Know Before You Go

Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, which celebrate the coming messiah. The Prophet Micah promises that one day a ruler will come who will lead justly, not just for Jerusalem, but for the whole world, so that the poor might flourish. The letter to the Hebrews explains how the sacrifice of Jesus actually frees people from sin, unlike the sacrifices in the Temple. Then, in the Gospel of Luke, Mary believes that the time has finally come for these things to come true, helping to bring them about.

Readings: Micah 5:1–4a; Hebrews 10:5–10; Luke 1:39–45

Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP opens up the readings for us for the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete ("Rejoice") Sunday. In the readings we are challenged to see the coming of our saviour and rejoice in that knowledge, and to ask "what must I do to help bring this great thing about?"

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14–18a; Philippians 4:4–7; Luke 3:10–18

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, remembering our call to be messengers of hope for a weary world, as was the Prophet Baruch and John the Baptist. God will complete the good work already begun, and let it be done through us.

Readings: Baruch 5:1–9; Philippians 1:4–6, 8–11; Luke 3:1–6

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the First Sunday of Advent, speaking of how to live in the time in between Jesus' first coming and his second coming. Paul says we are to grow the love of others in our heart and follow God more closely. Jesus advises us to stay awake and not be distracted by anxiety. When we do, we lean into the perfection of the second coming and pull away from the hopelessness of the world.

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14–16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2; Luke 21:25–28, 34–36

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, showing the glory we hope for, and reminding ourselves how the reality we see is not what will be in the Kingdom of God. Thus, as the world struggles to become something better than it is right now, we do not despair at the destruction, but believe in the possibility of what will come.

Readings: Daniel 7:13–14: Revelation 1:5–8; John 18:33b–37

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Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, where both Daniel and Jesus predict that the world will fall apart, but God will gather the faithful from the ends of the earth and save them. When our world falls apart, we can fall apart with it in despair, adding to the pain, or we can remember that Jesus is still in the world, still bringing life out of death, and we can look for those signs, trust God, and be beacons of hope for others.

Readings: Daniel 12:1–3; Hebrews 10:11–14, 18; Mark 13:24–32

Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings include two widows who give their last pennies to the poor and are thus commended for their generosity. Such generosity is contrasted to the way rich people act and challenges our own response to the widow, the orphan and refugees who have nothing.

Readings: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, expanding on the center of God's law—the shema: love the Lord your God with everything, and love your neighbor as yourself. In the Old Testament and the New, this does not change, and it requires us to actually live according to our love in God and neighbor.

Readings: Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28-34

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, asking if we have eyes of faith to see the world as God sees it? A blind man could see that Jesus could heal him,while the others around him who were not blind did not. The prophet Jeremiah could see that God would rescue the poor and lame first, not the rich and powerful. Let us all ask God for the faith to see.

Readings: Jeremiah 31:7–9; Hebrews 5:1–6; Mark 10:46–52

Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP unpacks the readings for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time during this election season. As Jesus asks James and John if they can drink from the that he drinks from, we are asked the same question—can we drink from the cup of compassion, having compassion for sinners as Jesus did? Can we drink from the cup of solidarity with immigrants and the poor? Can we drink from the cup of justice and truth, acknowledging that the deeper truth and the fuller justice lies far beyond simple black and white characterizations.

Readings: Isaiah 53:10–11; Hebrews 4:14–16; Mark 10:35–45

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, asking us to consider if we seek first the wisdom of God, or do we get caught up chasing wealth or fame? If we think we cannot live up to this call, just lean on Jesus, because nothing is impossible for God.

Readings: Wisdom 7:7–11; Hebrews 4:12–13; Mark 10:17–30

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, showing how God works to unite people, while we try to create lines to divide people from one another.

Readings: Genesis 2:18–24; Hebrews 2:9–11; Mark 10:2–16

Fr. Brian Walker, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, reminding us of the importance of interpreting scripture correctly. When Jesus says "if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out", he does not mean that literally. Better for us to get our eye and our tongue under control and to teach them not to lead us on a path to sin.

Readings: Numbers 11:25–29; James 5:1–6; Mark 9:38–43, 45, 47–48

Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, where the first reading from the Book of Wisdom proclaims that the just one is often persecuted, and then in the Gospel Jesus predicts that he will be persecuted while is his closest disciples squabble about who is the greatest among themselves. The second reading from the Letter of James tells us that selfish ambition leads to quarrels, disorder, "and every foul practice." Do we let our selfish ambitions rule our lives, or can we seek, like Jesus asks us to do, to become servants of all?

Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17–20; James 3:16—4:3; Mark 9:30–37

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, where Peter goes from his great confession of faith in Jesus, "You are the Messiah!" to being called "satan" by Jesus just four sentences later. Faith is a fickle thing, and we learn from the Letter of James that it must be lived out to be real. In living it out, there will be ups and downs, but if we stick to the task of living out our faith we will eventually find its fullness.

Readings: Isaiah 50:4c–9a; James 2:14–18; Mark 8:27–35

Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. First, the prophet Isaiah tells a people who were suffering in darkness that God will send a messiah to save them. In the Gospel, Jesus does the things that show that he is the promised messiah, though he does not want everyone to know yet. Then, the second reading is from the Letter of James, a "brother" of Jesus, who does not claim to be the new messiah to carry on Jesus' work. Rather, James claims that Jesus is still alive and is alone the messiah, and is working though him to keep bringing about the kingdom.

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. In these readings we learn that we are embedded in a community of faith and are called to inspire others about how to live rightly in this community, embodying in our lives the faith we profess, to help all people can flourish. In this, we can get inspiration by people such as Cesar Chavez who fought for workers' rights.

Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,​6-8; James 1:17-18,​21-22,​27; Mark 7:1-8,​14-15,​21-23

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, centering on different interpretations of Paul's Letter to the Ephesians where he admonishes wives to be submissive to their husbands and husbands to love their wives, as Christ's relationship to the church is analogous to marriage. Which part you emphasize changes the interpretation of the other readings.

Readings: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32; Jn 6:60-69

Fr. Brian Walker, OP breaks open the readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, pointing out how we can feel closer to God by partaking in the Eucharist through taking communion, participating in Eucharistic Adoration, visiting a chapel, or just sitting quietly with God. How do you communicate best with the Lord? How do you help others to feel close to God?

Readings: Proverbs 9:1–6; Ephesians 5:15–20; John 6:51–58.

Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time on the Eucharist as food for the journey. Whenever we partake of this sacrament, we connect ourselves to all those who hunger physically and spiritually.

Readings: 1 Kings 19:4–8; Ephesians 4:30—5:2; John 6:41–51

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP and Fr. Michael Fones, OP break open the readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Paul challenges us to give up our "futile" way of thinking, where we rely only on our own resources. Jesus challenges us to believe in him rather than some magic formula. Exodus challenges us to trust God to lead us into a better life.

Readings: Exodus 16:2–4, 12–15; Ephesians 4:17, 20–24; John 6:24–35

Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the word for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, pondering Paul's words that we should live a life worthy of the call of the One God who is over all and in all, acknowledging that if God is in us, then God is in our enemies and in all of creation. Thus, we must share the blessings we receive from God with others, even when we think them small, and God will make sure they enough for all.

Readings: 2 Kings 4:42–44, Ephesians 4:1–6, John 6:1–15

Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP reflects on the idea of shepherds from the readings for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. Our politicians are shepherds in a sense, but Jesus is our true Shepherd. Do we place the Gospel truth ahead of political truth?

Readings: Jeremiah 23:1–6; Ephesians 2:13–18; Mark 6:30–34

Br. Joe Trout breaks open the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, tying the disparate readings together—Amos is not a professional prophet, just trying to do God's will; Jesus calls the apostles to trust him and follow his work; and Paul reminds us that it is God who lavishes grace upon us. Thus, we must ask ourselves: is this God working through me, or are these my own ideas that are getting in the way of God working through me?

Readings: Amos 7:12–15, Ephesians 1:3–14, Mark 6:7–13