1st Reading. Isaiah 26:1-6 A hymn of confidence in the Lord, our everlasting rock On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. Those…
1st Reading: Romans 10:9-18 How will they hear the faith, unless it be preached? If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with he heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the…
First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 The Messiah will restore harmony and justice on earth. A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit…
First Reading: Isaiah 2:4-6 Wisdom and peace when swords are beaten into ploughshares Thus says the Lord: “On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. Whoever is left in Zion and remains in…
The season of Advent begins today. During the next 27 days we will look forward in hope. We will watch for the end times, when Christ will come in glory, Christ whose birthday we will celebrate very soon.
A call for homily resources from our readers The Homily Notes proposed for all of December 2016 are now online. Please see them as draft material to be amended & improved with your help. The Notes can be accessed via the December Calendar, on the right of the screen. Active homilists can browse our notes ahead…
1st Reading: Revelation 22:1-7 River of life; healing fruits and the Lamb who is to come Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the…
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, optional memorial 1st Reading:Revelation 20:1-4; 21:1-2 1000-year reign for those who reject the Beast Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and…
Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and companions, memorial 1st Reading: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9 The happy guests at the Lamb’s wedding feast After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendour. He called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the…
Saint Columban, optional memorial 1st Reading: Revelation 15:1-4 The seven plagues sent by the wrath of God Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of…
Saint Cecilia, optional memorial 1st Reading: Revelation 14:14-19 Grapes crushed in the winepress of God’s wrath Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand! Another angel came out…
Preparing to Preach I’d like to share an excerpt (below) from a sprightly piece called Perpetual Preparation by Kenton Anderson, online at http://www.preaching.org. There are lots of other fine insights on his webpage, suggesting approaches to the homily. By the way, the proposed Homily Resources for the month of December 2016 will be online on…
1st Reading: Zechariah 2:14-17 Rejoice, for God will come and dwell in your midst Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your…
We celebrate the feast of Christ the King this Sunday, remembering that our king’s life ended on a cross. Today we worship this wounded and resurrected God, who promises us a place in Paradise.
1st Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3 David of Bethlehem becomes king of a united country Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The…
1st Reading: Revelation 11:4-12 The two prophets were slain as martyrs, possibly Peter and Paul, but are taken up to heaven in glory These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes…
Dedication of the basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul 1st Reading: Revelation 10:8-11 The scroll that was sweet on the tongue but sour in the stomach Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is…
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, memorial 1st Reading: Revelation 5:1-10 The slain Lamb opens the seals of the Book of Life Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming…
Saint Margaret of Scotland; St Gertrude, opt. memorials 1st Reading: Revelation 4:1-11 The twenty-four elders worship at God’s throne After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what…
Saint Albert the Great, optional memorial 1st Reading: Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 Those who are lukewarm will be spat out “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works; you have a name of…
