Sunday Scripture

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 26

Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17,18b

Ephesians 5:21-32

John 6:60-69 

In today's first reading, Wisdom is personified as a woman who has invited all people to come to a banquet she has prepared: "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsaking foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding."

In today's scriptural readings, God's revealed word is depicted as God's life-giving antidote to the death-dealing forces at work within our unredeemed human nature.

We see this very clearly in today's first reading from the Book of Kings. Elijah is despondent and depressed. Jezebel is hunting him down, seeking his life. Filled with self-pity, he escapes into the desert to sleep under a broom tree. He asks God to take his life.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 5, 2012

Ex 16:2-4,12-15

Eph 4:17,20-24

Jn 6:24-35 

Today's readings are filled with so much light and so much hope, and so much energy to combat our society's dark pessimism and its total absorption in things -- what we can see, feel, touch, taste, smell and own. These values lead ultimately to despair because they have no life beyond the grave.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 1:13-15;2:23-24

2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15

Matthew 5:21-43