This post was written by Christopher Vogt, and was originally published on this site on April 14th, 2015. Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 1 Jn 2:1-5a Luke 24:35-48 Why so many weeks of Easter you may ask? Do we really need another set of stories about Jesus returning to visit the disciples after his death?   Isn’t the message pretty straightforward? He is risen! It is clear from this week’s Gospel (and others in the Easter season) that the disciples were confused and did not really understand the nature and meaning of the resurrection. They were still in shock from Jesus’ sud ..read more

First Reading – Acts 4:32-35 Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 Second Reading – 1 John 5:1-6 Gospel – John 20:19-31 This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The typical argument for the specification of this particular Sunday as the day when we celebrate God’s mercy is twofold: We have just celebrated Easter Sunday, when the power of God’s mercy in response to our sinfulness was on full display through the death and resurrection of Christ; and, in this Sunday’s Gospel reading we see Christ’s merciful kindness on display again in his respons ..read more

Image by Freepik Today is the greatest of all days, the Sunday of all Sundays! Our faith culminates today with the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Depending on which Mass you attend, you may hear different readings, from the extensive narration of salvation history at the Easter Vigil Mass to the simple gospel passage of Mary Magdalene finding an empty tomb. Regardless of the the readings, however, the theme is the same. Jesus is risen from the dead! Alleluia, alleluia, truly he is risen! Some of us may have had a fruitful Lent, characterized by powerful penitential practices that helpe ..read more

Gospel at the Procession of the Palms: Mk 11:1-10 Is 50:4-7 Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Phil 2:6-11 Mk 14:1—15:47 As I look toward Holy Week, I find myself drawn to the epistle reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Many scholars suggest this passage is an ancient hymn about Jesus Christ, who: emptied himself,     taking the form of a slave,     coming in human likeness;     and found human in appearance,     he humbled himself,     becoming obedient to the point of death,     even death on a ..read more

This week’s readings convey a sense of the epic nature of the events towards which our Lenten journey leads. In the first reading, God promises a new covenant, one that goes far beyond what God accomplishes in freeing the Israelites from slavery and giving them the Law on Sinai. Remember, Jeremiah has in mind some pretty epic events – the grand parting of the Red Sea and the theophany on Mount Sinai. Something even greater than these is promised. And so we see Jesus pronouncing that His “hour” has come, accompanied by signs from heaven that promise glory in a great, thunderous voice. To what d ..read more

First Reading – Exodus 20:1-17 Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Gospel – John 2:13-25 The readings for this week contain some of the more familiar passages in the Bible (Hello, Ten Commandments), but I am struck most by the last line of the Gospel. The part where it says Jesus “did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.” In some ways, this is the most powerful reminder of the impact of the Incarnation in the Gospels. Jesus does not need anyone to explain the intricacies of our human nature to him. By becomi ..read more

Getty Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons The readings for the Second Sunday of Lent can be found here. Our first reading today from the book of Genesis is one of the most famous in Scripture. The story of Abraham almost sacrificing his son Isaac can be interpreted at the literal level as a lesson in doing the will of God without question. In this season of Lent, however, and with the other readings for this Sunday, we can see the importance of a typological interpretation – one that relates this story to a larger Christologocial narrative. Abraham did not sacrifice his own son, but G ..read more

This post was originally published by Conor Kelly on February 18, 2021. Genesis 9:8–15 Psalm 25:4–5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:12–15 In many ways, the readings for the First Sunday of Lent are a continuation of the readings from Ash Wednesday. The former, like the latter, establish a vision for how we should approach the totality of Lent, giving us the perspective we need to grow as we are called to do during this season. At the heart of this Sunday’s readings is the same message at the heart of lent: repentance. This message could not be clearer in the Gospel, where we hear the first wo ..read more

written by Kathryn Getek Soltis originally published February 5, 2015 Job 7:1-4, 6-7 / Psalm 147:1-6 / 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 / Mark 1:29-39 A man detained in a local jail once shared with me something that he feared to reveal to anyone in the facility.  His previous HIV positive status had become AIDS.  He didn’t even use those words explicitly, but the meaning of what he confided was clear.  As the conversation continued, I became more aware of and intentional about making contact with him.  Prison volunteers in this facility are instructed to carefully limit contac ..read more

On Mondays throughout the year, New Wine New Wineskins, a fellowship of early-career moral theologians, shares posts from members. This week, Antônio Lemos shares from his dissertation research on the ethics of migration and property. For more information about the upcoming 2024 NWNW annual conference, held this July at the University of Notre Dame, and how to submit a proposal, see the Call for Papers here. And, as always, check back each Monday for more content from New Wine New Wineskins! The origin, limits, and function of private property is a key theme in Catholi ..read more