Readings:  2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14  Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15  2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5  Luke 20:27-38 Chants Crucifixion Basilca of St. Mark, Venice, 1220 Scott Hahn with David Scott With their riddle about seven brothers and a childless widow, the Sadducees in today’s Gospel mock the faith for which seven brothers and their mother die in the First Reading. The Maccabean martyrs chose death—tortured…

Readings: Wisdom 11:22-12 Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10 Chants CRUCIFIX PALENCIA, ITALY, C. 1150 (METROPOLITAN MUSEUM, NEW YORK) Scott Hahn with David Scott Our Lord is a lover of souls, the Liturgy shows us today. As we sing in today’s Psalm, He is slow to anger and compassionate towards all that He has made. In His…

Readings: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 Psalm 34:2-3,17-19, 23  2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18  Luke 18:9-14 Chants Majestad (Christ Crucified as King of Kings), Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona, 1150 Scott Hahn with David Scott Jesus draws a blunt picture in today’s Gospel. The Pharisee’s prayer is almost a parody of the thanksgiving psalms (see for example Psalms 30,118). Instead of praising God for…

Readings: Exodus 17:8-13 Psalm 121:1-8 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Luke 18:1-8  Chants Crucifix San Isidoro de Leon Cathedral, c. 1063 Scott Hahn with David Scott The Lord is our guardian, beside us at our right hand, interceding for us in all our spiritual battles. In today’s Psalm we’re told to lift our eyes to the mountains, that our help will come…

Readings: 2 Kings 5:14-17 Psalm 98:1-4 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19  Chants Christ at the Column, Diego de Siloe, 1523 Cathedral of Burgos, Spain  Scott Hahn with David Scott A foreign leper is cleansed and in thanksgiving returns to offer homage to the God of Israel. We hear this same story in both the First Reading and Gospel today. There…

Readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3;2:2-4 Psalm 95:1-2,6-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14 Luke 17:5-10 Chants Christ in Majesty (from La Portada del Sarmental), Burgos Cathedral, Spain, c. 1235 Scott Hahn with David Scott Because of his faith, the just man shall live. We hear in today’s First Reading the original prophetic line made so central by St. Paul (see Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). We are…

Readings: Amos 6:1, 4-7 Psalm 146:7-10 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 (see also “Who is the Rich Man”) Chants Cristo Mexican American, c. 1780 (colonialarts.com) Scott Hahn with David Scott The rich and powerful are visited with woe and exile in today’s Liturgy—not for their wealth but for their refusal to share it; not for their power but for their indifference to…

Readings: Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 1Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-3 / 16:10-13 Chants Cristo Crucificado Pedro Antonio Fresquís, late 18th c. (Spanish Colonial Arts Society Museum, Santa Fe, N.M.) Scott Hahn with David Scott The steward in today’s Gospel confronts the reality that he can’t go on living the way he has been. He is under judgment, must give account…

Readings: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10  Chants Nuestra Señora Refugio de Pecadores (Our Lady Refuge of Sinners), 18th c. (De Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University) Scott Hahn with David Scott The episode in today’s First Reading has been called “Israel’s original sin.” Freed from bondage, born as a people of God…

Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18 Psalm 90:3-6, 12-17 Philemon 1:9-10, 12-17 Luke 14:25-33 Chants Cristo, ca. 1800 (De Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University) Scott Hahn with David Scott Like a king making ready for battle or a contractor about to build a tower, we have to count the cost as we set out to follow Jesus. Our Lord today is telling…