Category: past Deacon Mike’s Weekly Reflections

Reflection for First Sunday of Advent First Reading: Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Gospel: Mark 13:33-37 Today, we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent and our gospel begins with : Be watchful! Be alert! and ends Read More …

Reflection for 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Ezekial 34:11-12, 15-17 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 As the leaves continue to fall from the trees, leaving them almost bare, the temperatures drop and the daylight Read More …

Reflection for 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 In today’s gospel story, the parable of the talents, we hear about three servants. A man going on a Read More …

Reflection for 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Wisdom 6:12-16 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 OR 4:13-14 Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 In the gospels, Jesus provides us with many insights about the Kingdom of God. Today, we hear Jesus say: “The kingdom of Read More …

Reflection for 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12A This year, the celebration of All Saints Day falls on a Sunday. Why does the Catholic Church celebrate All Saints Read More …

Reflection for 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5C-10 Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40 I am compassionate. Our first reading from the Book of Exodus ends with God speaking these words to the Israelite people. Read More …

Reflection for 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5B Gospel:Matthew 22:15-21 The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians…. The Read More …

Reflection for 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10A Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 We can find three levels of meaning in the parables that Jesus taught. This is a familiar story and more than Read More …

Reflection for 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7 Second Reading: Philippians 4:6-9 Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43 Jesus directs the parable of the vineyard owner to the chief priests and the elders. The vineyard owner is God. The vineyard Read More …

Reflection for 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time First Reading: Ezekial 18:25-28 Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11 Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32 Our gospel today invites us to reflect on following the will of God. Jesus presents a parable to the chief priests and Read More …