Scripture:  Sirach 5:1-8. Psalm 1:1-2,3, 4, 6. Mark 9:41-50: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Ben Sira (Sirach) uses words that are rather sharp and pointed. They are meant for our growth in wisdom. These are the ones that caught my attention and made me wake up to …

Scripture: Lectionary 343. Sirach 4:11-19. Psalm 119:165.168.171.172-175. Mark 9:38-40: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Our liturgical readings taken from the wisdom thought of Sirach is supplemented by the Psalms chosen for our response and meditation.  They are psalms that are from the wisdom lineage of the Temple prayers …

Scripture: Lectionay 341. Sirach 1:1-10. Psalm 93:1.1-2.5. Mark 9:14-29: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day We begin a new ordinary liturgical time today as the readings rapidly change from the great festival and solemnity of Pentecost.  We start with a magnificent deuterocanonical  Wisdom book called Ben Sira or …

Scripture: Lectionary 301. Acts 25:13-21. Psalm 103:1-2.11-12.19-20. John 21:15-19: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day “Follow me!” These are the last words that Jesus speaks to Peter, the apostle. In doing so, he helps Peter renew the initial call to follow Jesus in his ministry. Now he …

Scripture: Lectionary 300. May 16. Acts 22:30.23:6-11. Psalm 16:1-2.5.7-8.9-10.11.  John 17:20-26: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Many of the major themes of the Fourth Gospel (John) are intertwined within the “priestly prayer” of Jesus (chapter 17).  Our specific Gospel reading for today’s liturgy is John 17:20-26.  …

Scripture: Lectionary 299. May 15. Acts 20:28-38. Psalm 68:29-33-35.35.35-36.  John 17:11-19: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day We see that Paul’s apostolic mission is coming to an end.  His martyrdom will not be narrated by Luke in the Acts, but this farewell speech shows that he is …

Scripture: Lectionary 298: May 14, Acts 20:17-27. Psalm 68:10-11.20-21. John 17:1-11: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day If one has any doubts about the necessity and value of prayer in our lives, one just has to read today’s selection from the last discourse of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel.  …

Scripture: Lectionary 297.  Acts 19:1-8. Psalm 68: 2-3,4-5.6-7. John 16:29-33: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Jesus is telling the apostles and us to “take courage” for he has overcome the world.  This means he has accomplished the will of the Father by always saying “Yes” as he …

Scripture: lectionary 62. 7th Sunday after Easter. Acts 7:55-60. Psalm 97:1-2,6-7,9. Rev. 22:12-14.16-17.20. John 17:20-25: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day We all know and sing the church song Amazing Grace.  Today John’s Gospel has Jesus giving us Amazing Love that surpasses any love that has ever burned in the human heart.  …

Scripture: Lectionary 296. May 11. Acts 18:23-28. Psalm 47: 2-3,8-9,10. John 16:23-28: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Today I was led to think of our passage from the Gospel by returning to the most beautiful prologue of John 1:1-18 that presents us with an overture for …

Scripture: Lectionary 59: Ascension Thursday.  Acts 1:1-11. Psalm 47:2-3.6-7.8-9.  Matthew 28:16-20: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day It is Luke who tells us that Jesus remained among his disciples through forty days after his resurrection.  We realize that Luke is speaking beyond our ordinary time of reckoning …

Scripture: Lectionary 293. May 8. Acts 17:15-22-18:1. Psalm 148:1-2,11-12,12-14.14. John 16:12-15: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Jesus reveals to his apostles the intimacy he has with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  In reality, this is the truth that he is speaking to them before his …

Scripture: Lectionary 292. May 7. Acts 16:22-34.  Psalm 138:1-2.2-3.7-8. John 16:5-11: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Luke, the magisterial and literary genius of Acts, now has a series of conversion stories that help us see how people respond to Paul’s preaching and healing.  They are an …

Scripture: Lectionary 291.  Acts 16:11-15. Psalm 149:1-2.3-4.5-6. John 15:26-16:4: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Some women from the city of Philippi are gathered at a place for prayer near the river bank.  It is here that Paul searches for a place to pray and finds the …

Scripture: Lectionary # 58. Sixth Sunday after Easter C.  Acts 15:1-2,22-29. Psalm 67:2-3,5-6.8. Rev. 21:10-14.22-23. John 14:23-29: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day This week leads us closer and closer to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  On Thursday or in many dioceses on the …

Scripture: Lectionary 290. Acts 16:1-10. Psalm 100:1-2.3.5. John 15:18-21: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day Sometimes the Holy Spirit directs the apostles in ways that go against their plans and desires for spreading the Good News that Jesus is alive and brings new life to those who …

Scripture: Lectionary 288. May 2. Acts 15:7-21. Psalm 96: 1-2,2-3,10.  John 15:9-11: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day John’s Gospel emphasizes the special love called AGAPE; it is especially prominent in the second part of the Gospel which we are now experiencing in the liturgy of the word.  …

Does Easter feel like it’s already long gone? Officially, Easter lasts an entire season, all the way to Pentecost. This year, it’s still “Easter” until halfway through May! And yet, in real life, Easter seems to evaporate before we finish the hard-boiled eggs. Lent’s an awful lot of work for just …

Scripture: Lectionary 55. Fifth Sunday after Easter, April 28.  Acts 14:21-27.  Psalm 145:8-9.10-11.12-13. Revelation 21:1-5. John 13:31-33.34-35: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day With springtime finally arriving and thriving we all have some experience of newness and freshness.  This is characteristic of the Easter Season in the …

Scripture: Lectionary 284. April 27, 2013.  Acts 13:44-52.  Psalm 98:1.2-3.3-4. John 14:7-14: Today’s Scriptures USCCB Video Reflection Saints of the Day We learn of Paul and Barnabas shaking the dust from their feet as they are hustled out of Pisidian Antioch.  They now will courageously and boldly proclaim the Gospel …