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The Word today, Advent2A

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Dec 6, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Dec 6, 2025


December 08 - December 13, 2025


Immaculate Conception of the BVM


Genesis 3:9-15, 20 The early stories in Genesis explore common human experiences , including sin, shame and the “outsourcing” of blame! All very human, of course. The serpent symbolizes something more sinister—the power of sin, against which we need the grace of God.


Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-2 The great hymn from Ephesians explores God’s grace in Christ, thus inviting us to engagement gratitude. Luke 1:26-38 Mary’s yes is in contrast to the “no” of Adam and Eve...and all the rest of us of course! It is great to hear again that “nothing is impossible for God.”


St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin


Isaiah 40:1-11 Powerful images in this reading should awaken a deep longing in our hearts. Let us come again to the great shepherd of our souls, holding us and leading us in all circumstances.


Matthew 18:12-14 The parable of the lost sheep makes a direct link with Isaiah. Of course, the ninety-nine who don’t stray at all also don’t really exist! We are, all of us, lost sheep and in need of guidance.


Our Lady of Loreto


Isaiah 40:25-31 At times we think God is so remote and we are so insignificant. This reading “corrects” that impression. Our great transcendent God is ever near, nearer to us than we are to ourselves (attributed to St Augustine).


Matthew 11:28-30 Just how near our God is to us is disclosed in Jesus. He is able to help us because he is like us, as the letter to the Hebrews teaches.


St Damasus 1, bishop of Rome


Isaiah 41:13-20 The opening line of this poem gives the key to the rest: Do not be afraid. The reading goes on to explore such deep trust using several metaphors: harvesting, drought and barrenness.


Matthew 11:11-15 So, who really was John the Baptist? In Jesus’ estimation, John was the greatest of the old dispensation. In orthodox tradition he is called the forerunner, the prodromos. Yet even he falls into the second rank compared with the least in the kingdom of heaven!


Our Lady of Guadalupe; St Finian, bishop


Isaiah 48:17-19 Our reading has a double edge. On the one hand, it explains why the great Exile took place. On the other, it holds out a new offer of salvation. Perhaps I need to hear these warning words: If only you had been alert to my commands.


Matthew 11:16-19 The waywardness of children is familiar and they can be hard to please. So can we all, of course, as we “protect” ourselves from the challenge of the encounter with Christ.


St Lucy, virgin and martyr


Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4, 9-12 John the Baptist was portrayed as an Elijah-type figure. Today we hear a much later appreciation of the great Elijah himself. In the Bible, Elijah is a touch character and so the very last line of this reading may surprise.


Matthew 17:10-13 Elijah comes up again in the Gospel. John the Baptist is portrayed as an Elijah-type figure and in Matthew’s Gospel this identification is resoundingly affirmed. According to biblical tradition, it means the end times have come and the messiah is about to be ushered in.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cy, December 7). Second Sunday of Advent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120725.cfm

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


 
 
 

The Word today, Advent1A

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Nov 29, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jan 4


December 01 - December 06, 2025



Isaiah 4:2-6 The weekday readings of Advent open on a note of hope for healing and restoration. This reassuring reading invites us to acknowledge our need of bring washed clean, our need of the healing of the presence of the Lord.


Matthew 8:5-11 The faith of the centurion is indeed remarkable: “just give the word.” What “word” from the Lord do I need at this moment in my life?



Isaiah 11:1-10 The human hope for harmony is portrayed in this reading as a harmony in nature itself, even among the most unlikely animals.


Luke 10:21-24 Jesus pronounces a remarkable prayer in today’s gospel, a very encouraging prayer: we all stand before the mystery and the mercy of God, thank God!


St Francis Xavier, priest and religious


Isaiah 25:6-10 This reading is familiar from funerals; it offers a great vision of God and God’s gift of ultimate, comprehensive consolation. The idea that God will destroy death for ever was a hope at the time of writing; in our Christian faith we know that God has achieved this in Jesus.


Matthew 15:29-37 The compassion of Jesus is outstanding in this reading: it is he who names the need and supplies the food. What hunger does he identify in us today? How are we nourished by him?


St John Damascene, priest and doctor


Isaiah 26:1-6 As you listen, you may notice all the words to do with protection: strong city, gates, rock, citadel, forming a great call to faith and trust in God.


Matthew 7:21,24-27 It is always tempting to think that once you’ve said your prayers, you’re done. The prophets regularly pillory such static complacency and so does Jesus. In addition, awareness of local geography adds over to his words. In the Judean desert, there are dry river beds called wadis, subject to flash floods. To build on such an exposed foundation is the very height of foolishness.



Isaiah 29:17-24 As often in the Bible, there are promises to the deaf, the blind and the poor. Each of us is precisely dead, blind and poor and so the message is for us all today, if only we would look. We hold fast to conviction that the Lord is our light and our help.


Matthew 9:27-31 Miracle stories, like today’s, are always meant to be taken at two levels. Rather than wonder about the past, we could ask in the present, how am I blind? What is my need of the gift of sight which comes with faith?


St Nicholas of Bari, bishop


Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26 The prophet raises the hopes of his hearers with a grand vision of peace and prosperity, a gift of God himself. Such harmony and well being come from following the way offered by God. Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. (Psalms 1:2–3)


Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8 Again, it is the compassion of Jesus which is outstanding. He feels and he acts and he sends out. Our need for the word of compassion and the healing touch of God is great. Perhaps I too am being called to some ministry in the community of faith or in society at large?


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cw, November 30). First Sunday of Advent. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/113025.cfm

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


 
 
 

The Word today, 34 Christ the KingC

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Nov 22, 2025
  • 2 min read

November 24 - November 29, 2025


Sts Andrew Dũng-Lạc and his Companions, martyrs


Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 The book of Daniel is a book of protest, written in symbol or code. On the surface, it is about the time of Nebuchadnezzar, but in reality it is about the Syrian tyrant and persecutor, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. As in the time of Antiochus, the food laws were a test.


Luke 21:1-4 In an abbreviated version of a familiar story, Luke takes us to the heart of the matter of giving from within.


St Clement I, bishop of Rome, martyr; St Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr


Daniel 2:31-45 Daniel is shown to be an interpreter of dreams. The real message is that seemingly all-powerful and ever-lasting systems of oppression come crashing down, without exception.


Luke 21:5-11 It is easy to misread the sign of the times and so Jesus warns his followers—and us —not to be deceived, especially by those making extravagant spiritual claims.



Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 Our expression “the writing on the wall” comes from this very famous story—a highly theatrical tale. The king is punished for robbing the Temple and Daniel interprets for him the fearful writing on the wall: you too will come crashing down!!


Luke 21:12-19 Our Gospel paints a picture of great distress and yet, in the last two sentences, provides the very message of hope we so badly need in our time.


St Fergal, bishop and missionary


Daniel 6:12-28 In today’s story, the issue is worship of false gods. At the time of writing, Jews were persecuted and worship of their God was prohibited. The king is converted, but, as we see, not to compassion and mercy!


Luke 21:20-28 Jesus, in full apocalyptic mode, assures us that the struggles of the end are to be seen as labour pains, leading to new birth. The end is therefore not “the end.”



Daniel 7:2-14 Where did Jesus get the expression Son of Man from? In part from this very vision in the book of Daniel. Heavenly judgment is in progress and the mediator between God and humans is precisely “one like a son of man.”


Luke 21:29-33 Reading the signs of the times is the task of us all, that we may know the kingdom of God among us. It is not always easy.



Daniel 7:15-27 The message—in coded language—is the present seemingly everlasting oppression will come to a crashing end.


Luke 21:34-36 The final warning of the liturgical year is one of watchfulness. It would be easy to settle for a sentient existence, sleepwalking through life and satiating ourselves with distractions. We are called to greater awareness—and life!—than that.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cu, November 23). The solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfm

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


 
 
 
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