Readings: Exodus 17: 3-7; Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8; John 4: 5-42 Preacher: Sr. Joan Sobala The Samaritan city of Sychar in today’s Gospel is called Nablus today—a city that is regarded as a dangerous place of overt friction between Palestinians and Israelis, as we saw a few weeks ago on the news. The ancient well is still there, where weary passers-by… read more →
Readings: Genesis 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9 Preacher: Irene Goodwin It is the Second Sunday in Lent. Last week we heard how the spirit led Jesus to the desert where he was tempted. If we followed the Gospel, we would have heard how Jesus began to gather disciples. Instead, today we hear the beautiful story of the Transfiguration. We may… read more →
Readings: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Preacher: Sheryl Zabel I was so moved last week when I saw on TV American physicians performing surgeries in tents in Turkey to save people’s lives. Surely, they were doing God’s will. And we all should be doing whatever God is calling us to do. But, as our first reading reminds us, sin… read more →
Readings: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 17-18; 1 Corinthians 3: 16-23; Matthew 5: 38-48 Preacher: M. Lourdes Perez-Albuerne “Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” What a great challenge! It seems impossible to rise to Jesus’ challenge. But Jesus lays a very concrete way to go about living this way. Most of us live by a completely opposite principle: “Love your… read more →
Readings: Sirach 15: 15-20; 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10; Matthew 5: 17-37 Preacher: Deni Mack Among the saints named Valentine, was a bishop martyred in the year 269 for breaking the law against marrying couples! What? Yes, Claudius II banned marriage, thinking that would provide him with soldiers. Soon after Valentine was put to death, his jailer’s blind daughter, Julia received a… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 58: 7-10; 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5: 13-16 Preacher: Patrick Fox This Sunday the portions of Scripture we meet are about how one ought to live. Isaiah offers a model of care for the hungry and naked and oppressed. We are comforted by words that assure us that by acting in such a manner our light will rise… read more →
Readings: Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13: 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31; Matthew 5: 1-12a Preacher: Sr. Barbara Moore Mountains in scripture are often presented as locations for God’s presence. Matthew records Jesus’ Beatitudes taught from a mountain, an event which reminds us of Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai. Matthew says he went up on the mountain, whereas Luke records a similar… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 8:23-9:3; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17; Matthew 4:12-23 Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Have you ever stopped to marvel at this gospel story? To wonder what it was about this encounter with Jesus that prompted four grown men to drop everything instantly? To leave the security of job and family? And embrace a totally unknown future? Not normal. At any level. Normal… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1: 1-3; John 1: 29-34 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino I love music. Sometimes, in fact, readings will evoke the words to a hymn. Like this hymn, in response to today’s readings. “Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days. Many are the blessings God bears to those who trust in… read more →
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-3a,5-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 Preacher: Marlene Bessette As I reflected on today’s Gospel, I kept returning to the verse that recounts the reaction when the magi’s quest to find the newborn king of the Jews led them to Jerusalem. “When King Herod heard about this, he was greatly troubled and all Jerusalem with him.” What… read more →