Category: Sunday
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Palm Sunday
Readings: Zechariah 9:9-12 | Philippians 2:5-11 | Matthew 26-27 Text: John 12:12-19 (Procession Gospel) In St. John’s account of Palm Sunday, we find out that the crowd was composed of two main groups, both of whom knew that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The verses immediately before what we heard in the procession…
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Fifth Sunday in Lent
~ Judica ~ Readings: Genesis 22:1-14 | Hebrews 9:11-15 | John 8:46-59 Text: Genesis 22:1-14 “God, what in the world are You doing? I can’t handle this! I just got done with the last wrench You threw in the works!” There are times like this, where honestly, we have no idea what our God is…
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Fourth Sunday in Lent
~ Lætare ~ Readings: Exodus 16:2-21 | Galatians 4:21-31 | John 6:1-15 Text: Exodus 16:2-21 In 1 Corinthians 10, St. Paul makes the point that the journeys of Israel in the wilderness were written for our learning, specifically “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction,…
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Third Sunday in Lent
~ Oculi ~ Readings: Exodus 8:16-24 | Ephesians 5:1-9 | Luke 1:14-28 Text: Luke 11:14-28 Jesus’ teachings in today’s Gospel readings go from difficult to startling. It’s one thing to say that, in broad theological terms, that Jesus is the strong man who binds the devil, and leads captivity captive, while we are brought by…
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Second Sunday in Lent
~ Reminiscere ~ Readings: Genesis 32:22-32 | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 | Matthew 15:21-28 Text: Genesis 32:22-32 A few weeks ago, we heard the Parable of the Sower, where our Lord says: 13The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe…
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First Sunday in Lent
~ Invocabit ~ Readings: Genesis 3:1-21 | 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 | Matthew 4:1-11 Text: Matthew 4:1-11 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Father honored the Son. He didn’t just identify him as his Son when He spoke from heaven at His baptism. He claimed him. He called Him His beloved, expressing His love…
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Quinquagesima
(About 50 Days until Easter) Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 | 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 | Luke 18:31-43 Text: Luke 18:31-43 This text is sandwiched in between the Rich Young Ruler and Rich Zacchaeus (Luke 18:18-30; Luke 19:1-10). These provide a helpful juxtaposition to the announcement of Jesus’ suffering and His being recognized by the blind man.…
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Sexagesima
~ About Sixty Days until Easter ~ Readings: Isaiah 55:10-13 | 2 Corinthians 11:19-12:9 | Luke 8:4-15 Text: Luke 8:4-15 Words are apt for misunderstanding. St. Paul’s sarcastic words in the last part of 2 Corinthians 11 could be misunderstood if you don’t understand the context and his intent. 18 Since many boast according to the…
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Septuagesima
~ About Seventy Days until Easter ~ Readings: Exodus 17:1-7 | 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5 | Matthew 20:1-16 Text: Matthew 20:1-16 The dictionary defines “grace” as God’s undeserved favor, as “God’s forgiving mercy” and “Gifts freely bestowed by [Him].”[1] So, we sing praises of God’s grace in Christ. We name congregations after it and we sing…
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The Transfiguration of Our Lord
+ Holy Baptism of David Herman Demarest + Readings: Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 Text: Matthew 17:1-9 The Feast of the Transfiguration was celebrated by Armenian Christians in the 5th century, but the commemoration as we know it today was standardized by Pope Callixtus III in 1456. It was to be celebrated on…