FEASTING ON THE WORD
"If you meditate on the Scriptures it will appear to you in its brilliant splendor." ―St. Pio of Pietrelcina
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (B) Exodus 24:3-8 | Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 | Hebrews 9:11-15 | Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 Today we celebrate the solemnity of the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. A little story can help us enter into the historical aspects of this feast and to see why it was instituted. In 1263, German priest Hochwürden Peer von Praga stopped at the Basilica di Santa Cristina in Bolsena, Italy while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He celebrated Holy Mass above the tomb of 3rd century martyr Christina of Bolsena. Although a duly ordained clergyman, he was plagued by doubts on the Real Presence. When he started saying the words of institution, the bread took to the form of human flesh and blood began to seep from it and run over his hands onto the altar and corporal. So powerful was this blood gush that it even marked the marble altar steps and floor. To this day, the Eucharistic flesh remains preserved as does the stained marble floor where the drops of the blood of Christ fell. After thorough investigation, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of Corpus Christi a year later to recognize and to promote the great gift of the Blessed Sacrament.
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Solemnity of the most Holy Trinity (B) Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 | Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 | Romans 8:14-17 | Matthew 28:16-20 There’s a story about Phillip, a young boy who goes and climbs up a mountain in what is now Turkey. He meets Evagrius of Pontus, a Greek monk of the 4th century. And the boy wakes the monk up because the monk is half asleep. And the monk says, “What can I do for you, young man?” And he says, “I want you to explain God for me.” And the monk smiles and he says, “God cannot be grasped by the mind. If God could be grasped, he is not a God that you should worship.” And he smiled and went back to sleep.
Solemnity of Pentecost (B) Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 | Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 | 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13 | John 20:19-23 Today we celebrate Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birthday of the church, the end of the Easter season. Pentecost comes from a Jewish harvest festival called Shavuot. It represents the first fruits gathered as the result of labor of those who completed the spring grain harvests. God chose the first Pentecost after Jesus Christ’s resurrection to demonstrate that God is harvesting the first fruits who came into the Kingdom as a result of Peter's preaching that day.
The Ascension of the Lord (B) Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 | Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 | Ephesians 1:17-23 | Mark 16:15-20 Today is the 40th day since Easter. The Easter story and the story of salvation are approaching their climax. What does the Ascension of Jesus Christ mean to all of us? First, Ascension guides us to capture the vision of our Lord. Secondly, it directs us to pray for wisdom and revelation. Finally, it commands us to take up God's work on earth.
Sixth Sunday of Easter (B) Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 | Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 | 1 John 4:7-10 | John 15:9-17 The central message in this weekend's readings revolves around the concept of God's love. The first reading in Acts emphasizes that God's love accepts us as we are. Similarly, the second reading from John's epistle urges us to show love not only to the lovable, but also to those who are difficult to love. Lastly, the Gospel instructs us to embrace and live out Jesus' love in our daily lives.
Fifth Sunday of Easter (B) Acts 9:26-31 | Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32 | 1 John 3:18-24 | John 15:1-8 Our readings for the Fifth of Easter offer us images that are both beautiful and challenging. As Christians, we want to be good disciples of Jesus. This Sunday’s Gospel reading helps us know what will make us good disciples.
Fourth Sunday of Easter (B) Acts 4:8-12 | Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 | 1 John 3:1-2 | John 10:11-18 We are in the fourth Sunday since the joy of Easter commonly known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” and is also known as The World Day of Prayer for Vocations. As we gather together as a family to celebrate the Lord’s Day, let us focus on doing good despite criticism, seeking union with God and finding safety and security in Jesus — the Good Shepherd.
Third Sunday of Easter (B) Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15, 17-19 | Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 | 1 John 2:1-5a | Luke 24:35-48 On the third Sunday of Easter, we continue to hear Gospel accounts of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples following his Resurrection. The readings clearly demonstrate how the Scripture serves as the key to unlock God’s mysteries and to understand God’s ways. The Scripture allows for the correct understanding of Jesus’ mission and the purpose of his death.
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord (B) Acts 10:34A, 37-43 | Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 | 1 Corinthians 5:6B-8 | John 20:1-9 The psalmist prays today, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!" On this Easter Sunday, let us remember that our faith is bigger than life, and that Jesus is more powerful than death. By rising back to life, Christ has opened, for everyone, a path that leads to Life. He invites us now to put off our old corrupt self and be transformed anew. Finally, he encourages us to hope and cause others to hope. This way, we become people of the Resurrection.
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion (B) Isaiah 50:4-7 | Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 | Philippians 2:6-11 | Mark 14:1—15:47 Today we enter into the most solemn week in our liturgical year. The readings today present us with the opportunity to understand Jesus' journey to Resurrection through the Cross. We shall pray for the gifts of patient endurance, humility, and discernment.
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum Archives
July 2024
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