Sirach 27:30 – 28:9

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Sirach, one of the very last books of the Old Testament.  It was written between 200 and 175BC by a man who identifies himself as Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sira (cf. 50:27).  Some of your Bibles identify the book as The Wisdom of Ben Sira.  This is actually the earliest title of the book; the “ch” was added when the book was translated into Greek.  It is an excellent example of Wisdom literature, filled with moral […]

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

Ezekiel 33:7 – 9

This Sunday, we will hear from the prophet Ezekiel.  As you will recall from our previous encounters with this book, he is a most exciting prophet, the first to prophesy in Babylon; his prophecy is directed to the Jewish community still in Jerusalem.  As you see from […]

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

1 Kings 19: 9a, 11 – 13a

This Sunday, we will hear again from the first book of Kings, as we did two weeks ago.  You will recall that it is one of the historical books.  1 Kings was written before the fall of Jerusalem and finally edited shortly after its […]

Opening Prayer:  Prov. 9: 1 – 6

Isaiah 55:1 – 3

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

Over the past few Sundays, we’ve heard the Gospel of Matthew speak in various ways about the kingdom of God.  This Sunday, we experience a taste of God’s kingdom in action.  I hope you found last week’s discussion about the Kingdom […]

1 Kings 3:5, 7 – 12

Over the past few Sundays, we’ve heard the Gospel of Matthew speak in various ways about the kingdom of God.  Five weeks ago, on the 12^th Sunday, we heard Jesus assure those who acknowledged him would be acknowledged before God in his heavenly kingdom.  The next week, we heard Jesus declare that “whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”  But, “whoever receives a prophet…will receive a prophet’s reward” which is, ultimately, union with God in heaven.  […]

Wisdom 12:13, 16 – 19

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

As we celebrate the 16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we address an issue that is certainly on our minds today as we continue to struggle with the coronavirus pandemic: does evil exist?  This virus certainly seems to be a force of evil.  It has forced us […]

Isaiah 55:10 – 11

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

This Sunday, we will hear just two verses from Isaiah, chapter 55.  Since it is from one of the chapters between 40 and 55, we know that it is deutero-Isaiah, a prophecy dating to the time of the Babylonian Exile (587 – 539BC).  As always, it prepares […]

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

ZECHariah 9:9-10

We hear from the Book of the prophet Zechariah only twice in the entire three-year Sunday readings cycle: on the 12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time in year C and this Sunday, the 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time in year A.  So, let’s review who Zechariah is, when he […]

2 Kings 4:8 – 11, 14 – 16a

Welcome to my annotated commentary on Sunday’s readings.  The purpose of my commentary is to give you the background for each reading, a little better understanding of its message and the message that all of the Sunday readings together provide us.

This Sunday, we will hear one of Elisha’s miraculous pronouncements, one of a series of miracles performed at his hand.  It prepares us for the Gospel.  We haven’t read from 2 Kings for a long time, so let’s place it in context.  Recall […]