4th Sunday of Advent Year B

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation during Advent Today we make a chronological move backwards but a theological move forward. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as God incarnate and Mary is the agent of that incarnation, bringing to fulfillment in history what John the Baptist had predicted. 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16 Background on READ MORE

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time More information can be found here. Sirach 27:30—28:7 Around 132BC, a man named Yeshua ben Eleazar ben Sira translated into Greek a book of maxims written by his grandfather about 50 years earlier. The grandfather had written these wise sayings in Hebrew or Aramaic. The grandson was READ MORE

3rd Sunday of Advent Year B

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation during Advent Today is Gaudete Sunday. The traditional entrance antiphon for today’s Mass comes from Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.” To use a musical metaphor: this Sunday is a crescendo of joy! We can ask what each of these passages have to say about READ MORE

2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation during Advent Today we continue our wait but perhaps on a slightly more hopeful note than last week. John preaches repentance, metanoia, a change of life. To turn one’s life around perhaps implies a certain amount of looking at where you are in preparation for turning a new direction and READ MORE

1st Sunday of Advent Year B

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation during Advent Today we begin to wait. We look back on our history (corporately, spiritually, individually) and see that many of our hopes remain unfulfilled. Think back to the beginning of this calendar year. What hopes did you have? What goals or resolutions did you make? How are those looking READ MORE