The Conversion of St. Paul
Acts 22:3-16  +  Mark 16:15-18
January 25, 2016 

“ ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.’ ” Continue reading →

The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Nehemiah 8:2-4,5-6,8-10  +  1 Corinthians 12:12-30  +  Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
January 24, 2016                                        

“Now the body is not a single part, but many.” Continue reading →

Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time [II]
II Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,19,23-27  +  Mark 3:20-21
January 23, 2016

“Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.” Continue reading →

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
I Samuel 24:3-21  +  Mark 3:13-19
January 22, 2016

“Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom He wanted….” Continue reading →

St. Agnes, Virgin Martyr
I Samuel 18:6-9;10:1-7  +  Mark 3:7-12
January 21, 2016

“A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.” Continue reading →

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time [II]
I Samuel 17:32-33,37,40-51  +  Mark 3:1-6
January 20, 2016

“They watched Jesus closely to see if He would cure him on the Sabbath….” Continue reading →

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time [II]
I Samuel 16:1-13  +  Mark 2:23-28
January 19, 2016

“ ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.’ ” Continue reading →

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time [C]
Isaiah 62:1-5  +  1 Corinthians 12:4-11  +  John 2:1-12
January 17, 2016

“…as a bridegroom rejoices in His bride / so shall your God rejoice in you.”

The spiritual life is a match made in Heaven.  But it’s also made on earth.  The Word of God proclaims this throughout the Old Testament, from Adam and Eve forward.  The Old Testament prophet Isaiah, in the final verses of today’s First Reading, prophesies about how the relationship between the Lord God and His People Israel is like a marriage.  Isaiah declares:  “As a young man marries a virgin, / your Builder shall marry you; / and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride / so shall your God rejoice in you.”

This marriage is all the more impressive given the infinite distance between, on the one hand the All-Holy Lord, and on the other hand the sinful people of Israel.  The people of Israel not only shared in the Original Sin of their first parents Adam and Eve.  Even worse, they had been unfaithful to the Covenant that they as a People had made with God.  They deserved to be called “Forsaken” and “Desolate”.  But Isaiah declares:  “No more shall people call you ‘Forsaken’, or your land ‘Desolate’, but you shall be called ‘My Delight’, and your land ‘Espoused’.” Continue reading →

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time [II]
I Samuel 15:16-23  +  Mark 2:18-22          
January 18, 2016

“ ‘…the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them….’ ” Continue reading →