The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 Background of the book Wisdom literature was written to pass on instructions on how to live the good life. This was at a time when a belief in any afterlife was only just beginning, and most people viewed this READ MORE
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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – Lectionary and Interpretation
This feast was initially instituted in 1925 to combat rising nationalism and fascism. The intent was to affirm the primacy of Christ over all nations. After Vatican 2, the feast was moved to close out the liturgical year. It is the culmination of Ordinary Time and is the point towards which the whole liturgical journey READ MORE
Daniel
In the Septuagint and, hence, the Christian Old Testament, Daniel is placed with the prophetic literature. In the Jewish tradition, Daniel is placed in “the writings.” Jewish rabbis apparently did not like the seemingly positive relationship between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar as portrayed in the book. Chps 1-6 are haggadic genre: stories with a moral purpose READ MORE
12th Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Job 38:1, 8-11 Background of the book In chapters 28-41, God asks Job a series of questions about the limits of what Job can do and understand. Today’s reading comes from a section around God’s creation – was Job even present at READ MORE
11th Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Ezekiel 17:22-24 Background of the book In 2 Samuel 7, David wanted to build God a temple. God rejects that idea but, instead, God says God will establish a house and lineage for David that will never end. This will later be READ MORE
10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Genesis 3:9-15 Background of the book One of the most frequent questions in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) process when we talked about scripture and salvation history was this: are the Genesis stories true? For many people coming from faith backgrounds READ MORE
Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Feasts Click here for more information. Important background on this feast Exodus 24:3-8 Background of the book The Exodus reading pictures Moses and the Israelites receiving the law (the 10 commandments plus all those other laws that define what it means to be Jewish). It’s a pretty graphic picture READ MORE
suffering servant songs
The “suffering servant songs” are found in Isaiah 42:1–4; Isaiah 49:1–6; Isaiah 50:4–7; and Isaiah 52:13–53:12. All these songs describe someone who brings hope and salvation. In their original context, they describe a nation rather than an individual. This is because the society was collectivistic, with an emphasis on family and groups, as opposed to READ MORE
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Feast Days Click here for more information. Today’s Readings and the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity Read important background on this feast here Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Background of the book In today’s passage, Moses is reminding the people who they are and what they’re about. He does this READ MORE
Feast of Pentecost – Mass During the Day
The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for the Easter Season Click here for more information. Today’s Readings In the Old Testament, Leviticus 23 talks about the Festival of Shavuot (Festival of Weeks) which happens 50 days after Passover. Traditional Judaism marks this as the day as when Moses was given the Torah. In ancient times it READ MORE