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

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time More information can be found here. Ezekiel 33:7-9 See background on this book. The book of Isaiah is largely consoling to the people. Jeremiah was just the opposite. Ezekiel is a mix. The book begins with oracles of judgment against Israel in chapters 1-24 and then the 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

22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time More information can be found here. Jeremiah 20:7-9 See background on this book here. On the 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time we read from this same chapter vv10-13. Today we back up and read the verses before that. All the prophets wrote about the despair they sometimes READ MORE

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time More information can be found here. Isaiah 22:19-23 Isaiah I: shape up or else; exile is coming 1-39Isaiah II – Book of Consolation, Comfort. People in captivity, discouraged and tempted to drift 40-55Isaiah III: going home 56-66 Trito Isaiah; struggle for a new temple and new leadership READ MORE

20th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time More information can be found here. Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Isaiah I: shape up or else; exile is coming 1-39Isaiah II – Book of Consolation, Comfort. People in captivity, discouraged and tempted to drift 40-55Isaiah III: going home 56-66 Trito Isaiah; struggle for a new temple and new READ MORE

19th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time More information can be found here. 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A See book background here.  Chapters 17-19 are all the collected stories about Elijah’s life and ministry. Elijah lived under King Ahab and even though he fights against Ahab and wins, he still gets discouraged. Leading up to today’s READ MORE

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Feast Days A feast day brings an additional level to interpretation of the readings. For a feast, all three readings are chosen to correspond to the theme of the feast. In a sense they all go together but they do not necessarily depend on one another. Each reading stands READ MORE

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year A

The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time More information can be found here. 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 See book background here.  Under King David, the Israelite kingdom was at its height of peace and prosperity. Under his son Solomon it flourished but towards the end of Solomon’s reign it began a decline which would READ MORE