Bob's Beanfield

Today, we listen to the readings and commentary for the First Sunday of Advent. I want to give you a heads up that Dr. Kreeft has a LOT to say about these readings, to the point where he actually has two separate reflections on the first reading. The first is about the problem of pain, the second is a bit more pastoral. Feel free to listen to both, or if one seems to appeal to you more, you can skip ahead to it. I find them both pretty interesting, but then I love to study God's Word. You may find something that speaks to you more in one or the other. The timeline for the various sections is listed below. Timeline is listed below for your convenience in navigating.

We begin this new Liturgical year and this Season of Advent, the Season of waiting, with the readings from Dr. Kreeft's book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle B. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

0:00 Intro

2:57 First Reading, Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

4:30 Reflection 1 on the first reading

15:00 Reflection 2 on the first reading

25:53 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

27:02 Reflection on the Responsorial Psalm

40:11 Second Reading, 1 Cor 1:3-9

41:15 Reflection on the second reading

50:22 Gospel Mark 13:33-37

51:16 Reflection on the Gospel

58:40 Conclusion

Today, we begin a new Liturgical Year, and with it we begin with a new cycle of readings for Sundays and Holy Days. You'll notice some differences in the podcast this year, and I hope they help you enjoy listening even more.

To kick off the New Year, we'll listen to the introduction to Dr. Kreeft's book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle B. We'll have the Mass readings and commentary for the first Sunday in Advent in a separate episode, and since this is a New Year, we'll also reprise the story about why this is called the Bean Field in a different episode as well. Dr. Kreeft has a lot to say in these first weeks, so hold on to your hats!

At the end of the Liturgical Year, the Church reminds us of the Kingship of Jesus. It also reminds us of the end of time. As we'll hear today, the Church presents to us the image of Jesus as both Shepherd and Judge. How do those two go together? And what does that mean for us here and now?

We'll talk about those questions and more in today's Scripture for the Feast of Christ the King, and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

When we think about Sacred Scriptures, we hear that it is living and timeless. So even though it was written hundreds or even thousands of years ago, it has relevance to us now. I know for myself, I am often amazed at how something will strike me as deeply important for me now, even though I've heard it many times before, and not gotten the same thing out of it. But does Scripture really mean what it says? Don't we have to update it for our current times and culture? And what about all those things about end times? How do we understand them now?

We'll talk about those questions and more in today's Scripture for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

The first thing we hear Jesus say in the Gospel of John is when He asks those who come to Him from John the Baptist, "What are you looking for?" So let's think for just a moment about ourselves. What are we looking for? If we are listening to this podcast, I would venture that one thing we are looking for is Wisdom. But what is Wisdom? Or perhaps the question is really, WHO is Wisdom? What does Wisdom have to do with Hope, or Faith, or Love?

We'll talk about those questions and more in today's Scripture for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

What should we think about those who have been placed in positions of authority who abuse their office? We all have heard a LOT about the scandals involving the Church, priests, and the hierarchy, and none of us would condone the abuses perpetrated on innocent victims, nor the lack of response on the part of some to those abuses. Yet, has that destroyed the Catholic Church? Or does the perfect Church of God, run by imperfect humans, continue despite these issues? The Catholic Church has been through tough times over the centuries, yet here we still are. What does Jesus say about such things?

We'll talk about those questions and more in today's Scripture for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

We've all been taught the "Golden Rule"…do unto others what you would have them do unto you. And as Christians, we've all heard the Greatest Commandment: you shall love the Lord your God with all you heart and all your soul and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." These two sound very similar, but what do they mean in a practical sense? What is love? And how do we love our neighbors and do unto them as we would have done to us? And who is our neighbor?

We'll talk about those questions and more in today's Scripture for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

Our world today is very divided. Politics is either black or white…there is no gray, and no sense of working with each other, let alone compromise. People on both sides of an issue feel very strongly that their way is THE way, the only RIGHT way. Some try to use religion as their justification. While there are some issues that we should, indeed, must, judge through the. Eyes of our faith, many others do not lend themselves so easily to understanding.

What does God say about all this? We'll hear about it in today's Scripture for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

The readings today have a lot to do with feasting. When I think of feasting, I think of celebrations. Weddings, Holidays, and such. We even feast at the end of someone's life, at least some of the time, when we share a meal after a funeral. Some of the feasts are better than others, but God's feast is the best! He is so far above us that even His feast is beyond our comprehension. Feasts on earth can be good, bad, or so-so. God's is always good. Not just good, but amazingly good.

We'll hear about that and more in today's Scripture for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.

For me, sometimes hearing the Scripture readings becomes sort of an automatic thing, and I don't necessarily get anything out of it, because it has become a bit too familiar. If that is the case, I know that I need to slow down and really think through what God is trying to say. The readings today are like that. We've all heard the stories of the vineyards many times, perhaps so many that we don't think we can learn more from them. However, there is ALWAYS more to Scripture. The same goes for the exhortations from Paul about praying about everything and not worrying. What I haven't done until now is put those two things together. Not worrying abouyt my past life and sins, how I've been one of the tenants of the vineyard who rejected God, and how to give up that guilt as Paul instructs today.

See what you think as we read today's Scripture for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the commentary on those readings by Dr. Peter Kreeft from his book, "Food for the Soul", Reflections on the Mass Readings for Cycle A. Scripture readings are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition, Copyright Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., used with permission. Commentary copyright Peter Kreeft, published by Word on Fire, used with permission.