3rd Sunday of Lent 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 3/16/20

My Dear People,

In the Gospel, Jesus goes against the generally accepted ethnic and religious standards by speaking not only to a woman, but to a Samaritan woman. The northern tribes, when they became one kingdom, were called Israel, meanwhile the southern tribes, when they combined into one kingdom, ... Read More »

2nd Sunday of Lent 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 3/06/20

My Dear People,

The Transfiguration scene bears witness to an inner circle among the Twelve: Peter, James, and John.  Jesus will single them out again when he invites them to pray with him in the garden of Gethsemane at the start of his Passion (26:37). Here, he takes them ... Read More »

1st Sunday of Lent 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 3/06/20

My Dear People,

From the waters of the Jordan the Spirit leads Jesus into the desert to be tempted by Satan. This is the rugged Judean wilderness west of the Dead Sea.  Here Jesus goes for a grueling forty days and nights of fasting. He faces not only harsh ... Read More »

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 3/06/20

My Dear People,

Today the Gospel of Matthew continues on the teaching of Jesus about the love of Love. Jesus continues the dialogue from “you have heard it was said” to which he adds “But I say to you.” In today’s reading Jesus quotes the Old Testament standard of ... Read More »

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 2/13/20

My Dear People,

We find most extensive treatment on the relationship between Jesus and the Torah in all four Gospels. Jesus lays the foundational principles for his relationship with the Old Covenant law, then offers a series of examples that vividly illustrate the lofty conduct to which his disciples ... Read More »

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 2/13/20

Jesus summoned his disciples to be what God’s people were always meant to be: salt of the earth and light of the world.  Salt was used to flavor and preserve food. Through living the beatitudes, Jesus’ disciples become salt of he earth, preserving goodness in the world. The disciple ... Read More »

Presentation of the Lord

Posted by Christy .. on 2/13/20

My Dear People,

Mary and Joseph are faithful observers of the law. Therefore, their child is circumcised, like John (1:59), when eight days were completed (Gen 17:12; Lev. 12:3). He is named Jesus in obedience to the word of the angel (Luke 1:31).

In Leviticus, the passage regarding circumcision ... Read More »

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 1/30/20

My Dear People,

The Wilderness ordeal behind him, The Messiah returns to  the land of his upbringing in Galilee. Prompting this move is news that his herald, John the Baptist, has been taken into custody by hostile authorities (4:12). This turning point propels Jesus into a new phase of activity.

Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth in lower Galilee but stays only long enough to say his good-byes. He has decided to resettle in Capernaum, a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. This was a place of some importance in the first century, quite a bit larger than the tiny village of Nazareth. Capernaum thrived on its fishing industry and was close to a Roman Road called the Via Maris, which served as a commercial route connecting Galilee with Syria to the north. Jesus chooses this busy town as the base of operations for his Galilean ... Read More »

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 1/30/20

My Dear People,

The Wilderness ordeal behind him, The Messiah returns to  the land of his upbringing in Galilee. Prompting this move is news that his herald, John the Baptist, has been taken into custody by hostile authorities (4:12). This turning point propels Jesus into a new phase of activity.

Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth in lower Galilee but stays only long enough to say his good-byes. He has decided to resettle in Capernaum, a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. This was a place of some importance in the first century, quite a bit larger than the tiny village of Nazareth. Capernaum thrived on its fishing industry and was close to a Roman Road called the Via Maris, which served as a commercial route connecting Galilee with Syria to the north. Jesus chooses this busy town as the base of operations for his Galilean ... Read More »

Baptism of the Lord 2020

Posted by Christy .. on 1/30/20

My Dear People,

This scene marks the beginning of Jesus’ public life. Having traveled from Galilee, Jesus joins the crowd of repentant sinners to be baptized by John at the Jordan.

While Mark and Luke also narrate this event, only Matthew records the interchange between John and Jesus that ... Read More »