SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – YEAR A SHE WILL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE ANDWILL GROW LIKE A LEBANON CEDAR Download version Introduction Israel was a tree that the Lord had germinated from a seed and then cultivated. Later the enemy came, armed with a lumberjack’s ax. The tree was smashed with merciless blows and reduced […]
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Year A A JUDGMENT THAT SAVES Download version Introduction “Fear the judgment of God!” Some preachers still use threats to dissuade us from evil, but this tactic is becoming increasingly ineffective. The image of God as a judge is present throughout the Gospel, particularly in Matthew, where it appears on nearly
THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C OUR LORD, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE,HAS FOR HIS THRONE A CROSS Download version Introduction When Emperor Tiberius rules Rome, John the Baptist appears along the Jordan River. Hiswords spark excitement, awaken expectations, and raise hopes. The political and religious authorities are concerned because they view his
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C COURAGE, RAISE YOUR HEADS! Download version Introduction In times of political upheavals, wars, famine and pestilence follow suit. The situationof misery becomes intolerable. Rumors spread quickly about the end of the world. To give credit to their ranting, the followers of the fundamentalist sects refer to some biblical texts. The
THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C THE NEWBORN – A CHRISTIAN MODEL Download version Introduction One day, some mothers present their kids to Jesus so that he may take them in his arms and caress them (Mk 10:13). The disciples, who judge this excessive familiarity as an inconvenience, drive them away with rebukes. Jesus reacts: “the
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C AT TIMES IT IS EASY TO LOSE ONE’S FAITH Download version Introduction A wise person of the Old Testament summarizes the accumulated life experiences: “From my youth to old age, I am yet to see the righteous forsaken or their children begging for alms. For the Lord loves
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C FROM HEALING TO FAITH Download version Introduction We can run the risk of reducing the message of today’s Gospel to a lesson of good manners, to remember to thank those who help us. The Samaritan leper is seen at times as a model of gratitude and nothing
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C PRAYER: RECOGNIZING GOD IN OUR HISTORY Download version Introduction The Bible never says that Abraham entered a shrine to pray, yet he is considered the father of believersand a model of the man who prays. It is necessary to believe to pray, and to believe one needs to pray. His whole life is marked by prayer; he initiated things only after hearing the Word of the Lord; he took
