Word Wide Open: The First Sunday of Advent (C) - 12/1/24

 First Reading (Jeremiah 33:14-16)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah.

The days are coming, says the LORD, 

    when I will fulfill the promise 

    I made to the house of Israel and Judah.

In those days, in that time, 

    I will raise up for David a just shoot ; 

    he shall do what is right and just in the land.

In those days Judah shall be safe 

    and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; 

    this is what they shall call her: 

    “The LORD our justice.”

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? What does it mean that the Lord is our justice?

Second Reading (Thessalonians 3:12-4:2)

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

Brothers and sisters:

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love

for one another and for all,

just as we have for you, 

so as to strengthen your hearts, 

to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father 

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.  Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters, 

we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,

as you received from us 

how you should conduct yourselves to please God

and as you are conducting yourselves

you do so even more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

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 do we conduct ourselves to please God?

Gospel (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, 

and on earth nations will be in dismay, 

perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will die of fright 

in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, 

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man 

coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these signs begin to happen, 

stand erect and raise your heads 

because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy 

from carousing and drunkenness 

and the anxieties of daily life, 

and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.

For that day will assault everyone

who lives on the face of the earth.

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.”

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 are the signs we should be looking for? What makes our hearts “drowsy”?

Word Wide Open: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (B) - 11/24/24

First Reading (Daniel 7:13-14)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel.

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: Do you have any questions about this reading? Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? In what ways are we called to serve Christ the king?

Second Reading (Revelation 5:1-8)

A reading from the Book of Revelation. 

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,

the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. 

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,

to him be glory and power forever and ever.  Amen.

Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,

and every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him.

All the peoples of the earth will lament him.

Yes.  Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,

"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

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? What does it mean that Jesus is the firstborn of the dead?

Gospel (John 18:33b-37)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Pilate said to Jesus,

"Are you the King of the Jews?" 

Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own

or have others told you about me?" 

Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? 

Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. 

What have you done?" 

Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.

If my kingdom did belong to this world,

my attendants would be fighting

to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. 

But as it is, my kingdom is not here." 

So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" 

Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. 

For this I was born and for this I came into the world,

to testify to the truth. 

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

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 exactly is Jesus’ kingdom? Is it not on earth? How can we get better at listening to His voice?

Word Wide Open: The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 11/17/24

 First Reading (Daniel 12:1-3)

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel.

In those days, I Daniel, 

    heard this word of the Lord:

"At that time there shall arise

    Michael, the great prince,

    guardian of your people;

it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress

    since nations began until that time.

At that time your people shall escape,

    everyone who is found written in the book.

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;

    some shall live forever,

    others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

“But the wise shall shine brightly

    like the splendor of the firmament,

and those who lead the many to justice

    shall be like the stars forever."

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 we be more like the wise ones?

Second Reading (Hebrews 10:11-14, 18)

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. 

Brothers and sisters:

Every priest stands daily at his ministry,

offering frequently those same sacrifices

that can never take away sins. 

But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,

and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;

now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. 

For by one offering

he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these,

there is no longer offering for sin.

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 do we take part in the sacrifice of Christ?

Gospel (Mark 13:24-32)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Jesus said to his disciples:

"In those days after that tribulation

the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,

and the stars will be falling from the sky,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'

with great power and glory,

and then he will send out the angels

and gather his elect from the four winds,

from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.

When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,

you know that summer is near.

In the same way, when you see these things happening,

know that he is near, at the gates. 

Amen, I say to you,

this generation will not pass away

until all these things have taken place. 

Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will not pass away.

"But of that day or hour, no one knows,

neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

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 do we know about the Lord’s second coming? Is there a way to prepare for it?

Word Wide Open: The Thirty-Second in Ordinary Time (B) - 11/10/24

First Reading (1 Kings 17:10-16)

A reading from the First Book of Kings.

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath.

As he arrived at the entrance of the city,

a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,

"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." 

She left to get it, and he called out after her,

"Please bring along a bit of bread." 

She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,

I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar

and a little oil in my jug. 

Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,

to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;

when we have eaten it, we shall die." 

Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. 

Go and do as you propose.

But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. 

Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. 

For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,

'The jar of flour shall not go empty,

nor the jug of oil run dry,

until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" 

She left and did as Elijah had said. 

She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well;

the jar of flour did not go empty,

nor the jug of oil run dry,

as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

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? In what ways does God honor the sacrifices we make?

Second Reading (Hebrews 9:24-28)

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. 

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,

a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,

that he might now appear before God on our behalf. 

Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,

as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary

with blood that is not his own;

if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly

from the foundation of the world. 

But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages

to take away sin by his sacrifice. 

Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,

and after this the judgment, so also Christ,

offered once to take away the sins of many,

will appear a second time, not to take away sin

but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

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? Why do we need Jesus to stand before God for us?

Gospel (Mark 12:38-44)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,

"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes

and accept greetings in the marketplaces,

seats of honor in synagogues, 

and places of honor at banquets.

They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext

recite lengthy prayers. 

They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury

and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. 

Many rich people put in large sums.

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 

Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,

"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more

than all the other contributors to the treasury. 

For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,

but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,

her whole livelihood."

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? Is seeking honor wrong?  In what ways can we be more generous with our time and riches?