13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time Click here for more information. Overview and Connections Today’s readings issue a call to wholehearted commitment, but they also remind us that such a call comes with a price. And yet, the call is given to each and every one of us. 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21 Background READ MORE

1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus

Both letters to Timothy, along with the letter to Titus, are known as the “pastoral epistles.” All were written by an anonymous author (or authors) in the Pauline tradition, and they were accepted by the church as such. Most scholars date them very late, around 100 AD. The purpose of all the pastoral epistles was 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 Genesis 14:18-20 Background of the book The beginning of this chapter sets the stage with four kings from the East and five rebel kings from the West. The rebels have joined forces near the Dead Sea (v3). They READ MORE

Philemon

Date There is no doubt this was a prison letter, but which imprisonment is impossible to say. It could be Paul’s Roman imprisonment around 61-63AD. Or an earlier one in Ephesus around 56-57AD. The letter was likely written the same time as Colossians. Colossians 4:9 mentions that Onesimus will be traveling with the person delivering READ MORE

Solemnity of the Ascension (Luke’s Gospel)

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for the Easter Season Click here for more information. Today’s Readings Today we celebrate the feast of the Ascension. Technically, Ascension happens 40 days after Easter which is always on a Thursday. But most dioceses in the US transfer the feast to Sunday. Ten days after Ascension is Pentecost – READ MORE

Ecclesiastes

Genre This book is wisdom literature, which gives rules of proper conduct, usually in the form of maxims, pithy insights, and “words to live by.” Wisdom literature attempts to show the way things are and the way things should be. Also of this genre are Job, Proverbs, and the book of Wisdom. The goal of READ MORE

Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for the Easter Season See more information here The first three Sundays of Easter are focused on resurrection appearances – a reminder that Christ is alive and still with us! The next three Sundays remind us of our ongoing mission in the world. Today’s reading from the book of Revelation READ MORE

Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for the Easter Season See more information here The first three Sundays of Easter are focused on resurrection appearances – a reminder that Christ is alive and still with us! The next three Sundays remind us of our ongoing mission in the world. The Acts reading shows Paul and Barnabas READ MORE