Third Sunday in Advent

St. Luke's account for this Sunday's Gospel is written at the beginning stages of Jesus' public ministry. St. Luke was an eyewitness to the life of Jesus, therefore he sets the stage for the one coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Today we light the third advent candle symbolizing joy. Are we joyfully preparing for the one who is to come?  

Scripture Readings for December 15, 2024

Zephaniah 3:14-18
Isaiah 12:2-6 
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:10-18

2nd Sunday in Advent

In our second reading, St. Paul is writing to the Philippians encouraging them that, he is "confident, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." Biblical scholars would call God the "hound of heaven." We love God because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). Here is how Jesus acknowledged this truth, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). 

With these Bible verses in mind one, Francis Thompson described God as “The Hound of Heaven.” God is always in search of his creation and that whatever God begins, He intends to finish. During this holy season of Advent, may God help us to prepare the way of the Lord!

Scripture Reading for December 8, 2024

Baruch 5:1-9
Psalm 126:1-6
Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Luke 3:1-6 

First Sunday of Advent

The season of Advent is a time of waiting, properly understood as preparation. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it is normal to focus on menu planning, shopping for gifts, and writing Christmas cards. These are the usual ways to prepare for Christmas. One important part we left out though is found in today's Gospel. Jesus tells his disciples, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36-38). 

Advent provides us the opportunity to reflect on the reason for waiting...the arrival of Jesus Christ into our hearts. We also learn how we wait... Anxiously? Lonely? Curiously? Thankfully? Joyfully? As we begin this holy season, let us ask the Lord to open our hearts in prayer to receive the gift of his ever abiding presence. 

Scripture Reading December 1, 2024

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 

Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

The dialogue between Pilate and Jesus is quite intriguing: “Are you a king?” Both Pilate and Jesus are coming from two different understandings of kingship. Jesus responds, “Yes, I have a kingdom, but it is not of this world. Christ’s kingdom is derived from a greater power than intimidation and worldly influence. The kingdom of God is built upon willing the good of the other; love. I believe when we stand before almighty God, we will be asked one question: "did you love"? By the help of God’s grace and love, let us build now what we so often pray for: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Scripture Reading for November 24, 2024

Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 91:1, 1-2, 5
Revelation 1:5-8
John 18:33-37

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The movie Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, tells the story of a well respected general in the Roman Army, who sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery. Maximus fights for his freedom and those he has become friends with as fellow Gladiators. 

The theme of this Sunday's readings are about battle. Our first reading from the book of Daniel mentions a call to “Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people.” St. Michael and the angels go into battle on our behalf to fight for our spiritual freedom as we do not contend primarily with the flesh and blood, but with the principalities and powers of the underworld. May God grant us final perseverance in staying strong in our faith. 

Scripture Readings for November 17, 2024

Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm 16:5, 8-11
Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Mark 13:24-32 

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

The famous expression, "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak,” resonates well with all three readings this Sunday. 

Shema Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The word Shema is Hebrew for listen. Having attuned ourselves to God and others via active listening, we are open to receiving God's revelation, further revealing the kingdom of God.  

Scripture Reading for November 3, 2024

Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28-34 

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, teaches us in our Gospel for Sunday how to see with the eyes of faith. Yes, we may be able to see physically, but that does not mean we know where we are going spiritually. Through prayer and discernment, God equips you and I to seek Him out despite the most chaotic of environments.  

Scripture Readings for October 27, 2024

Jeremiah 31:7-9
Psalm 126:1-6
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend the universal Church celebrates World Mission Sunday. This year, Pope Francis asked us to reflect on the theme, Go! and invite everyone to the banquet. We can find this message in the parable of the wedding feast, urging us to extend God's invitation of love and salvation to all. Before we are to engage in the worldwide mission of evangelization, the spreading of faith, we ourselves need to be evangelized. As St. Pope John Paul II said many times throughout his pontificate, "open wide the doors to Christ!" 

Through prayers, sacrifices, and contributions on this day, we share the joy of Christ with over 1,100 Mission Dioceses under the Holy Father's care across Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. Archbishop Rozanski asks the Church of St. Louis, to pray together for the fruitfulness of the church's missionary activity and for the missionaries who dedicate their lives to spreading the gospel. 
Scripture Reading for October 20, 2024

Isaiah 53:10-11
Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
Hebrews 4:14-16
Mk 10:35-45 

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The God of Israel wants his people to be fruitful and to multiply. In our modern times, the breakdown of marriage and family life comes from a tendency to define one's own life on one's own terms. This kind of philosophy represents the breaking apart of the biblical vision of God's intentions for mankind. 

As Jesus referenced in the book of Genesis, "It's not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18), this mutual self-gift and love between man and woman gives rise to children. This is the biblical vision which is under assault today, but as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we must stand up and defend this beautiful vision. 

Scripture Reading for October 6, 2024

Genesis 2:18-24
Ps 128:1-6
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-16 

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Once again we are in the middle of a contentious election cycle, which presents challenges and opportunities to proclaim our Catholic faith. This year in Missouri we are voting on Amendment 3, a proposal to radically change out constitution.
Jennifer Brinker, archdiocesan columnist wrote, "Amendment 3 would eliminate legal protections that currently safeguard the pre-born and well as their mothers, fathers, families and society from the harm of abortion." One could say that Church should remain out of politics, sure, but life is not a partisan issue.

To this end in our Gospel today Jesus speaks powerfully to our current culture, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” (Matthew 18:5-7)

Scripture Readings for September 29, 2024

Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14 
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48