Short Studies on Sunday Readings – David Scott Writings

The Solemnity of Christ the King (Year A)

November 20, 2023

Readings Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17 Psalm 23: 1-3, 5-6 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Matthew 25:31-46 Chants Christ, Savior of Mankind Unknown Flemish Master, 1590s (Rockox House, Antwerp) A Royal Truth Many saints and Church leaders have seen a connection between Christ’s words in the Gospel for the Solemnity of Christ the King (see Matthew 25:31-43) and His promise to be…

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Liturgical Year B)

February 2, 2018

Readings: Jonah 3:1-5,10 Psalm 25:4-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 Chants Call of the Sons of Zebedee, Marco Basaiti, 1510 Following Him The calling of the brothers in today’s Gospel evokes Elisha’s commissioning by the prophet Elijah (see 1 Kings 19:19-21). As Elijah comes upon Elisha working on his family’s farm, so Jesus sees the brothers working by the seaside.…

4th Sunday in Advent (Liturgical Year C)

December 4, 2012

Readings Micah 5:1-4 Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19 Hebrews 5:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 (see also “The New ‘Ark’”) Chants Visitation, Master MS (Sebestyén?), 1506 A Mother's Greeting On this last Sunday before Christmas, the Church’s Liturgy reveals the true identity of our Redeemer: He is, as today’s First Reading says, the “ruler...whose origin is from...ancient times.” He will come from Bethlehem, where David was born…

The Solemnity of Christ the King (Year B)

November 5, 2012

Readings Daniel 7:13-14 Psalm 93:1-2,5 Revelation 1:5-8 John 18:33-37 Chants Christ, Savior of Mankind Unknown Flemish Master, 1590s (Rockox House, Antwerp) A Royal Truth What’s the truth Jesus comes to bear witness to in this last Gospel of the Church’s year? It’s the truth that in Jesus, God keeps the promise He made to David—of an everlasting kingdom, of an…

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

November 2, 2012

Readings Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 16:5,8-11 Hebrews 10:11-14,18 Mark 13:24-32 Chants Christ, Godescalc Gospel Lectionary, 8th c. Hope in Tribulation In this, the second-to-the-last week of the Church year, Jesus has finally made it to Jerusalem. Near to His passion and death, He gives us a teaching of hope—telling us how it will be when He returns again in glory. Today’s…

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Liturgical Year B)

November 1, 2012

Readings 1 Kings 1:10-16 Psalm 146:7-10 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 Chants The Widows’ Faith We must live by the obedience of faith, a faith that shows itself in works of charity and self-giving (see Galatians 5:6). That’s the lesson of the two widows in today’s liturgy. The widow in the First Reading isn’t even a Jew, yet she trusts in…

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

October 30, 2012

Readings Isaiah 53:10-11 Psalm 33:4-5,18-20,22 Hebrews 4:14-16 Mark 10:35-45 Chants Christ Healing the Blind Man (detail) Eustache La Sueure, 1640s Christ Healing the Blind Man (detail) Eustache La Sueure, 1640s Seeing the Son of David Today’s Gospel turns on an irony—it is a blind man, Bartimaeus, who becomes the first besides the apostles to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. And…

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

October 29, 2012

Readings Isaiah 53:10-11 Psalm 33:4-5,18-20,22 Hebrews 4:14-16 Mark 10:35-45 Chants Call of the Sons of Zebedee (detail) Marco Basaiti, 1510 Cup of Salvation The sons of Zebedee hardly know what they’re asking in today’s Gospel. They are thinking in terms of how the Gentiles rule, of royal privileges and honors. But the road to Christ’s kingdom is by way of…

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

October 28, 2012

Readings Wisdom 7:7-11 Psalm 90:12-17 Hebrews 4:12-13 Mark 10:17-30 Chants The Last Judgment (detail) Rogier van der Weyden, 1452 Wisdom and Riches The rich young man in today’s Gospel wanted to know what we all want to know—how to live in this life so that we might live forever in the world to come. He sought what today’s Psalm calls…

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

October 27, 2012

Readings Genesis 2:18-24 Psalm 128:1-6 Hebrews 2:9-11 Mark 10:2-16 Chants Marriage at Cana, Michael Pacher St. Wolfgang Altarpiece, 1481 What God Has Joined In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a trick question. The “lawfulness” of divorce in Israel was never at issue. Moses had long ago allowed it (see Deuteronomy 24:1-4). But Jesus points His enemies…