Word Wide Open: The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) - 9/3/23

First Reading (Jeremiah 20:7-9)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;

you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.

All the day I am an object of laughter;

everyone mocks me.

Whenever I speak, I must cry out,

violence and outrage is my message;

the word of the LORD has brought me

derision and reproach all the day.

I say to myself, I will not mention him,

I will speak in his name no more.

But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,

imprisoned in my bones;

I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Do you have any questions about this reading? Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does the Lord comfort those who suffer persecution and rejection? 

Second Reading (Romans 12:1-2)

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans. 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,

to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,

holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 

Do not conform yourselves to this age

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and pleasing and perfect.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions:  Do you have any questions about this reading? Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How can you offer your body as a living sacrifice?

Gospel (Matthew 16:21-27)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus began to show his disciples

that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly

from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,

and be killed and on the third day be raised. 

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,

"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." 

He turned and said to Peter,

"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. 

You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Then Jesus said to his disciples,

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me. 

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life? 

Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,

and then he will repay all according to his conduct."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Do you have any questions about this reading? Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What is Jesus so critical of what Peter said? Why is self-denial and discipline so important to your faith life?

Word Wide Open: The Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) - 8/27/23

First Reading (Isaiah 22:19-23)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:

"I will thrust you from your office

and pull you down from your station.

On that day I will summon my servant

Eliakim, son of Hilkiah;

I will clothe him with your robe,

and gird him with your sash,

and give over to him your authority.

He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

and to the house of Judah.

I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim's shoulder;

when he opens, no one shall shut,

when he shuts, no one shall open.

I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot,

to be a place of honor for his family."

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How does God provide us leaders in the faith? In what ways are we called to lead and protect the faith?

Second Reading (Romans 11:33-36)

A reading from the St. Paul the Romans. 

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord

or who has been his counselor?

Or who has given the Lord anything

that he may be repaid?

For from him and through him and for him are all things. 

To him be glory forever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What can we actually know about God and His ways?

Gospel (Matthew 16:13-20)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and

he asked his disciples,

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,

still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 

Simon Peter said in reply,

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

Jesus said to him in reply,

"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. 

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 

And so I say to you, you are Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. 

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;

and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 

Then he strictly ordered his disciples

to tell no one that he was the Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What would you say if someone asked who Jesus is? How does this passage show God’s desire for mercy? Why does Jesus tell them to not tell people He is the Christ? 

Word Wide Open: The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) - 8/20/23

First Reading (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the LORD:

Observe what is right, do what is just;

for my salvation is about to come,

my justice, about to be revealed.

The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,

ministering to him,

loving the name of the LORD,

and becoming his servants—

all who keep the sabbath free from profanation

and hold to my covenant,

them I will bring to my holy mountain

and make joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and sacrifices

will be acceptable on my altar,

for my house shall be called

a house of prayer for all peoples.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Who are the "foreigners" in our lives we need to minister to?

Second Reading (Romans 11:13-15, 29-32)

A reading from the St. Paul the Romans. 

Brothers and sisters:

I am speaking to you Gentiles. 

Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,

I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous

and thus save some of them. 

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world,

what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 

Just as you once disobeyed God

but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,

so they have now disobeyed in order that,

by virtue of the mercy shown to you,

they too may now receive mercy. 

For God delivered all to disobedience,

that he might have mercy upon all.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What does it mean that God's gifts and call are irrevocable? How does that apply to our lives?

Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 

And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,

"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! 

My daughter is tormented by a demon." 

But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. 

Jesus' disciples came and asked him,

"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."

He said in reply,

"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, "Lord, help me." 

He said in reply,

"It is not right to take the food of the children

and throw it to the dogs." 

She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps

that fall from the table of their masters." 

Then Jesus said to her in reply,

"O woman, great is your faith! 

Let it be done for you as you wish." 

And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? Why does this woman have such great faith? How does Jesus show us how to love those that don't believe in God or believe in a different religion?

Word Wide Open: The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary (A) - 8/13/23

First Reading (1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13)

A reading from the First Book of Kings.

At the mountain of God, Horeb,

Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. 

Then the LORD said to him,

"Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;

the LORD will be passing by." 

A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains

and crushing rocks before the LORD—

but the LORD was not in the wind. 

After the wind there was an earthquake—

but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 

After the earthquake there was fire—

but the LORD was not in the fire. 

After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. 

When he heard this,

Elijah hid his face in his cloak

and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why does God use silence to speak to us? How can we get more comfortable with silence?

Second Reading (Romans 9:1-5)

A reading from the St. Paul the Romans. 

Brothers and sisters:

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;

my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness

that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ

for the sake of my own people,

my kindred according to the flesh. 

They are Israelites;

theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,

the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;

theirs the patriarchs, and from them,

according to the flesh, is the Christ,

who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? How can we be zealous for souls like Paul?

Gospel (Matthew 14:22-33)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

and precede him to the other side,

while he dismissed the crowds. 

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. 

When it was evening he was there alone. 

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,

was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 

During the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea. 

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. 

"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. 

At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." 

Peter said to him in reply,

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 

He said, "Come." 

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;

and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,

and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,

"Truly, you are the Son of God."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? How can fear damage our faith? How can we ask for things like Peter? What should we do when we begin to doubt?

Word Wide Open: The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (A) - 8/6/23

First Reading (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel.

As I watched:

Thrones were set up

and the Ancient One took his throne.

His clothing was bright as snow,

and the hair on his head as white as wool;

his throne was flames of fire,

with wheels of burning fire.

A surging stream of fire

flowed out from where he sat;

Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,

and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened and the books were opened.

As the visions during the night continued, I saw:

One like a Son of man coming,

on the clouds of heaven;

When he reached the Ancient One

and was presented before him,

The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;

all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

that shall not be taken away,

his kingship shall not be destroyed.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? What do we learn about Jesus from this reading? In what ways is Jesus truly a king?

Second Reading (2 Peter 1:16-19)

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Peter. 

Beloved:

We did not follow cleverly devised myths

when we made known to you

the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,

but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For he received honor and glory from God the Father

when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,

"This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven

while we were with him on the holy mountain.

Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.

You will do well to be attentive to it,

as to a lamp shining in a dark place,

until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why is being able to share our personal experiences with God so important? 

Gospel (Matthew 17:1-9)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, 

and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them; 

his face shone like the sun 

and his clothes became white as light.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,

conversing with him.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 

"Lord, it is good that we are here.

If you wish, I will make three tents here, 

one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, behold,

a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, 

then from the cloud came a voice that said, 

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;

listen to him."

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate

and were very much afraid.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying,

"Rise, and do not be afraid."

And when the disciples raised their eyes, 

they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,

Jesus charged them,

"Do not tell the vision to anyone 

until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? What exactly happened at the Transfiguration? How can we relate to Peter in this reading? What does coming down the mountain look like for us?