top of page

The Word today, Corpus ChristiC

ree

June 23 - June 28, 2025



Genesis 12:1-9 The story of Abraham, our father in faith, begins today and our reading is the foundational scene. In the preceding chapter 11, Abraham is mentioned almost casually and then, all of a sudden, he is called in an extraordinary way by God. The promise given to Abraham— that he will be a blessing to all the tribes of the earth—was seen by Paul to be fulfilled in Jesus.


Matthew 7:1-5 It seems to be human nature that we see more easily in others the faults we have ourselves. We should reflect on our judgements because they hold a mirror to ourselves. The tone is humorous and deadly serious at the same time.


Birth of John the Baptist


Isaiah 49:1-6 The mention of “forming in the womb”, a prophetic idiom, makes this a suitable reading for the feast, anticipating the Gospel. Ultimately, the reading points beyond John the Baptist to Jesus as the light of the nations.


Acts 13:22-26 It is not possible to tell the story of salvation, or indeed that of Jesus, without mentioning John the Baptist, as we see in this reading.


Luke 1:57-66, 80 Our Gospel is devoted mainly to the naming of John the Baptist and the reaction to his birth. We too are invited to “treasure these things in our heart.”



Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 Our reading is both deep and mysterious. In effect, it is a renewal of God’s promise to Abraham and the renewal takes the form of a covenant ceremony. By walking through the halved animals, Abraham says “may this happen to me” if I break the agreement.


Matthew 7:15-20 The early church had an abundance of prophets, some genuine, others false. How to tell the difference? According to their fruits, of course.



Genesis 16:1-12,15-16 In the ancient world, polygamy led to wifely rivalry over fertility. The story is slanted against Hagar and Ishmael, but they too receive a (slightly unsettling) blessing!


Matthew 7:21-29 A bit of geography may help us. Dry river beds in Israel—known as wadis— are subject to unpredictable and potentially fatal flash floods. Building your house on sand, i.e. on the sandy floor of a wadi is very, very dumb!


Most Sacred Heart of Jesus


Ezekiel 34:11-6 This wonderful reading is in many ways both a deep reflection on Psalm 23 and a outspoken response to the failure of the “shepherds” at the time of great Exile in Babylon. It cannot fail to inspire today.


Romans 5:5-11 Beginning with the last verse of the previous paragraph (vv.1-5), we hear about the extraordinary love of God in Christ. You can feel Paul’s continued astonishment, years and years after his first encounter with the Risen Lord.


Luke 15:3-17 The reading takes up the image of the shepherd again, this time underling the note of rejoicing, typical of the Gospel of Luke.


St Irenaeus, bishop and doctor


Genesis 18:1-15 Known in the Orthodox tradition as The Hospitality of Abraham, this wonderful scene has reverberated both in Scripture and in art. It is alluded to in Hebrews: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) It also inspired the much-loved Old Testament Trinity of Rublev.


Matthew 8:5-17 To whom was Jesus sent? According to himself, to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” In this Gospel, we overhear the realisation of the early church that Gentiles too could come to faith in Jesus. Cf. Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favouritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him.” (Acts 10:34–35).


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025bb, June 22). The solemnity of the most holy body and blood of Christ. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062225.cfm

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


 
 
 

The Word today, The Solemnity of the Most Holy TrinityC

ree

June 16 - June 21, 2025



2 Corinthians 6:1-10 There is a great invitation in this reading: today is the day of salvation. Paul goes on to give a list of hardships endured as an apostle.


Matthew 5:38-42 We are always tempted to meet violence with violence. Jesus’ alternative is radical and different.



2 Corinthians 8:1-9 A great dream of Paul was the collection for the Christians in Judea and Jerusalem. Like any fundraiser, he tries to invite and to provoke the Corinthians Christians by underlining the remarkable generosity of the Macedonian communities, who are poor by comparison.


Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus quotes the usual attitude—love your neighbour, hate your enemy—and then gives a series of penetrating arguments to offer his alternative vision.



2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Why should the Corinthians give to Paul’s collection? Here is gives arguments from faith and, intriguingly, from the nature of God.


Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 These two paragraphs surround the Lord’s Prayer and represent a Jewish devotional triad: alms, prayer and fasting. Any attraction to showiness in religion is resolutely set aside.


St Romuald, abbot


2 Corinthians 11:1-11 A rather human side of Paul is revealed in this reading. He has been replaced in the affection of the Corinthians by other preachers and he minds! But he really does love his Corinthians, as we hear.


Matthew 6:7-15 The introduction to the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew is central and helps us understand the prayer and its brevity. In reality, the Lord’s Prayer is not so much a prayer as a form of words but a method or series of steps in prayer.


The Irish Martyrs


2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30 Pau is unwilling to put himself forward and so the reading is full of ironic affirmations. This paragraph is valuable for the information about the upbringing and ministry of Paul.


Matthew 6:19-23 The “voice” in these reading is the voice of Jesus, the bearer of wisdom. The first paragraph is clear enough and points us to what is of lasting value. It is easy to be distracted by the immediate and the tangible. The second paragraph speaks metaphorically of the eye as the “window” of the body. What is meant here is that our fundamental way of looking at the world and life affects every thing about ourselves and about our engagement with the world. How we allow the light in determines how much light we enjoy. This raises an essential question: where is my heart?


St Aloysius Gonzaga, religious


2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Some people in Corinth were attracted to leaders with spectacular spiritual experiences. In Paul’s mind, this is a wretched foundation for faith — and risks showing off. Nevertheless, he risks telling the Corinthians of his spiritual experiences, all the while affirming that this cannot be the foundation of the faith! It is a remarkable piece of writing — powerful in allusion and disclaimer.


Matthew 6:24-34 This is a favourite passage from the Sermon on the Mount, prized by people well beyond frontiers of Christianity. The vision is Jesus is not “airy-fairy” detachment, but a costly choice of values and attitudes, grounded in faith in God. We might feel there’s a risk of sheer impracticality but this is overcome by the general statement: “You heavenly father knows you need all these things.”


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025az, June 15). The solemnity of the most Holy Trinity. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061525.cfm

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


 
 
 

The Word today, PentecostC

ree

June 09 - June 14, 2025


Saint Columba (Colum Cille), abbot


Colossians 1:24-29 The readings are special for the feast. St Columba was known for the practice of severe penance. The reading from Colossians sheds spiritual light on physical sufferings.


Mark 10:17-30 This reading too is chosen to reflect on the life of St Columb. He chose a life of great simplicity, even deprivation, first of all in Ireland and later on on the beautiful and remote island of Iona.


St Ephraim, deacon and doctor of the church.


2 Corinthians 1:18-22 Here is a wonderful passages, in its simplicity and directness: God’s “yes” to us all in Jesus.


Matthew 5:13-18 How am I called to be salt? Even more, how am I called to be the light of the world?


St Barnabas, apostle


Acts 11:21-26, 13:1-3 Passages from two different chapters present the mission and ministry of St Barnabas — clearly an important figure in the first phase of the Pauline mission.


Matthew 5:17-19 This is a tricky passage to handle. The community sees itself as authentically Jewish and therefore the Torah is to be observed and not set aside. However, some new did take place in Jesus and the Torah is to be applied differently as a result.



2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1, 3-6 Paul is reflecting on things which hinder his fellow Jews from reading Scripture. The last sentence is wonderful, joining creation and resurrection.


Matthew 5:20-26 This severe Gospel invites us to go beyond mere external observances and to notices what is happening in our hearts.


St Anthony of Padua, priest and religious


2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Paul only too well aware of his human frailty. And yet, his very weakness allows the power of the Gospel to shine through him.


Matthew 5:27-32 Matthew insists on the journey inwards! He teaches that whatever hinders our full response to grace should be set aside. He know very well that the problem is not physical — my eye or my right hand — and in any case, one can’t keep lopping off limbs! It is the examination of the heart that counts.


St Davnet, virgin


2 Corinthians 5:14-21 The opening sentence — a little long — lays the foundation for the practical teaching to follow. As we have been reconciled with God, let us be bearers of reconciliation ourselves.


Matthew 5:33-37 This Gospel passage — no doubt valuable in its own day — must have a special relevance for us today when truth is under siege. We learn even as children that words can be used to distort and shift blame. Perhaps we can still learn as adults that the truth will set us free.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025ax, June 8). Pentecost Sunday. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060825.cfm

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


 
 
 
bottom of page