Reflections on the Sunday Readings

                                                                                          30th Sunday of Ordinary Time Our gospel this weekend opens with a scene like the gospel over the last couple of weeks in which Jesus is being tested by different segments of the Jewish authorities.   This time it is group known as the Sadducees, who are asking him, “Which commandment is the greatest.” (Matt 22:34).  The Sadducees were a wealthy, aristocratic Jewish sect who included a number of the Jewish priests but also included a number of Jewish nobles and wealthy Jewish merchants.  They held a strict adherence to the Jewish law, as found in the Torah (the first five books of the bible). 1           ...

29 th Sunday of Ordinary Time 10-18-26 In the first reading this weekend we read how Cyrus, the pagan king of Babylon, becomes the instrument through which God will work to free the Jews, from the bondage they experienced during their Babylonian exile which was imposed on them   by Cyrus’s predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar.    Through Isaiah words we understand that God inspired Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem where they will   rebuild their city and temple   and thereby be able to worship God in their own way.      “For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, (i.e., Cyrus) giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the Lord and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:4-6)     Reflecting on this first reading can make us wonder who in our lives has been used by God to help us, to rescue us, to teach us of the closeness of our God to us?    Perhaps,   it was...

  28 th Sunday of Ordinary Time 10-11-26 The Invitation It is interesting in the gospel, that many of the King‘s friends who are invited to come to the feast, find a reason why it is inconvenient at that time to come.     One says that he has gotten married and therefore is going on his honeymoon. 1      Another has bought piece of land and must go inspect it .    These may seem like a lot of strange excuses to reject the wedding invitation which they had indicated beforehand that they would accept.   In prayerful reflection we might wonder, does these rejections echo in any way the promises we made in our own Baptism or Confirmation years ago about our willingness to follow Jesus even if at times, it might be inconvenient or dangerous or embarrassing for us to do?                           Have you ever planned a party and invited lots of friends, but each one found a r...

                                                    29 th Sunday of Ordinary Time 10-18-26 In the first reading this weekend we read how Cyrus, the pagan king of Babylon, becomes the instrument through which God will work to free the Jews, from the bondage they experienced during their Babylonian exile which was imposed on them  by Cyrus’s predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar.   Through Isaiah words we understand that God inspired Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem where they will  rebuild their city and temple  and thereby be able to worship God in their own way.    “For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, (i.e., Cyrus) giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the Lord and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:4-6)    Reflecting on this...

        26 Sunday of Ordinary Time    9-26-26 Our gospel this weekend refers to a very human characteristic that often many people find themselves doing.   They promise one thing but do the opposite.   Or they promise one thing, but then never go and do it. Such person can be said to have good intentions, but there is little action on those intentions.                                                                                                         Often with repentance it can remain only an intention until it is put into action. For example, a person keeps a letter of apology in a drawer for months, continually revising it, but never sending it (i.e., there is so action...