First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Reflection: The teachings in this first reading apply just as much to us today as Christians as they did in the time of Moses to the Israelites. The call to “be holy” is a call to… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Sirach 15:15-20 Reflection: Sirach was composed in the early second century B.C. by the sage Ben Sira of Jerusalem. In this passage, he gives advice regarding the importance of God’s commandments. According to Ben Sira, and Jesus in this… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10 Reflection: In this reading from the Prophet Isaiah, we hear the Lord commanding Israel (and us today) to minister to those who are afflicted. The acts of feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, clothing the… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 Reflection:Zephaniah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah shortly before the Babylonians conquered them, destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, and exiled many of the people to Babylon in 586 B.C. He warned the… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 8:23-9:3 Reflection: In about 930 B.C. the kingdom of Israel divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom due to a dispute. In about 722 B.C., the Assyrians destroyed the Northern Kingdom and deported its people. Isaiah,… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 Reflection: This passage is the second of four “Servant Songs” from the Prophet Isaiah, speaking of the servant of the Lord. Here the “servant” is identified as Israel. At the same time, the passage also indicates… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 Reflection: In this Sunday’s first reading, Isaiah prophesies about a time of glory and splendor for Israel. This great time is represented by the symbol of light, when “the Lord shines.” This light that will come to… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 Reflection: Ahaz was the Davidic king of the southern kingdom of Judah in the eighth century B.C. The exchange given in this passage can be precisely dated to 733 B.C. when Ahaz was in the process of… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6A, 10 Reflection: In this Sunday’s first reading, the Prophet Isaiah uses the symbolism of a “desert,” “parched land,” and “the steppe” (which is a grass-covered plain) as representations of desolation. But these barren places “will bloom with… Continue Reading →
First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 Reflection: In this passage, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of a time when the Davidic kingdom would be restored and fulfilled. The “stump of Jesse” refers to the royal line of David, for Jesse was David’s father. The… Continue Reading →
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