Author mattlselby

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11 Reflection: Pentecost was a Jewish feast that occurred 50 days after the Passover and commemorated the giving of the law to Moses and the Israelites on Mt. Sinai. On the Pentecost following Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, the… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Reflection: This Sunday we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, which is deferred from the official date of the Thursday that falls 40 days after Easter Sunday (May 18th this year) to the nearest Sunday. Forty days… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Reflection: The Samaritans were a particular group of people living in north-central Israel. Their Jewish ancestors had intermarried with non-Jews after the time when the Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered in 722 B.C. by the… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 6:1-7 Reflection: This week’s First Reading recalls the choosing of the first deacons in the Church. Seven men were chosen to fill a role of service. The need for this role arose out of a practical complaint from… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 2:14A, 36-41 Reflection: Can you imagine 3,000 people being baptized in one day at the same place? The scene must have been spectacular! This Sunday’s first reading picks up where last Sunday’s first reading left off, continuing to… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33 Reflection: During the Easter season, the First Reading, which is typically taken from the Old Testament, comes from the Acts of the Apostles instead. Thus, we have the opportunity to hear about the early days of… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47 Reflection: This passage from the Acts of the Apostles tells us about the practices of the early Christians at the very beginning of the Church. Amazingly, we see the continuity between our practice of the Mass today… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Acts 10:34A, 37-43 Reflection: During the Easter season, which we celebrate for 50 days in the Catholic Church (until Pentecost), we hear from the Acts of the Apostles in the First Readings, rather than the Old Testament. The book… Continue Reading →