relating to liturgy or public worship
Hospitality (16th Ordinary Sunday: Genesis 18:1-10; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42) In the spirit of Mary’s words, “Come closer, children, don’t be afraid,” we welcome you once again to our weekly reflection. Make yourself at home. Abraham, in the first reading, is a model of hospitality. He ran to meet the…
The Obvious Answer 15th Ordinary Sunday: Deut. 30:10-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37 In the first reading, Moses states that the Law is not beyond his people’s ability to know it or carry it out. Mary at La Salette touches on some of the simplest and most obvious requirements of Christian…
The Joy and Boast of Missionaries 14th Ordinary Sunday: Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 [NOTE: The following is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Bishop Donald Pelletier, M.S., 90, lifelong missionary to Madagascar, who died when struck by a car on June 4, 2022, even as this reflection was…
Which Yoke? (13th Ordinary Sunday: 1 Kings 19:16-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; Luke 9:51-62) Anyone who has seen traditional farming knows what a yoke is: a wooden structure placed over the neck of animals, for plowing or pulling heavy loads. Often two animals are yoked together, sharing the burden. This is part…
La Salette, a Blessing (Corpus Christi: Genesis 1:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-36; Luke 9:11-17) “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you.” These words are recited by the priest at the offertory of every Mass. This is such an…
Faith, Peace, Grace, Hope (Trinity Sunday: Proverbs 8:22-31; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15) In his prayer the amazed psalmist asks God, “What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?” This is a very important question, which we might…
Suddenly, Quietly, Pentecost (Pentecost: Acts 2:1-11; Romans 8:8-17; John 20:19-23. Other options possible.) By way of encouragement, St. Paul wrote to the Christians of Rome: “You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit.” He then compared them to non-believers. “Whoever does not have the…
Ready, Willing, Able (7th Sunday of Easter: Acts 7:55-60; Revelation 22:12-20; John 17:20-26) The death of Steven is recorded in the first reading. The account includes this sentence: “The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.” This is the same Saul who would be…
The Holy Spirit and Us (6th Sunday of Easter: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Rev. 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29) The letter sent to the Gentile Christians, in today’s first reading, is essential to our understanding of the Church. The resolution of the crisis is prefaced with the phrase, “It is the decision of…
All Things New (5th Sunday of Easter: Acts 14:21-27; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35) The closing words of today’s reading from the Apocalypse, “Behold, I make all things new,” seem to radiate through all of today’s liturgy. The word “new” occurs at least eight times: three times in antiphons and prayers, once…
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