Author mattlselby

First Reading: Sirach 27:30-28:7 Reflection: The book of Sirach falls in the genre of Wisdom Literature in the Bible, along with other books like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Wisdom. We would be wise to follow the instruction given in this Sunday’s… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9 Reflection: Here the Prophet Ezekiel is “appointed watchman for the house of Israel” by the Lord. He is called to speak the word of God to the people of God, including calling out their sins and… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9 Reflection: This first reading can sound very perplexing and discouraging at first glance. Why would the prophet Jeremiah believe the Lord has “duped” him? In order to understand this reading, we must take it in context…. Continue Reading →

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Reflection: The words of the Lord here reveal that God intends for all nations to come to Him and participate in His kingdom. In the time of the writing of Isaiah, the Gentiles (non-Jews) were… Continue Reading →

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A Reflection: In this passage, the great prophet Elijah has a profound encounter with God on Mt. Horeb (better known as Mt. Sinai, where Moses also encountered God). If we read the context of this… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3 Reflection: In this first reading we hear promises made by the Lord to the Israelites. In essence, God promises to provide for them. He says He will nourish them, abating their hunger and quenching their thirst,… Continue Reading →

First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 Reflection: If you were given the opportunity to ask something of God with the assurance He would give it to you, what would you ask for? Many of us would probably ask for something involving… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 Reflection: The book of Wisdom was likely written in the first century B.C., making it the last written Old Testament book. It was likely composed in Alexandria, Egypt in Greek. There is evidence that the book… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11 Reflection: In this passage and this week’s Gospel reading we hear agricultural illustrations about the life of faith. In the First Reading from Isaiah, the Lord compares His word to the “rain and snow” that water the… Continue Reading →