June 5, 2011 – Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 1:12-14; Psalm 27; 1 Peter 4:13-16; John 17:1-11 Editor’s Note: While most Catholic dioceses in the United States celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord on June 5, some dioceses still observe it on its proper date (June 2), and will observe June 5 […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – June 2 or June 5, 2011
June 2 or June 5, 2011 – The Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus’ instructions are as clear as can be imagined: the Church’s missionary task is to take the Gospel to the whole world. As St. Luke records it in Acts, “You will be my witnesses … […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011 – Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalm 66; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21 “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,” St. Peter wrote. Perhaps that’s as succinct a way to summarize what Christian living is all about as is possible. We are called to grow in holiness, and the way […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – May 22, 2011
May 22, 2011 — Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12 It’s a pretty startling statement that Jesus makes at the end of today’s Gospel: “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.” When we think of the mighty […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – May 15, 2011
May 15, 2011 — Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14, 36-41; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 10:1-10 Anyone who has worked with sheep can tell you they are almost helpless. Often considered the most thoroughly domesticated animals in the world, they can seldom survive on their own without human help, unlike goats, horses, cattle, […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – May 8, 2011
May 8, 2011 – Third Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35 Don’t you ever wish, at least occasionally, that tape recorders had been invented a few centuries ago? You could then hear some interesting and important historical conversations replayed whenever you wished. And of all the fascinating discussions […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – May 1, 2011
May 1, 2011 — Second Sunday of Easter, or Divine Mercy Sunday Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 The joy of the Resurrection permeates all of the Christian life, for each aspect of our lives should be affected by the knowledge that Jesus has risen from the dead and shares eternal life […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – April 24, 2011
April 24, 2011 — Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9 or Matthew 28:1-10 or (at an afternoon Mass) Luke 24:13-35 Can you imagine how St. Peter and St. John felt on that very first Easter Day? They heard the news St. […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – April 17, 2011
April 17, 2011 — Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion At the Procession with Palms: Matthew 21:1-11 At the Mass: Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14 – 27:66 or 27:11-54 The Palm Sunday liturgy begins with Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. What a glorious event that must have been! With symbolic touches drawn […]
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings – April 10, 2011
April 10, 2011 — Fifth Sunday of Lent Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-45 “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly,” Jesus said (Jn 10:10). He then soon after demonstrated his ability to give life by raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn […]
