The Mass in Focus
Readings for the holy Mass — 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Read or listen to the readings before Mass.
Our busy age offers ways to serve, in the model of Jesus, every day
I often hear it said that we live in a busy age. It seems like there is always something going on or somewhere to go. There is a lot of movement. Running from work to school or to take the kids from one activity to another, fixing up the home or trying to find a job. So much goes on each and every day. Many people I speak with often comment about their activity. Jesus, once again, speaks to us of discipleship as tied to the cross. Last week we heard Jesus speak of his identity as the Messiah being tied to His self-offering. So strong was His point that when Peter began to rebuke him for this Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan.”
Readings for the holy Mass — 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition. 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read Msgr. Joseph Prior's commentary on the readings for this Sunday's Mass. See the Mass readings for Sunday, September 30, 2012 See the readings for today’s Mass Listen to the daily readings in audio
Faith needs to be put into action to yield good fruit
There is an old story about a woman with a beautiful set of valuable pearls. The story goes that the woman wanted to keep them safe so she contacted a bank for a safety deposit box. A concern was raised due to the fact that pearls need to be worn in order to keep their luster. So the woman made arrangements for a bank secretary to wear them once a week. The secretary with two guards would go into the vault each week. She would put on the pearls then go to lunch with the guards every week. In doing this the pearls retained their luster and were kept in good condition.
Readings for the holy Mass – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition. 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read Msgr. Joseph Prior's commentary on the readings for this Sunday's Mass. See the Mass readings for Sunday, September 16, 2012 See the readings for today’s Mass Listen to the daily readings in audio
Readings for the holy Mass — 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition. 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Read Msgr. Joseph Prior's commentary on the readings for this Sunday's Mass. See the Mass readings for Sunday, September 9, 2012 See the readings for today’s Mass Listen to the daily readings in audio
Baptism’s call, rooted in Gospel, resounds throughout our life
“He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak,” the people say in response to the awesome acts of Jesus. The people see the remarkable deeds of Jesus and they begin to believe. Jesus’ life giving actions bring healing and life. St. Mark presents this episode in the ministry of Jesus in witness to His authority and power. The first reading for today’s Mass gives us a context for understanding the Gospel at a deeper level. Isaiah offers words of hope and encouragement saying “Be, strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.” Isaiah continues the passage by describing the divine activity of salvation – “the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be cleared…the tongue of the mute will sing.”
The ‘heart of the matter’ lies in its interior transformation
“The heart of the matter,” is an expression we often hear to express the centrality of a situation, message or idea. In ancient Judaism the “heart” was used symbolically as the center of the person. It represents not so much an organ of the body but the seat of a person’s identity. Jesus uses this term in today’s Gospel passage from St. Mark when he quotes Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Readings for the holy Mass — 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Read or listen to the readings before Mass with the resources below from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, using the New American Bible, Revised Edition. 22st Sunday in Ordinary Time Read Msgr. Joseph Prior's commentary on the readings for this Sunday's Mass. See the Mass readings for Sunday, September 2, 2012 See the readings for today’s Mass Listen to the daily readings in audio
Through ‘Bread of Life,’ we share in Christ’s divine life
“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God,” Peter replies to Jesus when asked, “Do you also want to leave?” Today’s Gospel passage is the last section of the “Bread of Life” discourse that we have been following for the past month. Peter’s response is a profession of faith in Jesus. The context here is important in understanding the significance of Peter’s response.