common.

They devoted themselves
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone,
and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their property and possessions
and divide them among all according to each one’s need.
Every day they devoted themselves
to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Responsorial Psalm 118 – “Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good, His Love is Everlasting.” (The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Our only tie to the Old Testament for now, this psalm reflects the message of the first reading, and fittingly speaks to “Mercy” on this Divine Mercy Sunday:

Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

1 Peter 1:3-9
(The 2nd reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. During Easter we hear from Peter. It speaks to how the early church spread the Word of Christ after his passion, death and resurrection).

This reading is all about baptism. It is a beautiful reading to reflect on as we celebrate the first Sunday after Easter – and for all who are baptized into the Church at the Vigil – it speaks a special message to them.

We are called to rejoice in our baptism even though we will most certainly suffer. We also see a glimpse of what the Gospel is about when Peter writes,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 20: 19-31
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Today Jesus greets the disciples for the first time since his resurrection. He is completely glorified and perfected given his divine nature. Interestingly, he retains the ones from the crucifixion. This is worth some thought.

Our bodies – when we go to heaven – will be resurrected and completely perfected at the end of time, at the second coming. However Jesus retains wounds. Why would that be?

Some scholars surmise that this is his way of showing love to all and after all, it is the reason he came to live among us. To die for us so that we might reach heaven in a perfect state and abide with him forever.

Other points of Focus:

• Jesus coming in even though the doors were locked. (He came through the walls, defying all physical laws.)
• Think about Thomas’s reaction. How do we resemble Thomas in our own lives? Do we need to see the wounds in order to believe, or can we believe with the eyes of faith?
• How can we ask God this week to help us believe without needing to see?

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

May God bless your week!

2nd Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on the Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Reading 1: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
The first reading always links to the gospel. It is from the Old Testament.

Every time I hear this reading I cringe. Could I do what Abraham does? Do I have the same obedience as he? To sacrifice my only son? It opens the door to a depth of faith worth exploring.

How has God tested your faith and obedience in your life? Is He asking you to be “All In” right now in some way? God seeks our full on YES to Him, the same he asked of Abraham.

We are about halfway through Abraham’s story today in Genesis, chapter 12.

God put Abraham to the test.
He called to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am!” he replied.
Then God said:
“Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, 
and go to the land of Moriah.
There you shall offer him up as a holocaust 
on a height that I will point out to you.”

When they came to the place of which God had told him, 
Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.
Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the LORD’s messenger called to him from heaven, 
“Abraham, Abraham!”
“Here I am!” he answered.
“Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger.
“Do not do the least thing to him.
I know now how devoted you are to God, 
since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.”
As Abraham looked about, 
he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.
So he went and took the ram 
and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.

Again the LORD’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: 
“I swear by myself, declares the LORD, 
that because you acted as you did 
in not withholding from me your beloved son, 
I will bless you abundantly 
and make your descendants as countless 
as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; 
your descendants shall take possession 
of the gates of their enemies, 
and in your descendants all the nations of the earth
shall find blessing—
all this because you obeyed my command.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 116:
I Will Walk Before the Lord In the Land of the Living
The psalm is a ‘response’ to the first reading.

We can hear threads of the story of Abraham and Isaac in today’s psalm, in italics below.

R. (116:9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
I believed, even when I said,
    “I am greatly afflicted.”
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
    is the death of his faithful ones.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
O LORD, I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
    you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

Reading 2: Romans 8: 31b-34
The second reading is usually from St. Paul

Of Paul’s letters, Romans is the longest and most systematic unfolding of the apostle’s thought, expounding the gospel of God’s righteousness that saves all who believe. The theme in chapter 8 is “Justification and the Christian Life.”

We can also hear small threads from the first reading (“He who did not spare his son”) that remind us God asks for 100% of us, not 99% or 50%, but 100%.

Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son 
but handed him over for us all, 
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?

Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?
Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised— 
who also is at the right hand of God, 
who indeed intercedes for us.

GOSPEL – Mark 9: 2-10
This is when we hear from Christ himself, and this is why we stand as it is read.

BACKGROUND
In today’s gospel, if we were on a train through the New Testament stories, we’re standing at one of the main “stops:” The Transfiguration.

Before these verses, Jesus had just foretold his death to the disciples. They were probably distraught to hear Jesus talk of his death, so perhaps the transfiguration served as spiritual nourishment (as noted in the 2nd reading). Maybe Jesus wanted to reassure them that He is God’s son by demonstrating this reality before their very eyes.

At the top of the mountain while Jesus was praying, Peter, James and John see his clothes “become dazzling white.” When Jesus prays – when he communicates with The Father – He emits a blinding, pure light.

Recall that in Exodus, Moses also came down the mountain after communicating with God and was glowing white. His was a reflective light. Here Jesus IS the light, it comes from within.

The reading goes on to say that Peter and his companions – like Abram and Adam before them – had been overcome by sleep. A divine light woke them up to see Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Let’s stop here and do some basic math:

Moses (the law) + Elijah (the prophets)=Old Testament.
Jesus = New Testament.
Moses + Elijah + Jesus = The fullness of the scriptures.

On the mountain, these men embody the fullness of the scriptures. That is an awesome reality to ponder for a moment. Here we have the Old Testament “talking” to Jesus, the New Testament. What are they talking about? The subject is the Exodus (“Exodus” means “a journey from slavery to freedom”). In the OT, Moses’s Exodus was physical. He led the people out of Egyptian slavery into a land of freedom. The NT Exodus Jesus will soon lead is spiritual. He will lead us out of a spiritual slavery (sin) into spiritual freedom (salvation). Atop the mountain, Jesus is answering the Old Testament – answering it by fulfilling it.

Lastly, God says to them from a cloud, “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.” In sum Peter, James and John get a glimpse: Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the New Covenant. He fulfills the old one. And we must listen to Him.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John 
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them, 
and his clothes became dazzling white, 
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, 
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents: 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; 
from the cloud came a voice, 
“This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves, 
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

1st Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings. 
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. 
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture

READING 1GN 9:8-15

(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Fun fact 1:
Noah is saved by water because he built a boat. There is a deeper message here; we are all saved by water and we all need a boat. More when you get to the 2nd reading below.

Fun fact 2:
1 Peter 3 (our 2nd reading) is about “The Christian in a Hostile World” It answers the question, “what is our role in the World?”

In R1, we’re at a very important part of the Old Testament; it’s God’s covenant with Noah. This is before God’s covenant with Abraham, and it is right after God wipes out all of his people with the flood. Remember that God was so fed up with his people and the sin they constantly lived in, that he decided to wreak havoc and wipe them all out – except for Noah, the only righteous man in his eyes. He sets a bow in the clouds – a rainbow – to show his love.

What sign have you seen lately that reminds you of his love for you? I have a short story: One night a few years ago, I was driving home at night with a friend and our 3 boys. We’d just gone to a Mother-Son Valentines Dance. It was pitch black.

Suddenly I noticed a large bird of prey flying right above the windshield. It was big, beautiful, and so white! So pure! I got the slightest glimpse of it and noticed the roundness of its head – it was an OWL!

Owls are my most favorite creature. I had at that time, only seen 3 in my life in their natural habitat. I was beyond thrilled. I was ecstatic to have had that amazing encounter with God’s creation.

And God knows me, he knows every hair on my head. Perhaps it was a sign of love from Him.

A barn owl flying at night

Open your eyes this week and see the signs God has in mind for you.

God said to Noah:
“See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed
by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.”

“This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made
between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood
to destroy all mortal beings.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9.
(THE PSALM IS A “RESPONSE” TO WHAT WE HEARD IN THE 1ST READING)
“YOUR WAYS, O LORD, ARE LOVE AND TRUTH TO THOSE WHO KEEP YOUR COVENANT.”

This Is All About Covenants. God’s Covenant With His People. We Are To Lean On Him And Learn From Him By Following His Ways.

YOUR WAYS, O LORD, MAKE KNOWN TO ME;
TEACH ME YOUR PATHS,
GUIDE ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME,
FOR YOU ARE GOD MY SAVIOR.REMEMBER THAT YOUR COMPASSION, O LORD,
AND YOUR LOVE ARE FROM OF OLD.
IN YOUR KINDNESS REMEMBER ME,
BECAUSE OF YOUR GOODNESS, O LORD.

 READING 2 1 PT 3:18-22

(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

The main theme here is “Encouragement to fidelity in spite of suffering.” Or, “Be faithful even though we suffer.” We are in Lent now, and are encouraged to see the role of suffering in our lives. To see that it has purpose.

Why is Noah here? Because this reading talks about being “Saved Through Water.” Well Noah was Saved Through the flood waters (fortunately he had a boat) – his life was spared while others died in their sin.

We too are saved through the waters of baptism.

The Church is our boat – it is our way out of the sinful world in which we live. Who else can we help God pull from the water and into the boat of salvation this lent? How can we be his instrument?

Beloved:
Christ suffered for sins once, 
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, 
that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh, 
he was brought to life in the Spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, 
who had once been disobedient 
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah 
during the building of the ark, 
in which a few persons, eight in all,
were saved through water.
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It is not a removal of dirt from the body 
but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, 
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who has gone into heaven
and is at the right hand of God, 
with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

GOSPELMK 1:12-15

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

The Gospel today is about Jesus going to the desert – removing himself from the crowds -retreating. This is what lent is supposed to be for us – a retreat away from worldly pleasures, conversations that don’t fill us or help us grow, a retreat away from the busy-ness of life.

This is hard to do. It sure is hard for me. But even knowing it’s Lent, waking up to think of a way to celebrate Lent in some small way today, it is one step toward living that retreat. 

Finally, we see the overarching theme of  Mark’s entire gospel in the final verse: The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and Believe in the Gospel. We are called throughout lent to repent!

We are callout of sin and darkness and into forgiveness and light. May you feel the peace of retreat in a small or large way this week. May you notice a sign from God that is just for you. And may you find a piece of joy in a suffering you endure, knowing it is The Way to Him!

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.

Fun Fact:
Contrary to popular belief, the book of Leviticus is not impossible to understand nor pointless. Yes, it’s a lot of laws (think L=Leviticus, Law=Leviticus).

But let’s understand why this was necessary.

Israel’s history with pagan worship lasted over 400 years. There was an intense need to get the Israelites out of Egypt (which Moses did), AND to get Egypt out of the Israelites. 

That is, get the pagan worshipping out of the Israelites.  The response? The book of Leviticus, a tool designed to give the rules they clearly needed. (613 laws to be exact.)

LV 13:1-2, 44-46
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

We’re at law #452 of 613. Today it’s about leprosy. Here it is:

“If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch
which appears to be the sore of leprosy,
he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest,
or to one of the priests among his descendants.
If the man is leprous and unclean,
the priest shall declare him unclean
by reason of the sore on his head.

“The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare,
and shall muffle his beard;
he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean,
since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”

Lepers were considered “unclean,” they were excluded from the Temple. That means they were prevented from carrying out their religious duties. Lepers were ostracized from society and treated as aliens.

We can contemplate today the reality of Jesus’s complete healing power. The leprosy – which CUT people OFF from the Temple, is synonymous with sin.

When we sin? We cut ourselves off from God. We put up a wall; become separate.  This week’s readings show us a simple “before” and “after;” In the gospel, Jesus heals a leper and makes him whole.

In confession, Jesus heals US and makes us whole.  We are no longer separated from Him, but united.

Psalm 32: “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble,
and you fill me with the joy of salvation.”
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Listen for the message of forgiveness in these verses:

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.

1 COR 10:31—11:1

(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

The key line is the first line: Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”  That means if we are called to suffer (e.g. leprosy), we ought to suffer for the glory of God. If we are blessed at this moment and have gifts to share (time, talent or money), we should do this also for the glory of God. The rest of the reading:

Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or
the church of God,
just as I try to please everyone in every way,
not seeking my own benefit but that of the many,
that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

MK 1:40-45

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

This gospel is powerful in light of our first reading, and appropriate as we begin Lent in just 4 days. Jesus is approached by a leper (remember – totally alienated back then! Considered hideous, contagious). 

And yet that leper knew in his heart who Jesus was. He wasn’t afraid to ask for healing. Knowing His faith, Jesus healed him.

Jesus tells him not to tell anyone what happened (remember, Jesus tried to stay “under wraps” so the authorities wouldn’t seek him out – not until the time for the Cross had come). But the man cannot help it. I can’t say I blame Him.

When Christ touches your heart, changes you from and on the inside, makes you clean and whole again – how can we NOT share that gospel message with the world?

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

Do you have a story about how Jesus has changed your life, healed you? Who needs to hear that message this week? Pray for the words and timing to share it. And know that in doing this, you are being His hands and feet to the world.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

We’re back in Ordinary Time, week #2 (there are 34 in all).

Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture

Fun Fact:
Job is actually not a prophetic book, but 1 of the 7 books called “Wisdom Literature.”

The key questions of the book of Job are
1) Where can Wisdom be found? (Can it be found in suffering?) and
2) Can God be loved for His own sake?

1st Reading: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7
The first reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.

The Book of Job, named after its protagonist, is an exquisite dramatic treatment of the problem of the suffering of the innocent. The contents of the book, together with its artistic structure and elegant style, place it among the literary masterpieces of all time. This is a literary composition, and not a transcript of historical events and conversations.

The question of the book is at the start. “Can God be loved for His own sake?”

The beginning provides the setting for Job’s testing. When challenged by the satan’s questioning of Job’s sincerity, the Lord allows a series of catastrophes to afflict Job. Three friends come to console him. Job breaks out in complaint, and a cycle of speeches begins.

We are at the heart of Job’s misery today:

Job spoke, saying:
Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?
    Are not his days those of hirelings?
He is a slave who longs for the shade,
    a hireling who waits for his wages.
So I have been assigned months of misery,
    and troubled nights have been allotted to me.

If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?”
    then the night drags on;
    I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;
    they come to an end without hope.
Remember that my life is like the wind;
    I shall not see happiness again.

Surely we feel this kind of despair in life from time to time. The question is, do we place God at the center and love him no matter what? Trust Him no matter what?

Psalm 147: Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

No matter

Praise the LORD, for he is good;
    sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
    it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
    the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.

He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
    he calls each by name.

2nd Reading: 1 Cor: 9:16-19, 22-23
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

Today we hear of Paul’s conviction to preach the gospel at all costs, because God called Him to do so.

His letter is an answer to those in Corinth who write PAUL a letter with questions. There was division in Corinth at the time. The church there was unsure of certain practices as Christians, who were once Jews.

He tells them to avoid being, looking and feeling “weak.” He encourages them – and us – to remain strong in the gospel of Christ. To be proud to share the good news!

Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach,
I offer the gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.

Gospel: MK: 1:29-39
This is the highest point in the Liturgy of the Word, it’s why we stand. We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ himself.

Did you know that Mark is sometimes called “The Hollywood Gospel?” His gospel is the shortest, and he moves fast – like an action film. The word “immediately” can be found in his gospel 41 times!

As I read the gospel I could almost hear the dramatic music as a backdrop – the kind of music you may recall from The Passion of The Christ in the last scene. Powerful things are happening every place Christ visits.

Today we see some snippets – he goes in to heal Simon’s mother in law who lay ill with fever. In the evening, they brought him to “all” who were ill or possessed by demons. To “all”! And he healed them with His Word or His divine touch.

That is a statement. We must never doubt that He can do the same for us today!

This last part tells us he retreats away from the world to pray. Even Jesus left the socializing of the city, the whispers of his healing genius, to speak to God the Father. How can we better model this behavior? In the busyness of life, I can say it is quite the challenge to prioritize prayer unless I build it into my day from the start.

What in our life needs deeper contemplation or thought? A major life decision, prayer for a suffering family member, someone we need to forgive, perhaps ourselves or our attitude toward another?

May God bless your week!

On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left 
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Fun Fact:
Deuteronomy is book #5 of the Pentateuch (“Pentateuch” refers to the first 5 books of the bible = Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).

It is the farewell letter of a dying prophet (Moses) to the nation he loved with all his heart, mind and soul (*there are 51 references to “heart” in the book). The book was written to the Israelites beyond the Jordan – when they were in the wilderness.

“Deuteronomy means” “second law,” Moses “re-tells” the law because as you may recall, the Israelites broke the law the first time Moses gave it (Golden Calf). (…Sounds like my kids.)

Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Moses gave 3 addresses to the people throughout Deuteronomy. We are smack in the middle of Address #2, which spans chapter 4-28(!). Moses re-tells the story of him being called by God to be a prophet to the people. The reading begins:

Moses spoke to all the people, saying:
“A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you
from among your own kin;
to him you shall listen.

This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb
on the day of the assembly, when you said,
‘Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God,
nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’
And the LORD said to me, ‘This was well said.
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin,
and will put my words into his mouth;
he shall tell them all that I command him.

Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name,
I myself will make him answer for it.
But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name
an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak,
or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”

Psalm 95: If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

We hear today what the Israelites might have been singing in their hearts as the heard Moses re-tell the law of God. We are going to hear it again at mass (the law); let us respond in both word and deed as the psalm suggests.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

1 COR 7:32-35
(THE 2ND READING IS USUALLY FROM PAUL’S LETTERS. SPEAKS TO HOW THE EARLY CHURCH WAS BUILT AFTER CHRIST’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION).

Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth is an answer to THEIR letter to Paul. They ask a lot of questions about how to live a Christ-like way of life – a life after the Cross – a life that is NEW testament, not OLD. In Chapter 7, Paul advises on marriage and virginity. In the verse prior, Paul reveals “For the form of this world is passing away.”

What does this mean? Paul says here that our relationship with God is eternal and endures forever; not so for marriage, which is an earthly covenant.

Marriage is a gift from God, it is a way for us to attempt to model Christ’s love for and relationship with His Church. Marriage on earth is our dress rehearsal for the Real Deal – the Wedding Feast of Heaven.

Will we see our spouses in Heaven? We sure hope so, and with immeasurable joy! But the marriage bond no longer exists in the same way.  Paul writes:

I should like you to be free of anxieties.
An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord,
how he may please the Lord.
But a married man is anxious about the things of the world,
how he may please his wife, and he is divided.

An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord,
so that she may be holy in both body and spirit.
A married woman, on the other hand,
is anxious about the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.

Mark 1:21-28
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

The theme for today’s gospel? Gob-smacked. That is what the people were who stood in the presence of Christ as He drove the demons out of the man in Capernaum. Not only did Jesus recognize and call OUT the unclean spirit, He did this on the Sabbath – which was against the law. The 7th day was set aside for 2 things only: Worship and Rest.

More gob-smacking occurs when we see that the Unclean Spirit – the demon or fallen angel itself – calls Christ “The Holy One.” Wow! Note though, this is not out of worship or reverence, but fear.

Then, without pomp and circumstance, long prayers, candles, songs, or chanting (as many current exorcisms feature), Jesus calls the Spirit out and it obeys. (That demon listens better than my kids, that’s for sure).

Summary:
So what do we make of all these readings?  My friend Fr. Tom Welbers, who also writes a blog called “Banquet of the Word,” gives an excellent summary when he says,

This passage contains a nutshell summary of the whole mission of Jesus: to free humankind from enslavement to the forces of evil, which he does by the power of his Word — he is God’s Word-made-flesh (Jn 1:14). To use this passage to argue the pros and cons of personal demons and diabolical possession risks missing the point: all humanity is in the grip of the power of evil without Christ.

Well said. I think today we can just sit in awe. Be Gob-smacked by God. He stamps out evil with his words. Oh the power!

This week – let’s use OUR words to call on Jesus. Ask Him for help. Go beyond just praying in our heads. Let’s try using words.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

We’re back in Ordinary Time, week #2 (there are 34 in all).

Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture

Fun Fact: 
Samuel was the child promised to the barren woman Hannah, who prayed for him unceasingly and after his birth, dedicated Him to God. She took him to Eli when Samuel was 2 years old and Eli (a priest) raised him.

Today’s theme? Being Called.
We are ALL Called in a unique way by God the Father.

1 SM 3:3B-10, 19
(The 1st reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel)

Samuel is one of the holiest, most righteous men in the old testament. Today we hear the story of Samuel being called by God in the middle of the night. It is further evidence that God doesn’t yell or scream to get our attention. He whispers. He nudges. He shows himself in the small and quiet times in our lives.

Maybe we are like Samuel. Maybe we can’t distinguish his voice at first. After all, the first 2 times God calls Samuel, he gets up to go find Eli. Eli is confused and tells Samuel to go back to bed. By the 2nd calling, Eli realizes what’s happening – ” Samuel, go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” Samuel does listen. He grows up with God as his guide. He does amazing and important things to further God’s kingdom, not the least of which, is going out to select King David from the fields. What we can learn from this reading:

• Recognize that you might mistake God’s voice for someone else’s, as Samuel did.
• Understand that someone else may become “an Eli” for you – someone who tells you, “ya know? That event/relationship/opportunity has ‘Holy Spirit’ written all over it. I think God’s trying to tell you something!” That person is probably right.”
• Maybe YOU are being asked to be an Eli for someone you love. God most certainly speaks through the people in our lives.
• Above all – when you think God is speaking to you? Listen. Tell Him you are ready!!

Psalm 40: Here I am Lord, I Come to do Your Will
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

The first verse speaks of someone looking to God for help and calling for HIM. The second verse is more in line with the first reading, where God calls US.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”

1 COR 6:13C-15A, 17-20

(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

Today’s reading from St. Paul is a bit of a “wild card.”

In today’s theme of being called, however, we are encouraged to remember that we are called to respect our bodies, to exercise modesty and treat them as “temples” or holy places where the love of God abides.

This is especially true because ARE temples – after receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ at Holy Communion, we actually carry Christ with us. He strengthens us to do HIS will all week long.

It is our job – we are called – to carry Him to others.

With this in mind, we should not be surprised that Paul asks us to “avoid immorality” wherever we go, dressing and behaving as the chosen children of God we are.

The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.

JN 1:35-42

(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

Today, Jesus chooses his disciples. We did not hear the readings for the Baptism of Our Lord this year (on a Sunday), but that feast day was held on Monday 1/8.

This week (in the scriptures we’re told it’s “the next day”), Jesus calls his disciples by name, just as God the Father called Samuel. He is beginning His public ministry.

[This will take us into the beautiful season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday on February 14 this year, with Easter being celebrated on April 1.]

Jesus calls 2 of the 12 disciples today, Simon Peter and Andrew who say at the start, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

They follow Jesus and ask, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus tells them, “Come, and You Will See.”

The men stay with him all day and Jesus begins an intimate relationship with Andrew and Simon Peter, who later – as you know – denies Jesus 3 times, but is still the rock upon which Christ built His Church.

Matthew tells us the conversation between Jesus and Peter in his gospel:  “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus speaks of the Church and its everlasting nature, the Church we are called to serve each day.

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —,
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where Jesus was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.

How are you being called today? This week? In your life?

Who are you called to help? Can you hear or see Christ in someone else’s life? Do you need to be an Eli for them?

Do you have enough quiet time in your life to hear God’s voice? It can be hard to hear, so be sure to set time aside that is away from the clanging, noisy nature of our world.

Next week!

Jonah and Ninevah in R1, and the calling of the rest of the disciples in the Gospel.

4th Sunday of Advent (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Fun Fact:
An easy way to remember the order of the 1st three Kings of Israel is “S-D-S.” Or Saul-David-Solomon.

This mnemonic comes in handy on days like this, when King David is in the readings. Only under these 3 kings (hey wait, there’s a Christmas song about that!) was there peace in Israel. 

After King Solomon, the kingdom divided. It did not re-unite until Christ brought his promise of eternal salvation to us by dying and rising.

Question:
What kind of house are you building for the Lord? He comes to us soon, born of a virgin and into a manger. We contemplate “house” vs. “home” today, starting with King David.

2 SM 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16
(The First Reading is Old Testament and links to the Gospel.)

We are in the 2nd book of Samuel today – chapter 7. In chapter 1, David is crowned king at age 30 and reigns for 40 years. Today we hear David’s conversation with the prophet Nathan.

David wants to build a HOUSE for God, whose presence up until now has been kept in a TENT (since the days of Moses). It is called the ARK OF THE COVENANT. David feels bad, you might say, that he lives in a nicer place than God.

When you listen to this reading you want to put emphasis on the word “I” that Nathan speaks. God wants to show David that it is GOD who has provided all the bounty and goodness in David’s life, not David. David learns to rely more on God’s guiding hand, and sees God’s plan for the future: GOD will build a house for David – not the other way around.

God will build a house for all believers for eternity – through his kingdom.

Why is this reading chosen today? Perhaps because of its link to the gospel. Mary was chosen BY GOD to be the new ARK – a HOUSE for God – the womb for Jesus.

It is God who acts and Mary who responds. In this reading, David wanted to act and he wanted God to receive. David wanted control of the situation (even though it was a nice gesture).  But Mary shows us the right behavioral move, if you will. Let God act. We are the ones to receive.

When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king,
“Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?’“

“‘It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock 
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

Psalm 89:For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Listen here as God tell us – tells David – how HE will act and that His kingdom will remain firm:

“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”

ROM 16:25-27
(The Second Reading is usually one of Paul’s letters. It highlights the time after Christ’s death and resurrection; the building up of the Church)

Today we have the last 3 verses of Paul’s (very long) letter to the Romans. It is a closing prayer, really – one that highlights the fact that “the revelation of the mystery” has been  “kept secret for long ages” – and to God be glory and praise for ever, Amen!

Today, it seems fitting as we close Advent, that we hear from the close of this important letter from Paul, which is all about the Gospel of Christ and it being the path to salvation for all mankind. Paul wrote it to those in Rome – whom he’d not yet met – as a means of introducing himself.

I feel like during Advent we’re allowed to sit and wait for Jesus to be laid in the manger, imagining what it might have been like to live in those days before He was born.

No one had met him yet.
No one knew what was to come.

A fitting reading then, as we await the celebration of his birth in just a matter of days. Paul would go on to those living in Rome to introduce Christ to those there who had never met him.

Who in your life needs to be introduced to Jesus?
How can you usher Him in this Christmas season?

Brothers and sisters:
To him who can strengthen you,
according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever.
Amen.

LK 1:26-38
(The Gospel is the highest point of the liturgy. It’s why we stand. We are about to hear from and be instructed by Jesus Christ himself.)

Today we have Mary’s “FIAT” – not her car :), but her “YES” to God. Mary knew instinctively that God had great plans for her. Unlike David in our first reading, she listens to the angel Gabriel without interruption.

Like any good communicator, she asks a “clarifying question,” (but how can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”). Then God reveals himself to her:

SHE will be the HOUSE of the Lord.
SHE will be the NEW ARK for our God.
SHE will be the first HOME for baby Jesus.
SHE becomes the new Eve.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.

“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

Have a wonderful 4th Sunday of Advent! May your HOMES be ready for the coming of Christ our Savior. And may you enjoy abundantly the celebrations with your loved ones whom you’ve invited into your homes!

3rd Sunday of Advent (Year B)

Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!

Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.

Greetings! Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. That’s the PINK candle, which stands for HOPE. It is also called “Gaudate Sunday.” We will hear messages of Hope.

Reading 1 Isaiah, 61: 1-2, 10-11

(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)

Isaiah is 66 chapters in length, the longest book of the bible. We are at the end now. At this point, Isaiah is talking to the Israelites as they return from the Babylonian exile.

The quick version is:
– The kingdom divided after King Solomon. There was the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom.
– the people kept turning away from God. He sent prophets to help them turn back, like Jeremiah. They did not listen.
– Eventually King Nebechudnezzar plucks them out of their homeland and into exile.

In this reading, the people get to return to their homeland.  But they are beaten down. They have been slaves again for a while now, like they had been in Egypt.

Isaiah’s prophecy is directed toward a people who long for God to restore both the land AND the people. It’s important to remember, God punishes for the sake of restoration. Not just because he feels like it.

The Israelites were punished in exile, and now they look to restore the land and the people. This is a reading of hope:

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.

How are you in need of restoration right now?

How are you in need of a fresh start?

How are you like the Israelites, and how can your “land” (family, home, work) and your people (extended family, children) be restored with God’s guiding hand?

It is a beautiful reading full of rejoicing.

Responsorial PSALM: “My soul rejoices in my God.” 
Isaiah 61:10
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)

Today’s response is not a psalm – the verses are from Luke’s gospel and the response is from Isaiah, chapter 61. The same reading we just heard: “My soul rejoices in my God.” Read these verses aloud.

Imagine the Isrealites saying this to God as they restore their land. Imagine yourself saying this to God today as you restore a part of your life that needs to be rebuilt.

Reading 2
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).

These are the final 9 verses of Paul’s first letter to Thessalonica. Again, a theme of rejoicing – the Lord is near!! Pray without ceasing.

How do we do this? How can this possibly be accomplished? It means that every action we do, every thought that we have, be ordered toward God and His plan.

Even making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the morning as out kids race out the doors! When done with love, this is a way to pray, believe it or not.

So is bringing a meal to a loved one. Praying a decade of the rosary for another who is struggling. We are taught here to REFRAIN from evil and RETAIN what is good.

How simple to say! How hard to do.

How do you refrain from Evil?
How do you retain what is good?

It’s about choosing.And this final wish from Paul:

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.

GOSPEL:Chapter 1:6-8, 19-28
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)

This isn’t about John the gospel writer, but rather John the Baptist. The one who paved the way for Christ. Can you imagine two rubber bands and 1 pencil?

Loop the 2 ends of the rubberbands around one pencil. Now pull one rubberband to the left with one hand, and one to the right with the other hand (the pencil stays in the center).

• Look at the rubberband stretching to the left. That’s the old testament prophets.
• Look at the rubberband stretching to the right. That’s the gospel writers.
• The part of the rubber band that is in both – that is, around the one pencil? That’s John the Baptist. He is the “BRIDGE.”
• Jesus himself says John the Baptist is above all other prophets. He ushers in The Way.

Here, today, we hear, “He was NOT the light, but came to testify TO the light.” Jesus is the light, the light of the 3rd candle:

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests
and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it,
but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,

“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”

So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”

He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘make straight the way of the Lord,’”
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent. 

They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”

John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”

This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.

So who IS John the Baptist? He says he is Not the Christ. He is not Elijah.

He is “the voice of one crying out in the desert. Make straight the way of the Lord.” We see here that John was sent from God. He is a messenger. He is sent to prepare us for Christmas, and for the coming of Christ. He speaks the familiar words of Isaiah to his audience “Make straight his paths.”

What is our role in the coming of Christ at Christmas?

Are we the light or are you testifying TO the light? How are we doing this? Are we doing things to prepare for Christ to come into your heart? How are we preparing our family, our hearts for The Way?

Today is a day of Hope. Hope is eternal when we look to Christ and believe.

When we lose hope, Satan wins. All he wants is for us to lose hope, to blow out the pink candle.

Let us affix our eyes on Christ and live in Hope!