Angela For Today

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13.1 Corinthians 1:26-31.Matthew 5:1-12A. The Beatitudes Our vocation as Christians is not to be first in this world, but rather to be first in the eyes of God. In the Gospel of Matthew for Sunday’s liturgy, we find a description of people who strive to be first in the eyes of God. They…

Isaiah 8:23-9:3.1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17.Matthew 4:12-23. Today, Matthew’s Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After Jesus heard about John the Baptist’s arrest, he moves to the northern region of Galilee.  “He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been…

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6First Corinthians 1:1-3John 1:29-34 Responding to the Call One clear theme found in the Sunday readings is that of call and what it means to respond to the call. Isaiah is told, “… you [are] to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I…

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7Acts 10:34-38Matthew 3:13-17 Baptism This Sunday marks a transition from the Christmas season to Ordinary Time that begins next Sunday. Before Jesus’ birth, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary and to Joseph who Jesus would be. Last Sunday, the shepherds and the Magi recognized Jesus as the Messiah. In today’s gospel we see…

Isaiah 60:1-6Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6Matthew 2:1-12 Shared Gifts On this first Sunday of the New Year we celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus the Christ. It’s on this feast of the epiphany that we hear the story of the three magi bringing gifts to the new born child. Because the magi (representing the non-Jewish…

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Family Life This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of The Holy Family. The readings invite us to reflect on the values that create strong and loving families. By looking to the Holy Family as a model, families can find guidance and inspiration to live in love, faith,…

Isaiah 7:10-14Romans 1:1-7Matthew 1:18-24 Advent is a time of waiting and preparing once again for the birth of Jesus. The Advent readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent remind us that God is faithful to His promises. They help us focus on who Jesus is and why He came. The readings give us something to…

Is 35:1-6a, 10Jas 5:7-10Mt 11:2-11 Persistence In the gospel for Sunday, John the Baptist, who is in prison, asks a question of Jesus that many people ask in our own time. “Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?” It has been two thousand years since Jesus told…

Isaiah 11: 1-10Romans 15: 4-9Matthew 3: 1-12 Harmony  Advent is a time of preparation as we ready ourselves to once again celebrate the coming of Jesus into our world and into our lives at Christmas. The gospel for the second Sunday of Advent is a clear call to let God work in us, clearing space in our lives…

Isaiah 2:1-5Romans 13:11-14Matthew 24:36-44 Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Each liturgical year we set aside four Sundays before Christmas as a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. This feast of remembrance is significant because it reminds us that Jesus became one of us and experienced all the human feelings we experience…

2 Samuel 5:1-3Colossians 1:12-20Luke 23:35-43 Today as a Church, we conclude our liturgical year and celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. In Sunday’s gospel, Instead of celebrating a ruler’s great accomplishments, we are told about Jesus, King of the Jews, hanging on a cross. The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others,…

Malachi 3:19-20a2 Thessalonians 3:7-12Luke 21:28 Difficult Times As we get closer to the end of the liturgical year, the Sunday readings take on a warning tone of destruction and suffering to come in the times ahead. The first reading from the prophet Malachi is a prime example: “Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,…

Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 121 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17Jn 2:13-22 A United Church This Sunday, we celebrate the dedication of the oldest Church in the West, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, the Pope’s cathedral.  Our first reaction to this Feast may be to ask, “What has this got to…

Wisdom 3: 1-9Romans 5: 5-11 or Romans 6: 3-9John 6: 37-40 All Souls’ Day This Sunday on the Feast of All Souls, we reflect on the mystery of death and our loved ones who have died. We believe that we continue to share a relationship with those who have died. We pray for their souls. When we pray for the…

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-182 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18Luke 18:9-14 Humility in Prayer The readings for this Sunday show us the difference between pride and humility. Sirach speaks of God’s justice. The psalm praises God for saving the poor. Paul talks about staying faithful even in hard times. Jesus tells a parable about a tax collector who prays…