Category Ordinary Time

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Reflection: Moses was the leader of the Israelites at the time of the Exodus. He received the law from God on Mt. Sinai and communicated it to the Israelites. This Sunday’s first reading records a time… Continue Reading →

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:16B, 19-21 Reflection: This Sunday’s first reading recounts the calling of Elisha to be the successor of the Prophet Elijah. Both prophets lived during a difficult time in Israel’s history. The kingdom was divided and the… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Sirach 27:4-7 Reflection: This Sunday’s readings have to do with bearing fruit. Are we people who bear good fruit or bad fruit? The first reading comes from the book of Sirach, which is in the category of wisdom… Continue Reading →

First Reading: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Reflection: Saul was the first king of Israel, but he disobeyed God without repenting and, therefore, God chose to replace him with a new king, David. Through the Lord’s guidance, the prophet… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8 Reflection: This Sunday’s readings focus on blessings and woes. There are similarities between this first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah and the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount in the gospel reading. Jeremiah… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2A, 3-8 Reflection: Isaiah’s vision recorded in this Sunday’s first reading reveals much about God, Heaven, and us. Isaiah saw the throne room of God in Heaven. There God’s presence was all-consuming. Isaiah witnessed the seraphim, who… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 Reflection: The words we hear in this Sunday’s first reading were originally a message to the Prophet Jeremiah from the Lord. We hear that his mission was to be “a prophet to the nations.” This… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10 Reflection: This Sunday’s first reading takes place after the period of the Exile in the history of Israel. In 586 B.C. the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Jewish Temple. Then, they took many… Continue Reading →

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 Reflection: The Prophet Isaiah speaks in this Sunday’s first reading about a time of restoration for the people of Israel. Ultimately, this restoration would come in the Messianic Age, when the Messiah would reign as king…. Continue Reading →