The Word today, TrinityB

May 27 - June 01, 2024

Monday 27 May

St Augustine of Canterbury, bishop

1 Peter 1:3-9 We read this week from 1 Peter, an early Christian document aimed at encouraging the faithful in times of trial. Our reading is marked by warm words of encouragement and a deep sense of faith: You did not see him, yet you love him!

Mark 10:17-27 Here we have an attractive and yet unsettling story. The man is the story is obviously good and a little naive. He doesn’t seem to know himself. Jesus’ penetrating glance of love sees great potential in him. Suddenly, it is too much and the man slinks away. We too can fool ourselves. We too need the penetrating glance of love which lays bare the cost of discipleship.

Tuesday 28 May

1 Peter 1:10-16 Having reflected yesterday on the role of the Father and Christ, today’s reading goes deeply into the role of the Holy Spirit. The practical consequences are, well, practical!

Mark 10:28-31 After the story of the rich man, the question of Peter is simply and natural. The reply of Jesus, on the other hand, is many-layered, full of promise and challenge ship.

Wednesday 29 May

St Paul VI, bishop of Rome

1 Peter 1:18-25 Using Old Testament language of ransom, the writer wants us to be aware of the cost of salvation — and the preciousness of the gift bestowed on us.

Mark 10:32-35 This story can still shock because of the bald ambition of the disciples. It leads to a clear teaching on service.

Thursday 30 May

1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12 A powerful reading, taking up images from the Old Testament and applying them to the whole people of God.

Mark 10:46-52 The story of Bartimaeus closes the teaching on discipleship which started with the healing of the blind man in two stages. The lectionary translation misses the force of the last line. It should read: he followed him along The Way.

Friday 31 May

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Zephaniah 3:14-18 The note of joy at the coming of the Lord anticipates today’s Gospel, with its own note of joy at the coming of Jesus.

Luke 1:39-56 This gospel passage — like others in Luke — has inspired Christian prayer. In this case, the Hail Mary and the Magnificat.

Saturday 01 June

St Justin, martyr

Jude 1:17-, 20-25 Jude is a very brief letter, perhaps a late Christian one. It is written to a community which tends to deny the Second Coming and the Last Judgment. As a result, their morals are weakened.

Mark 11:27-33 The question asked in this Gospel is the right one: by what authority does Jesus speak and act? We too have to ask ourselves the very same question about Jesus in our own lives.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024at, May 26). The solemnity of the most Holy Trinity. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052624.cfm

--Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

The Word today, PentecostB

May 20 - May 25, 2024

Monday 20 May

Mary, mother of the Church

Acts 1:12-14 This is our last glimpse of Jesus’ mother in Luke-Acts. The picture of Mary at prayer is consistent with the portrait in Luke 1-2.

John 19:25-34 The reception of this scene has prompted much reflection on Mary as mother of the church. In its historical and theological context, the mother here stands for the mother religion, Judaism, just as the beloved disciples stands for nascent Christianity. The Gospel of John makes a powerful invitation to reconciliation and mutual recognition. The message is still relevant today.

Tuesday 21 May

St Christopher Magallanes and companions, martyrs.

James 4:1-10 Nearly any one sentence of this passage would give us lots to think about. James never minces his words and get to the heart of the matter: our interior impulses, hidden sometimes from ourselves.

Mark 9:30-37 Mark always links the “passion predictions” to a teaching on discipleship. This is true here as well. In the culture, a child symbolizes not innocence (as today) but powerlessness, lack of status.

Wednesday 22 May

St Rita of Cascia, religious

James 4:13-17 We know this is true, even though we might not like to think about it much! Time really does fly by. What we can do is to change how approach to this fact!

Mark 9:38-40 It is alarming how early the disciples somehow imagined they were to be the exclusive “owners” of the Gospel project. Jesus’ response is robust and can speak to us today. How is the Holy Spirit speaking to us from what we regards as outside?

Thursday 23 May

James 5:1-6 There more than a touch of the Old Testament prophet here: justice is what counts before God who cares for the poor.

Mark 9:41-50 Today we two teachings. The first is brief and perhaps surprising. By allowing themselves to helped by outsides, disciples somehow make salvation available to non-believers.

The second teaching is more straightforward and to our untuned ears a little crass. It may to imagine Jesus smiling as he gives this particular advice.

Friday 24 May

James 5:9-12 Complaining is “enjoyable,” as we all know but, according to James, it is harmful, as we all also know. He goes on to insist on Jesus’ own teaching about telling the truth simply and clearly.

Mark 10:1-12 In this reading, Jesus recalls the original purpose of God: marriage should be life-long, according to the plan of the creator. It may help, when reflecting on this, that Jesus was not laying down a law but lifting up an ideal. Jesus never legislates.

Saturday 25 May

St Gregory VII, bishop of Rome or St Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi, virgin or St Bede the Venerable, priest, doctor

James 5:13-20 Different situations and needs are evoked here. Perhaps I can see myself in one or other of them?

Mark 10:13-16 Again, it is both alarming and reassuring how early the disciples managed to get in the way. It may also help to remember that a child in this culture is not symbol of innocence but rather of powerlessness.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024ar, May 19). Pentecost Sunday - Mass during the Day. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/pentecost-sunday-mass-during-day

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

The Word today, Easter7B

May 13 - May 18, 2024

Monday 13 May

Acts 19:1-8 Pentecost has a long reverberation through the Acts and there are several “mini” Pentecost. Paul triggers one when he baptizes some followers of John the Baptist.

John 16:29-33 Towards the end of the Farewell Discourse, the disciples are shown coming to insight at last about the identity of Jesus. It has been a long journey — longer than you might imagine, because we are “overhearing” the fruits of many decades of prayer, reflection and teaching. Our own journey of faith cannot be different.

Tuesday 14 May

St Matthias, apostle

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 The writer of the Acts has great esteem for the Twelve and, as part of the continuity between the two Testaments, the “college” of the apostles is restored after the betrayal and death of Judas. The prayer of discernment shows great confidence in God’s presence and inspiration.

John 15:9-17 Following Jesus’ own example, our Gospel places at the heart of the Christian project the command to love. We may put “command” in inverted commas: really we are dealing with loving and being loved. In the gentle expression of this Gospel: I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.

Wednesday 15 May

St Carthage, bishop

Acts 20:28-38 Paul’s last speech to the elders in Ephesus is full of still valid and good advice and the very last moment is very moving.

John 17:11-19 “Glorify” may sound strange to us, as if Jesus were looking for some kind of vain recognition. In this Gospel, however, to glorify point to the cross; specifically, it means that the heart of God, God’s inner identity, is disclosed in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Thursday 16 May

St Brendan, abbot

Acts 22:30, 23:6-11 “Divide and conquer” is an old rule and Paul uses it cannily in today’s vignette. Paradoxically, Paul is “rescued” by the very officials who hold him prisoner.

John 17:20-26 This heartfelt prayer will touch us all. Although conflict is normal, at every level, it cannot be normative. Therefore, we strive for forgiveness, reconciliation and true fallowing or oneness. May this great prayer be ours today!

Friday 17 May

Acts 25:13-21 A key event in the life of Paul is recounted. He was under arrest in Caesarea. As a Roman citizen, he makes appeal to the emperor.

John 21:15-19 Because our reading of John is coming to a close as the Easter Season ends, the lectionary takes us forward to chapter 21. In the background, there is an oblique reminder of his betrayal (charcoal1). But in the foreground stands the high call to love and the fundamental call to follow.

Saturday 18 May

St John I, bishop of Rome, martyr

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 The closing of the Acts is a marvellous scene. Paul is in Rome and still preaching. It is notable that the very last sentence of the Acts reads as follows (in Greek): proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and unhindered. A great ending — and a great beginning, because it is up to us the readers to continue the task.

John 21:20-25 Our Gospel is also a closing scene. It was important for the community, dealing with the death of their beloved leader. At the same time, it provide the writer with a second chance to close the whole book, with mixed feelings of exasperation and wonder!

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024ap, May 12). Seventh Sunday of Easter - Ascension. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051224.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/