Readings Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalms 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34 Chants Consanguinity in Christ (Chart) from the Etymologies by Isidore of Seville Prüfening, Germany, 1165* One Flock As the Twelve return from their first missionary journey in today’s Gospel, our readings continue to reflect on the authority and mission of the Church. Jeremiah says in the First Reading that Israel’s leaders,…

Readings Amos 7:12-15 Psalms 85:9-14  Ephesians 1:3-14  Mark 6:7-13 Chants Christ in Majesty with his Apostles, Unknown Spanish Master, 1200 The Church's Mission In commissioning the apostles in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives them, and us, a preview of His Church’s mission after the resurrection. His instructions to the Twelve echo those of God to the twelve tribes of Israel on…

Readings Ezekiel 2:2-5 Psalm 123:1-4 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6 Chants Christ in the Carpenter's Shop, Georges de la Tour, 1645 Son of The Carpenter As we’ve walked with the apostles in the Gospels in recent weeks, we’ve witnessed Jesus command the wind and sea, and order a little girl to arise from the dead. But He seems to meet…

Readings Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24  Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13  2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15  Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 Chants Drawings of the Madonna and Christ, Matthew Paris, 13th c. (Corpus Christi College, Cambridge) Arise! God, who formed us in His imperishable image, did not intend for us to die, we hear in today’s First Reading. Death entered the world through the devil’s…

Readings Job 38:1, 8-11 Psalm 107:23-26, 28-31  2 Corinthians 5:14-17  Mark 4:35-41  Chants Christ and the Storm , Giorgio de Chirico, 1914 In the Storm “Do you not yet have faith?” Our Lord’s question in today’s Gospel frames the Sunday liturgies for the remainder of the year, which the Church calls “Ordinary Time.” In the weeks ahead, the Church’s liturgy…

Readings Exodus 24:3-8  Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18  Hebrews 9:11-15  Mark 14:12-16, 22-26  Chants The Last Supper, Tintoretto, 1594 Family of Love All of today’s readings are set in the context of the Passover. The First Reading recalls the old covenant celebrated at Sinai following the first Passover and the exodus. In sprinkling the blood of the covenant on the Israelites, Moses…

Readings Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40  Psalm 33:4- 6, 9, 18-20, 22  Romans 8:14-17  Matthew 28:16-20  Chants Adoration of the Trinity, Vicente López Portaña, 1792 Family of Love Last Sunday, we celebrated the sending of the Spirit, which sealed God’s new covenant and made a new creation. In this new creation, we live in the family of God, who has revealed himself…

Readings Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25  Psalms 41:2-5, 13-14  2 Corinthians 1:18-22  Mark 2:1-12 (see also "Who is the Son of Man?") Chants Paralytic on his Bed is Brought to the House where Christ is Preaching, Petrus Comestor's 'Bible Historiale', France, 1372 Raised to Serve Today’s Gospel makes explicit what has been implied in preceeding weeks. Namely, that in healing the sick and…

Readings Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46  Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11  1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1  Mark 1:40-45 Chants Christ Heals a Leper, Comestor's 'Bible Historiale', France, 1372 Made Clean In the Old Testament, leprosy is depicted as punishment for disobedience of God’s commands (see Numbers 12:12-15; 2 Kings 5:27; 15:5). Considered “unclean”—unfit to worship or live with the Israelites, lepers are considered “stillborn,” the…

Readings Job 7:1-4, 6-7  Psalm 147:1-6  1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23  Mark 1:29-39  Chants The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-Law, James Tissot, 1886-96 Raised to Serve In today’s First Reading, Job describes the futility of life before Christ. His lament reminds us of the curse of toil and death placed upon Adam following his original sin (see Genesis 3:17-19). Men and women…