1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19

As we return to Ordinary Time, time that is ordered for our salvation, this Sunday we will hear about the calling of Samuel to become a prophet.  You may recall the birth of Samuel to Hannah, who had been sterile (cf. 1 Sm 1:1-28).  Shortly after his birth, Hannah dedicated Samuel to God by bringing him to the temple.  We begin the season of Ordinary Time with a classic vocation narrative. For those who know the story of his early life, Samuel’s call is not much of […]

Isaiah 60: 1 – 6

This Sunday, we will hear again from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  The section we will hear is from the 60^th chapter, so we know that it is from trito-Isaiah, which comes from the time when the people have returned from the Babylonian exile.  Whereas Isaiah’s prophecy is filled with warnings of impending doom, here we will hear a message of hope.  Those of you who have the Catholic Study Bible will want to check the footnote on these verses:  The Church makes use of […]

Isaiah 40:1 – 5, 9 – 11

The first reading and Gospel passage this Sunday speak of St. John the Baptist, the last prophet of the Old Testament who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. Unlike last week’s readings, which focused on the coming of the Lord at the end of time, this week’s first reading and gospel focus on his first coming – and the preparation for his coming through John the Baptist’s prophetic proclamations. 

For our first reading this Sunday, we will again hear from the […]

Isaiah 63: 16b – 17, 19b, 64:2 – 7

We begin Year B in the Sunday Liturgical Calendar this Sunday.  The Gospel featured this year is Mark; the oldest Gospel and the shortest.  And, as we do in year A, we will hear for the next three weeks from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  This Sunday, it is from the chapters that are often called Trito-Isaiah (56 – 66) and most scripture scholars assign to the time after the people have been allowed to return to Jerusalem.  But, as […]

As you may have noticed, I usually begin our Bible Study/Faith Sharing with the first reading and then review the Gospel; if there is time, I then reflect on the second reading.  I do this because the first reading is usually selected to prepare us for the principal message for the week which is found in the gospel.  This week, however, I would like to start with the second reading because it is through the lens of this reading that the other two readings make most sense.  As we approach […]

Wisdom 6:12 – 16

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of Wisdom. Again, the passage was clearly chosen to prepare us for the Gospel.  We need to seek wisdom in our lives in order to prepare for the time when God calls us to his heavenly banquet.  It has been awhile since we heard from Wisdom, so let’s review.  This book is not part of the Hebrew Masoretic collection but is included in the Septuagint manuscript; there, it is known as the Wisdom of Solomon and is included in […]

Malachi 1:14b – 2:2b, 8 – 10

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of the prophet Malachi.  The last time we heard from Malachi was on the 33^rd Sunday of Ordinary time last year (in fact, it’s only these two Sundays that we hear from this prophet), so let’s look at its origin.  The work itself has no dates to give an indication of when it was written or what period of time is being addressed.  Since it addresses abuses that Ezra (priest from Babylon who returned to Jerusalem […]

Isaiah 55:6 – 9

This Sunday, we will hear from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  Seeing that it is taken from chapter 55, we know that it is part of Deutero-Isaiah, dealing with Israel during its Babylonian exile.  It is at the very end of the Babylonian captivity and we should read the opening verses of the chapter since they speak in anticipation of how the Persians would allow the exiles to return.  The Book of Ezra opens with the decree of Cyrus that called the exiles to return to […]