Readings: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31  Psalm 128:1-5 1  Thessalonians 5:1-6  Matthew 25:14-30 Chants The Last Judgment (detail), Rogier van der Weyden, 1446-1452 Settling Accounts The day of the Lord is coming, Paul warns in Sunday’s Epistle. What matters isn’t the time or the season, but what the Lord finds us doing with the new life, the graces He has given…

Readings: Exodus 22:20-26 Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51 1Thessalonians 1:5-10 Matthew 22:34-40 Chants Christ Teaching, Anglo-Saxon, possibly Canterbury, ca. 1000 (Getty) Love Commanded Jesus came not to abolish the Old Testament law but to fulfill it (see Matthew 5:17). And in this Sunday’s Gospel, He reveals that love—of God and of neighbor—is the fulfillment of the whole of the law (see…

Readings: Exodus 22:20-26 Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51 1Thessalonians 1:5-10 Matthew 22:34-40 Chants The Tribute Money, Vecellio Tiziano, 1516 Caesar and the King The Lord is king over all the earth, as we sing in Sunday’s Psalm. Governments rise and fall by His permission, with no authority but that given from above (see John 19:11; Romans 13:1). In effect, God says…

Saint Augustine Sermon 90, 5-6 (cf. PL 38-39, 561-563) The wedding garment What is this wedding garment or nuptial robe? The apostle Paul says: “The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1Tm 1:5). Here is the nuptial robe! It’s not a question of any kind of love since we…

Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:9, 12-16, 19-20 Philippians 4:6-9 Matthew 21:33-43 Chants Image of Vine-Cultivation,Cathedral of Notre Dame (Paris), 1220-1240 Living on the Vine In this week’s Gospel Jesus returns to the Old Testament symbol of the vineyard to teach about Israel, the Church, and the kingdom of God. And the symbolism of the First Reading and Psalm is also…

Readings: Ezekiel 18:25-28  Psalm 25:4-9 Philippians 2:1-11  Matthew 21:28-32 Chants Retablo of the Virgin and Child, Pere Espalargucs, ca. 1490 (Museum of Biblical Art) The Humble Path Echoing the complaint heard in last week's readings, today's First Reading again presents protests that God isn't fair. Why does He punish with death one who begins in virtue but falls into iniquity,…

Readings: Isaiah 55:6-9 Psalm145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 Philippians 1:20-24, 27 Matthew 20:1-16 Chants Lord Sabaoth, late 19th c. (Museum of Biblical Art) First and Last The house of Israel is the vine of God - who planted and watered it, preparing the Israelites to bear fruits of righteousness (see Isaiah 5:7; 27:2-5). Israel failed to yeild good fruits and the Lord…

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9  Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9  Romans 13:8-10  Matthew 18:15-20 Chants: The Sending of the Twelve, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 13th c. To Win Them Back As Ezekiel is appointed watchman over the house of Israel in today's first Reading, so Jesus in the Gospel today establishes His disciples as guardians of the new Israel of God, the Church (see Galatians…

Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9  Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9  Romans 12:1-2  Matthew 16:21-27 Chants Christ's Charge to Peter, Pieter Paul Rubens, 1616 For Your Life This Sunday’s First Reading catches the prophet Jeremiah in a moment of weakness. His intimate lamentation contains some of the strongest language of doubt found in the Bible. Following God’s call, he feels abandoned. Preaching His Word has…